The herald., 1893-07-10
A8S@e9 Z I e ~ PURE
Mr.. Crsbbe, however, will occupy the
pulpit regularly every Sunday morning.
l@s:s:A!|g:@ A!|g:::
WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS.

Mr.. Crsbbe, however, will occupy the
pulpit regularly every Sunday morning.
WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS.
Rev. Robert HutchinB occupied his
pulpit at the First Congregational
church yesterday. He spoke to large
congregation. His text was Matthew,
25th, I'd and Sd and 4th verses, Grew. very
And five of them were foolish, and five
we're wise. For fhe foolish, when they
took their lamps, took no oil with them"
Ii there were no other evidence of the
divine authority of Christ's words. he
said, this would seem to him sufficient.
That they are so perfectly adapted to
the needs of men. None but divine
mind could 30 comprehend these needs ;
could 30 supplement the de-
ficiencies and weaknesses OF men.
Christ, even in His simplest
parallels takes hold Of the Profound,
fundamental needs of men. II there ie
any one characteristic OF the church of
Christ more marked than any other, he
should cay it is the tendency to that
which is formal and theoretical, to the
neglect of that which is essential and
practical.
And so in the parable we have the
foolish virgins, with lamps all right in
form, but without the necessary oil,
These five virgins who we're foolish, are
not described al wicked, but SIM
ply as unprepared and neg
ligent. They are not represented
as having no oil of grace whatever; they
had some oil; the oil in their lamps had
burned for awhile; they had good i'm
pulses; they intended to go forth, to
meet and honor the bridegroom, but
they had not profound principle. They
had the theoy Of illuminating and
gloryfying the marriage, but they had
not the necessary practical qualifications
for henoring and gloriiying the BRIDE
groom, and in the time Of need their
Tampa went out.
"Now. dear Christian friends,"
said Mr.. Hutchins, "how true it
is OF multitudes in the church
of Christ, that they have the form of
godliness, but are without the power OF
godlinesa not Intentionally denying
that power indeed, bnt practically in
their lives largely influenced by it. Let
any one of us catechise his own soul
and he may find that he is holding
large number of principles as intellectu-
ally proven, which he endorses in his
not take hold on his life. They are
creeds in form, bat are not dominating
helieis. You and have the lamps, bub,
bow email the supply of oil, compared
with the size of our creed vessels. And
this has been a characteristic of the
church in all ages. 1t has often been
exceedingly severe in its attempts at or
thodoxy iU has been some etmea splendid
in it's rituals magnificent in its forms;
it has erected sublime temples to the
honor OF God, and has performed noble
pRgeants for Christ's sake. Ths formal
tiles the church has not neg
lected in general the church has
been essentially orthodox, and today,
While there have been defeetions from
J what We term orthodoxy on the part of
some, the great rank and file OF the
Church OF Christ want aound doctrine.
They endorse sound doctrine; indeed,
they insist on severe doctrine. Men
want stern, formal orthodoxy, but how
| inconsistent with their belieie are their
lives"
After drawing many valuable lessons
from the parable, and speaking elo-
quently of the necessity OF doing ones
full duty. the minister closed as follows:
81 have been trying to forecast the
summer months. It seems to me prob
able that we shall have an unusual OPP
portunity to honor our Master by the
steady light of our patience by the
cleaning brightness of high courage, by
the persistent fame of our fortitude, by
the warm and generous glow OF cur love.
| seem to zee the bridegroom coming,
leading procession Of somewhat trying
providenees. These we need not fear;
they are only the friends OF the BRIDE
groom, but he will expect US to fall into
| the procession and make these providen-
tial chiidran of the brde-chamber our
friends. Beloved let our flaming faith
shed its Yadience upon our Sayior'a face
and crown the most somber providence
with heavenly halo. Beloved, JeHusis
coming; let our lamps be trimmed and
burning so ye forth to meet him.
They that are ready shall go in with
Him to the marriage
woMAN's FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
The First 81. e. church was thronged
with people last evening, the occasion
being she annual thank Offering Of the
church's auziliaries of the Woman's
Foreign Mission society. Great enthu-
siasm was manifested and it was one of
the most successful mission meetings
known in the history of thefrst church.
The principal address was delivered by
the Rev. DR.. Beck of New York. His
talk was extemporane1us and teemed
with excellent thoughts upon the cub
ject Of missions. He first spoke of the
original society foMned in Boston over
20 years ago, which had gradually
stread over The country until its num-
bers were many and its influence strong.
The present auxiliaries had grown from
that society formed years ago in Bos-
ton.
The progress of woman's missionary
work was reviewed, the speaker dealing
at some length upon its intention, end
he also offered many excellent suggest
ions.
At the close of the meeting DR.. Beck
was approached by many of his hearers
and warmly thanked for the kindly