The herald., 1893-11-06
YESTERDAY IN THE PuLPITS,
Rev. Bert Estes Howard on
the Character of Christ.
The Gospel Meeting of the Young
Women's Christian Association.
Features of Yesterdays Church Services.
Young Mems Christian Associa-
tlon-Church of tho
New Era.


a sermon upon the Authenticity OF the
Character of Christ.
The scene on Calvary had ended.
The fury OF the Jewish mob had been
vented upon the Savior, and He waa
crucitied. The courts OF Plate, where
at fret had stood the most remarkable
defendant ever tried, were deserted.
The cross had been firmly planted, and
the soldiers had cast dice among them
: selves FOR the robe OF the crucified one.
But as the hardened Roman soldiers
etood and watched him die and wit
neseed the rending OF the rorks and the
terrible fury OF the storm, they became
afraid and cried Truly this is Son Of
God"
Jesus Christ is the great central piece
OF Christianity. In Him is the key to
the Christian belief. II the story of
His earthly career as told by the four
evangelists is true, then no power can
he formed to cope against His church.
Ii The story is falHe, then 30 is the
Christian belief. If the character OF
Jesus Christ was a romance, we muat
yield it the highest place in literature /;
If forgery, it must be placed at the PIN
nacle OF completeness. The invention
OF euch miracle Is far greater than any
miracles within the pages OF the book
itself. But it could not have been-its
very conception was something god
like. There are tributes to Him and to
the truth OF the history OF His life out
eide OF Christianity.
Jean Jaques Rousseau said: "How
petty are the books OF the philosophers.
Ill kI~,~ mil 81 kt<,
gospel" What profound wisdom in His
words and what truth in his Rxtoms.
The facts about Socrates, which are
not nearly as we'll authenticated as are
thoae concerning Christ, are believed.
Ii the death OF Socrates is that OF a
sage, the death of Jesus is that of a
God.
The tribute of Napoleon was then
given, in which Jesus was compared to
the great men OF antiquity by the great
French conqueror and declared by him
to DO above them all. Alexander,
Cesar Charlemange and himself, de-
clared Napoleon, had founded empires
by force, but Jesus had founded his with
love.
The opinions ofthese Frenchmen were
founded on no sentiment but on reason.
Ii the four books concerning Jesus
were romances they would not have
borne the names of the evangalists. 1t
is impossible to believe that from the
minds of that corrupt age could have
sprung the purity OF his character.
There is but one conclusion to form,
they eaw and heard. There is no effNrt
ia any OF these writer's. They carry the
stamp of simplicity and sincerity.
An through the entire writings is the
same identical character portrayed. 1t
lie a strange character, but always the
same in all of the books. There is no
weak point in the presentation of Jesus 9
character. While it treuds&upon the
earth it scars aloft above allAsof tha
highest ideals of the purest minds which
fall far short of the character.of Christ.
The story is told simply. In no place
do the writer's appear; it is only Jesus.
So positive were they OF the facts that
they thought all that WAS necessary was
TO write and tell eimply what they saw
and heard, and it would be believed
This simplicity OF the gospel is in marked
contrast to the sacred books of all other
reli i.ions.
The history wss not romance con-
jured up by the writer's, because they
did not attempt any proof. They tell
the story simply, and in that simplicity
is carried conviction.
YOUNG wCMEN's CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
The gospel meeting at the Y. w. @.
A. rooms had the usual large attendance
yesterday afternoon. The service was
opened by singing, and then quartette
OF the following ladies', Miss Chambers
fret alto; Miss Thayer, second alto /;
Miss Quick, first soprano; Miss New
kirk. pecond soprano, sang "There Is a
Calm" and Meet Me There"
The meeting vas led by Mrs. T. M.
Francis of the First Presbyterian
church. Her subject was The Christian
Strength. She read the First Psalm
snd the fifth to eighth verses OF the
l6;h chapter of jeremiah. She said
Those who do the work OF God must
have strength from some source. How
ehali they gain it? Not from the coun-
eel Of the ungOdly; not from the
churches whore they worship, the
Methodist, Presbyterian or Baptist,
although the help from these churches
was great factor; still the real strength
must come from nearness to God. As
the plant or tree planted by spring of
water will draw life and refrashment
from it, go life that is lived very near
10 Christ will be filed with Him and it
will bear fruit that the world will see."
She earnestly admonished the workers
in the association that this muet be the
strength OF it. The fact that it was
enpplied with power from the very
foundation head, from God. Mrs.
Francis closed with prayer.
Miss Morse, the general secretary,
then made an address. She spoke OF the
power and attraction that there was in
the lowliness OF Cnrist's life. "And /,
IL be lifted up, will draw all men unto
me-" He said. Great was the power of
that lowly life. 1t was divine, ours ia
not, but Christ said, "Whoever doeth
my will 10 my mother and my brother,'
and we may know something OF the
secret OF the Lord ii we do His will.
In speaking of the association work,
! Mics Morse said tho Young women in
tended not only this Sunday service,
but Elk days beside OF pratical, helpful
toll Tor the Master She was glad to
have it started by the young women
from the churches, for that would mean
that it would apread and draw in those
who We're not Christians.
Many more helpful words were spoken
by Miss Morse, VINO shows her abiding
interest in all girls that need help and
who holds herself ready to lieten to
eachone that will come TO her for com.
fort.