The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-30
KNIGHTS OF The MYSTIC HAIN,
Impressive Sermon Preached to
Them at Salem.
Rev. d. X. Bridges Delivers an Eloauent
Discourse Setting Forth the Princi-
pies of the Order-The Sermon L,stened
to With wrnpt Attention.

"
Order of the Mystic Chain, and attended
the Presbyterian Church at Salem, where
they listened with wrapt attention TO a
sermon delivered by the pastor, Rev. j.
K. Bridges, For the Good of the Order"
Mr.. Bridges took for his text the we'll
remembered words of the Saviour to the
rich young man: "One thing thou
lackest Mark, 1921. After referring
to the divine magnetism possessed by
Christ, by which every age, sex and con-
d1tlon were drawn to him, and alluding
to those who were sinful, ignorant or
poor as naturally going to the Saviour
for help, he singled this instance out as
peculiar one. This young man was a
ruler, man of rank; his life was ex-
emplary, for when Christ said to him,
"Thou knowest the commandments, do
not commit adultry, do not kill, do not
steal, do not bear false witness, defraud
not, honor thy father and thy mother"
he replied, GAIL these have 1 observed
from my youth" "Jesus, who read
every soul, saw there was a fatal defect
in this beautiful life. He sought to
teach him that man owes to God supreme
devotion; that he must love God above
money, wife, children, this world, and
that God must be all and all to him"
I'm reading the principles of your
order" continued the speaker, ~ am
reminded of the story of this beautiful
life. You will permit me, therefore,
hrst to set forth the principles of your
order, what they imply, and then to call
your attention to the one thing lacking:
II. The acknowledgement of God es
the Supreme Ruler of the universe.
This is the first principle laid down in
your constitution, and it implies that
every one who unites with your order
must be believer in the existence of
God. 1 take it for granted that few
men live now who do not believe in
God Few men now will confess to
atheism, but the time has been when
mon openly proclaimed their unbelief
in God. La Metric, the French philoso.
pher, declared that belief in God was
both groundless and Improbable, and
the fruit of this teaching was seen in
the French revolution during the reign
of terror, when God was publicly re-
nounced and beautiful courtezan
was worshipped as the goddess of rea.
son. AT students congress in Europe
not many years ago atheism was de-
clared to be the ultimate aim of all
human science. Thirteen years ago,
during thel war of tho commune in
Paris, the leader Of the red republican
party declared, Our enemy is God
hatred of God is the beginning of wis
dom" All this is in the past. Few
men now deny the existence of God, for
all men recognize what denial means.
In short, to adopt the words Of another
to be able to affirm authoritatively
that no God eXistS-a man must be
omniscient and omnipresent; that is, he
must himself be God, and then after all
there would be one.
'2. The acceptance of the Bible as
God's revelation to man. | never ex.
pect to meet q man who does not be-
lieve in God; but in these days l am
always prepared to meet men who do
not believe in the Bible. 1t is there
fore with peculiar pleasure that road
this principle, in which you accept the
Bible as Gods revelation to man.
Think a moment, gentlemen, what
these two principles mean. God as the
supreme Ruler of the universe means
God above all other powers-absolute,
supreme, perfect and true. Now this
TOD makes revelation to man and if
lie be the supreme, all powerful ruler,
lie can make use of any agency to in
sure the accuracy of His revelation
You occupy the proud pre-. eminence
OF holding to the good book in these
days of doubt, skepticism and carping
'HeNAAoOoo' dOu UDAL you nave
this as principle of your order and
earnestly pray that you may hold to it
as the sheet anchor of your souls. Let
us now consider briefly the object for
which you band yourselves together"
l. Relief of brethren in sickness,
accident or distress, mutual assistance
In business and in procuring employ
ment The assistance and care of
widows and orphans OF deceased mem.
bers. These aims, SO laudible, are the
direct fruits of Christianity and are the
results Of Bible teaching. The spread
OF Christianity and the introduction of
tho Bible have always been followed by
the erection OF asylums and the caring
for the distressed. The Bible is full of
teachings on this point.
''2. To create greater love for country,
homes and firesides, to teach obedience
and fidelity to the laws OF our country,
and the laws Of our own creating.
History teaches US that no form Of
government ever framed, is permanent;
that they all pass away in time 1t
teaches US also that the repu blican
form is the shortest lived of any, and
that the sure forerunner of its downfall
Is national decay in the patriotism of
the people. AS long as the people con.
tinue patriotic, so long will the republic
coh1ihue' on 40 we'll 10 associate with
love OF country, love OF homes and fire.
sloes, for country has no meaning to us
except as the place where our homes are.
Love OF home insures love o. country,
love OF dear ones, and love OF pure
life. America day stands first among
the nations of the earth, because she is
the land Of homes. must also com.
mend heartily your effort to teach obedi.
ence to the laws of our country.
In answer TO all this it may be re.
Piled by some that the principles and