The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-14

Robert StiIos.
The various sessions of the Episcopal
convocatiou held at st. Johns Church
yesterday were we'll attended, and ap
pear to have created considerable in.
terest. In the morning at $50 de.
votional meeting WAS held for the
ministers. This was followed by morn.
ing prayer at IL o'clock, at which
session Rev. John McGill, OF Christians.
burg, preached an excellent sermon.
His topic was God, the Father in
Heaven"
The afternoon session was opened at
$3.50 by Rev. Edward Goodwin with
prayer. The dean OF the convocation,
Rev. DIR. Carson. of LYnchburg, was in
the chair. Rev. c. b. Wilmer, of Lynch
burg, read an essay on "Tempta tions
of Ministerial Life" This essay was
listened TO by all with very close atten.
ton, and after the speaker had finished
remarks were made by nearly all the
ministers. Rev. Winners address
showed careful preparation and clear
prevented by illness from attending any
OF yesterdays meetings.
Services intended especially for young
men were held last night. The Christ
Church chapter of the Brotherhood of
ST. Andrew attended in body. The
opening service was read by Rev. Thos.
Jones, of Bedford City.
The evening sermon WAS delivered by
Rev. DR.. Mcbride. OF Lexington.
He based his remarks on portion of
the 18th chapter OF st. Luke: "For who
Of you, intending to b lild tower sit
teth not down 9sst, and counteth the
cost whether he have sufficient to finish
it? lest happy, after he hath laid the
foundation, and is not able to finish
it, all that. beholl 1t begin to mock
him, saying, this man began to
build and was not able TO finish"
explain that the Lord wants no one to
set out to follow I'm inconsiderately
or lightly, from mere .nimal feeling or
temporary excitement. He wants no
half.hearted followers, no ease see king,
care avoiding, cross evading disciples.
No government will send upon an i'm.
portant mission all unreliable public
servant The world de hands for its
tasks and its enterprises, courage, con-
viction. daring, energy, ability, trained
faculties greater the stake the
moro transcendent must be the quail
ties. Why should we then turn round
On the Master and say it is harsh and
hard when he seeks the best talent,
the manifest men? When he puts into
operation a scheme of election, competi-
tive examination, tests and trials, that
prove men and which will satisfy the
universe that they who are crowned
have fairly won their crowns. Few
persons nowadays "sit down and count
the cost" when they set out to be
Christians, to build for eternity, to con.
struct character, fabric that is indie
structible and will outlive the material
universe. Hence we have so many in
consistent Christians, so many nominal
Christians. Christianity or following
Christ is, therefore, q real battle, a
voyage over the stormiest of oceans, re-
sistanco to evil, facing the frowns and
sneers of the world, and the wrath of
tho devil, and the weakness of the flesh,
with the settled resolve not to compro-
misc, not to be driven by evil to do evil,
but to follow in Christ's footsteps and
reproduce his conduct.
Major Robert Stiles, of Richmond,
then delivered an address on the
history, objects and methods of the
Brotherhood of st. Andrew. He paid q
warm tribute to the memory of Charles
James.Wills, the fl rst vics president the
brotherhood ever had. Major Stiles
stated that this society had it's origin in
Chicago in October, 1888. The object of
the founders was to bring men into the
church. The speaker said that q Chris
tian is not man who feels himself to
be go I'd man, ready to stand before
God, but one not ready to appear before
his Master. Humility is tho essence Of
Christianity. 1t IS very hard to start a
purely spiritual work for man and feel
that it will reach him. Don't be dis.
couraged If you do not Immediately see
the results.
At the conclusion OF his remarks the
closing prayer was offered by Rev. Nc.
Bride.
There will be session of the convo.
cation hold at $3.50 this morning, devoted
entirely to prayer. The rector of st.
Johns Church will conduct The II
o'clock service. The speaker for this
evening has not yet been selected,
owing to tho uncertainty as to who will
remain in the city until that time, but
it is very probable that the evening
sermon will be delivered by Rev. M. p.
Logan. of Wytheville. Rev. Logan has
preached in Roanoke on several differ.
ent occasions and is highly respected.
Go see charming Mabel Paige In "Rip
Van Winkle" tonight. Prices 10, 20 and
80 cents.