The Washington times., 1894-07-30
LEAD A pURPoSEFUL LIFE
Most Men Leave Too Much Work to
Be Done BY Somebody Else.
NOT IN TOUCH WITH GOD OR MAN
It Is Necessary for Their Welfare Both Here
and Hereafter That They Should Put
Forth More Energy-Interesting Sermon
By Rev. DR.. Sanderlin Of North Carolina.

In the absence of the pastor, DR.. stakely, OF
the First Baptist Church. who is taking his
summer vacation, his pulpit was filed yes
terday morning and evening by Rev. George
W. Sanderlin, D. D., OF North Carolina.
DR.. Sanderlin presents fine appearance.
He is apparently about sixty years of age, and
the silver threads have about suppIanted the
gold upon his massive head. He has a kindly,
genial face that betokens large benevolence.
He is good type of the pulpit orator, his
gestures, elocutionary attainments, voice, and
manner being OF q superior order. He exhib-
tied the traits OF one who understands per-
fectly how to sway the multitude. and the
dramatic effects were not lacking. He was a
citizen Of Washington about fifteen years ago,
and also resided for time in Baltimore.
DIR. Sanderlin preached IN able sermon,
taking for his theme, "A Purposeful Life. :"
He read a number OF Scriptural selections, all
exemplifying the same idea, and closed with:
'As many as touched Him were made whole. +"
He opened with the announcement that his
sermon would not be concluded at the present
service, second instailmeDt being reserved
for the evening. He spoke without the aid of
notes.
DR.. Sanderlin said: "Every life should be
purposefui, and not purposeless. There Is all
the difference in the world between the two.
Look, out upon that broad expanse OF water,
the sea. You observe collection of wreck
age, the remnant, perhaps, of some great ship.
1t is drifting idly. aimlessly, to be after
awhile deposited upon the sands OF the shore.
Looking over and beyond this wreckage you
see q noble steamship-an ocean greyhound
it is sometimes called-moving onward.
grandly. gracefully, majestically, under the
control Of its MASTER n mind superior. will,
purpose. II goes forward as a living thing,
and soon it Is seen nesting in the harbor.
''In the wreckage a helpless. drifting
thing. we see the purposeess life illustrated.
while in the great ship. moving so grandiy
through the surf, the purposetul life is typi-
fed.
TwoFoLD PURPOSE OF LIFE.
"The purpose OF every life should be two
fold-to ge. to be good and to do good.
Every man is born into this world with a de-
sire to be something better. The yearning
for something higher does not stop. This
turning of the world nfter this and that new
theory-this running after new plans-what
is it, Nothing but yearning for something
better. Paul felt this yearning when he said.
'oh. wretched man that | am, who shall de-
liver me from this dead body? 1t was the old
humanity he sought to be rid Of.
svA y
the doctor observed. in a twofold way. Get
good by touching Christ and do good by
touching humanity" We cannot do this OF
ourselves: We must have assistance. We
must touch Christ. There is a great differ
ence, though, between crowding or thronging
Him and in touching Him by faith. 1t is
often true that the hymns we sing have not
living faith in them: there is no touch"
there How seldom do We touch him when
we pray and when we give of ou: substance.
We do this often from mere habit. Logically
we must get to be good by touching" Christ
and 20 forth among humanity TO touch
and benefit it. All of the miracles performed
by Christ, with but TWO exceptions. were in
love and mercy The exceptions were when
He blighted the fig tree and when He drove
the evil spirit into the swine. Christ did His
acts of mercy by the touch He touched
the sightess orbs. He touched the child
as it lay dead, and he touched the afflicted
tongue. Christ never touched humanity
except to do good.
II we would do good we should put our
selves in close contact with humanity. As
Christians we are drifting too far away from
those whom we should benefit. There is too
much long-distance telephoniDg; too much
vcarious benevolence; we are too prone to
stand aiar off and say ''be We clothed, ;" and
''be We fed
God raises up men for His purpose in time
of need. Paul was called, and Charles and
John Wesley. and WhtefieId. God had
great purpose in view when He set His eyes
upon Dwight J.. Moody. the evangelist. and
Ira D. Sankey. the wonderful singer, and
placed them in His vineyard.
BUT -FOUR PASTORS IN CENTURY.
The congregation of the First Baptist
Church was among the first to be organized
in the city. 1t began making the church
history March Z. 1902 with but six members.
During the intervening ninty-two years it has
had but four pastors. the first being Rev. o.
B. Brown. He was followed successively by
the Revs. A. D. Gillette, J. H. Cuthber,, and
the present pastor. Charles A. Stakely, ID. D.,
who was installed In December. 1887.
The house of worship is a beautiful. stately
editice, situated at the corner of Sixteenth
and o streets northwest. The building was
erected in 1889. at n cost of little over $780,
900. The auditorium was modelled upon the
plan of old lecture room, which was destroyed
by fire at the Smithsonian Institution. the
pews being arranged in fan shape and run
ming back from the pulpit in tiers, with grad
uated ascent. The baptistery. located just
back of the pulpit. but hidden from view by
drawn curtains. is built of marble. Back of
this are dressing room for males, and to the
right of these the pastors study. The dress
ing rooms for the ladies are ON the opposite
side of the pulpit.
The Sabbath-school rooms in the basement
are admirably arranged and equipped. Two
pianos and an organ are provided. and fine
library to which the general public has free
access on Thursday evening Of each week.
The school is in charge of Charles W. Need
ham. superintendent. His assistants are
George C. Sampson and Percy S. Foster. with
Prof. o. T. Mason in charge of the adult de-
partment and Miss Maud Z. Cline of the pri-
mary department. Thera are eleven minor
officers and a corps of thirty teachers.
The pipe organ is one of excellent tone and
power. 1t was put in when the church was
built. and cost $1,000. Percy S. Foster is or
ganist and choir director. ard the vocalists
are: Miss Dorothy Byrde Rogers, soprano;
Mrs. Eulalie Domer Rheam, contralto; Al.
Mozier, tenor and n. DuShane Cloward, bar
itone.
The present membership OF tho church ag-
gregates about 575. The total of the collec-
tions for the last church year was S12,27l.76.
The principal present officers of the church
are: Deacons, John W. Clarke. Otis L. Mason,
George C. Samson, Robert H. Martin. Edgar
Spoiden. and Andrew P. Montague. Mr..
Samson serves as clerk of the board and Mr..
Martin as treasurer. The trustees are: Rob-
ert H. Martin, Edgar Speiden, AMI Robert
McMurray.
The church issues annually 4 directory.
giving roster of officers. committees, So
cieties. Sabbath-school officers. and u full list
of the membership, with u record OF mar
r;ages and deaths, and announcement OF reg
uiar services.
Rev. Mr.. LuccOck on Sabbath Dissertation.
Rev. George W. Luccock, pastor-elect OF the
NTot.o obx,fa had