Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-24
PULPIT THEMES.
What Some of the Pastors Discussed
In Yesterday's Sermons.


The themes of the sermons in several
o.; -,le churches yesterday were suggested
by the views advanced by Mr.. Ingersoll in
a recent lecture in this city. and the dis
courses were replies. more or less formal,
to the opinions advanced by the lecturer,
as reported in the newspapers. Among
those who delivered sermons of this char
acter were Rev. j. S. Smith of the Central
NJ. =. Church, 18th and M streets; Rev.
Frank Sewall. pastor of the New Church,
and Rev. s. NJ. Hartsock, ID. D., of Ryland
NJ. E. Church. 10th and d streets.
The Christian religion in contrast with
pagan religions was the theme of a sermon
delivered by Rev. Alexander Mackay-Smith
at st. Johns Church. The preacher said
that heather religions have not the power
of reform. When they grow corrupt there
seems to be no cleansing power. He said
that the massacres IN Armenia were not
merely a chance outbreak, bat were due
to the fact that the empire suffers from
blood poison, coming from a purifying re-
ligion.
Dancing was the subject of sermon de-
livered last evening by Rev. w. Van Ars-
dale at the Fifteenth Street NJ. L. Church.
He denied that the Scriptures give au-
thority for dancing in the sense of the
modern meaning of that term. The dances
referred to in the Scriptures were religious
dances. In the ancient Jewish dance, the
preacher said, the sexes were separated
and If that were done today the dance
would be abandoned. He thought that it
had been truly said that the ball room was
the entrance to the divorce court and the
nursery of Righteousness.
An address was delivered before a large
audience yesterday afternoon at St. Johns
Church by Mr.. Albert Wesley White of
Harvard University. The address, which
was especially to young men, was listened
to by large number of the members of
the st. Andrews Brotherhood, of which
the speaker is a prominent member He
a ta1 fn
and said that the world estimates a man
by his daily walk. He thought that the
power of the example of a Christian life
ought to be more felt in the world.
The pastor of the Metropolitan NJ E.
Church, DIR. Hugh Johnston, last evening
compared the progress Of the gospel to the
growth OF the mustard seed. What could
nave less or promise, he said, than the
commencement of Christianity in the per-
son of Christ than His lowly birth? The
poorest child in this city was not so lowly
porn as the Child of Bethlehem. But how
His truth is spreading! In the first l.5OO
years Christianity gained one hundred
millions of adherents. In the next 300
years one hundred millions more; in the
last 100 years two hundred and ten millions
more. The lecturer Col. Ingersoll, he said
is going his rounds, and for the sake of
gam disappearing his God and Savior and
men and women redeemed By Christ and
processing to be Christians will pay their
money to hear an orator in words. a mere
smatterer in knowledge, stab at the heart
or the nations life and caricature all that
Is most sacred in their faith. But since
Robert was born" the preacher said lin
a western manse, Christianity has gained
more adherents than in the past l. 700 wears
OF her history, and he may live to see all
India and all China completely evangelical
oy the religion of Jesus Christ"
First Baptist Church.
The music at the First Baptist Church.
corner 10th and o streets northwest,
Yesterday of iph
lent variety of composition and effect.
AT the morning service at IL o'clock, the
Following selections were rendered: Sing,
Oh, Sing This Blessed Morn" quar-
tet. by Leslie; I'm a Manager Cradle" bari
tone solo and quartet, by Neidliuger:
Bethlekem" soprano solo and quartet, by
whitney Coombs The evening service at
$50 o'clock was largely devoted to song
and the program was as follows:
shout the Glad Tidings," quartet; THE
Birthday Day of a King" baritone solo
and quartet; plains of Peace soprano
solo; Bethlehem" soprano solo, soprano
and alto duet. and quartet, by Homer Bart
lett; arrangement by Pinsuti for alto and
baritone duet. The choir consists of the
following prominent musicians: Mrs.
Thomas c. Moves. soprano; Mrs. c. B.
Rheem, alto; Alexander Mosher tenor;
Prof. n. ID. Coward, baritone; Percy S.
Foster, organist and direetor. The pastor
OF the church preached short sermons
fnOTluHS anu eNenlpS appropriate 10 Inc
occasion, and the ordinance of baptism
was administered at the close of the
evening service.
Douglas Memorial NJ. f. Church.
Yesterday tn, music was as follows
| TIE Deum, Laudamus. T. S. Lloyd; Sing
| o Heavens. w. c. Williams; Christians,
Awake, Schneider; Gloria, from Mo-
zart's Twelfth Mass Mrs. Genevieve Mac
Gregor sang a solo at the offertory.
There were also solos by Mrs. DR.. Leech
and Miss Emma Houchen. The members
of the choir as follows: Sopranos, Mrs.
MacGregor. Mrs. Harper, Mrs. Dorsey, Miss
Mabel Wheat, Miss Amy May and Miss
Houchen: altos, Mrs. DIR. Leech, Mrs. DR..
Burton, Miss Annie Branson, Miss Emma
Houchen; bassos, Messrs. Dorsey, Red
field, Carr, Warren; tenors, Messrs. Green,
Hcuchen, MacGregor, Galbreth and Leech.
Mr.. Biegs. cornetist; Miss Laura Chapel,
organist; Wilson Harvey. leader.