The Washington times., 1894-07-30
PRIDE OF The CHRISTIAN
Under All Circumstances He Should
Profess His Faith.
NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF
By Means Of Spreading the Gospel the World
Is Getting Steadily Better-0nly Pessi-
mists Say 1t Is Worse Than Formerly,
So Rev. W. B. Carr Declares.

Rev. W. B. Carr, Of Latrobe, Pa, yesterday
morning occupied the pulpit OF the Eastern
Presbyterian Church, corner Of Sixth street
and Maryland avenue northeast Rev. DR..
d. II. Layerty, of Erma, n. j., had been ex-
pected to preach there, but on account OF
sudden illness he was unable to be present
and his place was taken by Rev. Mr. Carr.
Mr.. Carr TOOK for his text Romans lilo
'.For 1 am not ashamed OF the Gospel Of
Christ, for it is the power OF God unto saliva
tion to every one that believeth; to the Jew
first, and also to the Greek" The topic that
was discussed was "The earnestness OF Paul,
the great epostle.'
mot to say that Paul was an earnest man."
said Mr.. Carr in opening his sermon, would
be doing the great apostle injustice. Before
his conversion he showed spirit Of determ-
ined earnestness in the persecution Of Chris
tians, and after his conversion he evinced the
same characteristic by his' earnest deeds Of
love for the good of his fellow men,
The preacher then gave an exegesis Of the
Epistle to the Romans to show the reasons
that actuated st. Paul to write TO the Chris
tians of Rome He pictured that city under
the Caesars, speaking Of its wealth, its cul-
ture its learning, its idolatry, and said that
ST. Paul realized that it was the proper center
from which Christianity should radiate.
WHY ST. PAUL WROTE.
"Reports. no doubt" he exclaimed,
"reached ST. Paul of the weaknesses OF the
Roman Christians. He realized that the idea
OF the idolatrous Romans was to spread evil
reports of the Christian people in their midst.
These enemies. he fully knew, would put
every obstruction in the way Of the spread OF
the Gospel. and with such things in view, he
wrote his brethren to be OF courage and not
TO be ashamed of Christ"
The speaker spoke OF an infidel who CEN
fury ago said that the Bible was book that
would be reIegated to the past and forgotten.
Instead OF this. he said lit has proved to
be book of books. II has increased in num-
bers. Christ's name has been proclaimed
throughout all the earth, while the name af
infdel has become one of ignominy."
Rev. Mr. Carr referred 10 the increasing
demand there was for the Bible: TO the many
societies in this and in other countries which
were engaged in publishing it in many
languages. He referred to the large sums of
money expended in Christian lands for the
spread of the Gospel. During the past year,
he stated. over Il. 100000 had been spent in
the publication of the Bible.
st. Paul was conscious that Gods word
was OF great worth. The same power that
enabled him to endure all his imprisonments,
trials, and tribulations existed now and men
now fully realized the greatness OF Gods
power. The example OF divine faith was
manifested. he said. in all places where the
Apostle Paul went. God sustained this mes
senger of His power and made his work last
ing for all ages.
THE WORLD GETTING ALWAYS BETTER.
Sometimes our hearts are saddened. said
Mr. Carr. because We think the world is
growing worse rather than better. This,
however. is not borne out by the facts. There
has been continued advance in goodness.
This has been the case all along the centuries.
Our times and days are very far in advance
OF the apostles days. The church is riding
triumphant and advancing right along in
knowled.e, in wisdom, in virtue, and in mo-
ralty. The spirit of progress is liz it.
Other nations are also advancing by the
light of the Gospel. 1t is true that there is
wickednass abroad. SIN is seen as the light
of the Gospel is turned upon it. The more
this Gospel light shines, the more sin We
notice.
Never before, notwithstanding the wicked
ness that prevails, have there been so many
Christian people; never so many mission
aries; never so many societies for the good OF
humanity; never so many churches-think OF
it, from three to five a day are now being
built-never so many church workers among
the old and young and never SO much Chris
tian work. and all with coed effect Not only
the men are engaged in all these things. but
the women also. There was a time when q
gift of .l00. or $500. or 81 900 was wonder;
now it comes by the million dollars.
GOSPEL THE REMEDY FoR SOCIAL TROUBLES.
In this manner the preacher argued and
showed with great clearness that this world
was not so bad as it has been and is said to
be. In speaking of socialism, OF anarchy,
and OF the spirit of unrest that prevailed, he
said that the settlement of all these troubles
would come about through the influence of
the Gospel.
1.-The whole world,'' said he. 'is waiting
for a redemption that will come through the
Gospel and bring about better condition Of
things"
In conclusion the preacher urged his
hearers not to be ashamed of Christ but TO
be true followers of Him who died for mans
salvation.