The herald., 1894-06-25


prodigaPs conscience spoke out in HE
soul for his fathers house His divine
nature arose and condemned his mad
conduct, and demanded that his feet be
turned homewards. The divine hunger
began in the prodigal before his re-
ception by his father. This is denial
Of the doctrine OF total depravity. Per-
haps we are all in sense prodigals from
Gods home above, for often we, too, be-
come homesick for our old home beyond
the skies, and Paul writes about his
homesickness, in the awful trials OF life.
In the souls OF many people is prayer
for death, while they are working nobly
for God and man.
II we leave the path of our destiny
and go into forbidden by-ways we shall
have to retrace our steps along the dusty
and weary way back again. Genuine
repentance manifests itself in hard work
to outlive the wrongs OF the past.
God needs no intercessor to prevail
upon him to receive to his bosom his
own returning prodigal. What q bias
phemy ii is to say that the God OF abso-
lutte love requires some one to prompt
his heart to love his own children! God
will do anything for us that we need to
bring us to him. Christ came from
heaven preaching this hope to all prod
igals, that God ia ever ready to embrace
"a repenting soul. II the earthly parent
prays for the return OF his child, must
not the mother heart OF the Almighty do
the same, by waiting always to receive
His sons and daughters?
The prodigal's brother remained at
home, obeying and loving his father.
He needed no conversion. for his life
was trained along the path of his des-
tiny; and his soul passed gradually
through emotional, intellectual, moral
and spiritual birth.
The prodigal was responsible for HE
own sins. and not for Adams sins; and,
like a true convert, he confessed his
Sins, and desired to suffer for them ac-
cording to his fathers pleasure. He
was not 80 morally and spiritually mean
as to akulk behind theological bank
ruptcy act to escape deserved punish
ment. He did not lay the blame of his
sins upon the poor devil. He did not
say to his father, 81 thank thee for pun
ishing my brother for my SINS" His
brother was not fool enough to cffer to
die for him, and his father had to strive
to reconcile his homo son to his prodigal
son. All the sacrifice which the father
desired was the prodigal's heart. The
atonement was a supper and not an exc
cution. No one could make this para
BILE illustrate the medieval plan of SAL
walton. But it does grandly illua-
trate Gods own plan of salva-
ton which Christ preached. II that
divine plan had been preached for 1900
years, we would now be cleaner, hon
ester and happier people.
AT SIMPSON TABERNACLE.
Sunday was red letter day in Simp.
son tabernacle, the congregation holding
memorial services to the memory of
Bishop Simpson. The church was
beautifully decorated, the work hav-
ing been done by Miss Daisy Reeves
and her Sunday school class of young
ladies. The Choral union, under the
leadership of Prof. Reichenba rem
de2sd an excellent programme. RevB.
White, Williams. Dundy and the pas
Cor, DIR. Mclean, had seats ON the
platform. DIR. Dundy Of the Rock
River conference, led in prayer. DR..
Mclean led in the responsive reading OF
the scripture lesson, Rom. IL, and
spoke on the theme assigned to him !:
Simpson az a Preacher, combining
his remarks to-4.the early life and
preaching OF the man who afterwards
became one OF the gres test pulpit orators
in the Methodist church, or any church.
DR.. A. G. Williams of University
church spoke of Simpson as q patriot,
relating many incidents showing his
faith in the union and government, the
influence he exerted on the administra-
ton at Washington. The address was
able and eloquent and listened to with
profound attention.
Elder White followed ON the theme
Simpson as bishop, telling of the great
characterize of this wonderful char
acter in Methodism, of his love and
sympathy for the itinerant in his pecul-
lar trials, of his great power in the pull
pit, of his sermons and how prepared,
closing with an appeal to the con-
gregation to rally to the support OF the
magnificent temple which beare his
name aud is in itself grand monument
to his memory. At his suggestion and
by his stirring words subscription was
started to lift the local indebtedne
which has been q burden to the church
for the past two years, and the pledges
reached the grand sum OF $l037, thus
strongly pledging the faith OF the audi
ence in this grand church enterprise.
In the evening large audience was
tracts from some of Bishop Simpsons
best sermons, among which were The
Glories of the Cross. He spoke of
the humble life of this wonderful
preacher and of his influence on those
who came in con tact with him. He was
also a popular preacher, to whom many
focked to hear his mastery eloquence
and feel his spiritual power, who hung
upon his words and received his bless
ing. May the name OF Simpson never
be lowered from the walls OF Simpson
church, but grow brighter and its glory
increase as the revolving years go by.
At the evening service the subscrip-
tions were increased by $i4S, making a
total Of SllS5.
Y. W. @. A.
The gospel meeting wac fully attended
at the association rooms al 107 North
Spring street. Miss Emma Rider pre-
sided at the piano, and the principal
address of the meeting was made by
Mrs. J. M. G. Fsllerday of the First
Methodist church.
The subject was Hearty Service. and
the text was Coossians, 1928: And
whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to
the Lord. and not unto men,"
Mrs. Fallerday's address wss full of
the thought of service, hearty service,
unto the Lord. None other can prove
acce ptable; none other can accomplish
what He needs from US.
A service OF testimony followed in
which several participated.