Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-09
ChiiCkepiingg

he would go out and say I'll call DR..
Riker down." They go on with their
manner of living, and push back Christ,
who is reaching out to save them. The
speaker related an incident Of his meet
ing a crowd OF gamblers and dissolute
women on a train, of his talking to them
Of Christ and causing the tears to flow
from the eyes Of several, of one woman
who joined with him in singing Jesus
Lover of My Soul" Just a little mes
sage of the love of Christ started the
fountains of repentance and sorrow. but
he talked to society people of their sins,
and they 80 on in their way Of living.
If there is any difference in these two
classes Of sinners, the society people
may be farther from Christ Their
hearts are steeled against Christ.
Put the matter in another way. How
many society persons during the past
year have quit their shining against
the prOprieties of life, and become con-
verted? He was referring to the wo-
man who lives a good and useful l.fe,
but in her ignorance was following the
lines of amusements which he thought
he had justly condemned. Flow many?
There may have been one in the city.
but he did not know of il. He did
know, however. that unless the good
women who were n charge of the work
of the Rescue Home were much mistak-
en-, several conversions were made
through that source. How many So
Getty young men have been converted
during the year. One or two possibly;
certainly the churches have gained
many recruits from the working classes
during that period. Society people are
wrapped up n their amusements. and
before they realize it they viii lose their
souls.
Al, says some one, after all are you
not mistaken DR.. Riker? Are you not
100 severe on society amusements? It
may be that society is Christian. He
asked any person to take the facts
which he hau given to the community.
and which had not besn denied. Il was
not pleasure for him to tell them. Far
from ii. The greatest crosses which he
had to bear in this city, were the tell
ing Of the whole truth. He would al
low his hearers to answer whether the
amussments which he condemned were
compatible w..n the Hfa of Christ. He
was but fall!ble man. but he was sure
that his hearers We're sure, that he Dr.
Riker) was right. He did not believe
that there was a theatre-goer who has
a we'll defined scriptural hope of heav-
en-, well founded. The Lord does not
say we VIII be judged by what preachers
tell us The standard which he sets up
is: He who does the viii OF God" will
enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
A good many Of the society sinners
belong to the church But one may be-
long to the church, and partake Of the
Sacr3ments, and vet have a wholly in
adequate .de2 of what it 5 TO be a Chris
tian. He had not time to discuss that
thought, but he would make il the sub
ject Of his discourse on next Sunday
evening. His theme will be What are
the Requirements of a Christian?"
Some say they see no harm in these
amusementS. He did not ask them to
follow him, but to follow the Bible. He
knew there are ministers who play
cards who go INTO the saloons. and who
drink beer. We are not to be Judged
by what the preacher say or does; nor
by the standard of the community in
which we 1--we, but by the Word of the
Living God. He felt that he was called
by God TO preach the Gospel, and he in
tended to carry it forward with all
the earnestness of his nature. He COW
eted society people for the gospel; he
coveted them for Christ. He could not
but admire many things which they
do, and he would not inve:gh against
them. He admired them for their many
sacrifices for pleasure. and the energy
expended N its pursuit: but how much
more sublime if the sacrifices were made
and the energy expended in the cause
Of Christ! The millennium has not ar
rived because the society people stand
in the way. The Salvation Army can
go down into the slums and redeem for
Christ millions Of souls, while the
Church goes along just holding its own.
The speaker described a picture en-
titled Christ or DANA picture of a
woman standing in q crowd. in an at
titude of pens.ye meditation, her lover
beside her deciding for Christ against
lover, against home, against wealth and
luxury. He called upon the society peo-
pie TO remember that there are great
possibilities Of joy and peace with Je-
I