Birmingham age-herald., 1895-04-01
Highest of all in Leavenng Power-Latest U Govt Report R>!all! >!l! Rsmassa! RRakiaRs
 ABSOLUTELY PURE
ABSOLUTELY PURE

physical existence and His grace for our spiritual or true moral life. What has He not done to free us from the guilt of sin to bring sinful man to reconciliation with Him? When the sentence of death was written against us on account of Adams sin ,, to have that death sentence cancelled the Word, the second person of the Divine Trinity, took upon Himself human nature, and born of woman in the person of man, He would crush the serpent's head, which He did by His death on the cross, thereby making satisfaction to the offended Deity, which all the united children 'of Adam could not have done, as there is no proportion between the means and the end; man making adequate atonement for siu committed against God. It IS only God who knows the immensity of sin-the worth of His own nature, and 1t is only God who can comprehend the crookedness of the evil. the perversity of the human heart; sin is the only monster evil, as 1t alone will cause us to lose the end for which we were created-union with God. II we become partakers of the benefits of His sufferings and death through prayers, the sacraments and other good works, all sins can be forgiven, since He came for the death of none, but for the life of all. He came not to call the just, but sinners to re. pentance. Turn to the God of Mercy, the one absolver, to Jesus Christ himself, who, through the tribunal of penance, applies His precious blood to the penitent soul.
 The choir was greatly repleted yesterday and the song service was exceptionally good. "Farmer's Mass' in B flat was delight fully rendered, with double quartette and strong chorus. Luzzi's 'AVe Maria,' by MT. Benthuysen, was we'll rendered.
 ST. MARY'S. ON THE HIGHLANDS.
 The text of Rev. 0. P. Fitzsimons' ser- mon was taken from the book of Jonah, and was "The Gospel of the Gourd.'' "i don't know whether the whale swallowed Jonah or Jonah the whale; the gospel of Christ is taught in Jonah, and it's careful consideration discloses it's graudeur,o said the rector. The climax of the book of Jonah is reached when Jonah complains of the destruction of the gourd, and God asks him how he could feel so about the mis- treatment of the gourd and be utterly in- different to the fate of the poor Ninevjtes. The great question is not whether He is God of omnipresence or omniscience, but whether there is God who has heart and who has tears in His eyes. This brings up the mysterious problem of human suf- fering, whose effects are two-fold-deter- ring and perfecting. Ia no case may they be considered as vindictive. In no case sympathizing with the following, statement from prominent clergyman:
 My brethren, we may imagine when you look down from Heaven, end see your acquaintances and friends and relations in hell your. happiness will be somewhat inarred; but no, you will then be so puri. fled aud perfected that as you gaze on that sea of suffering it will only increase your joy"
 Such "perfected' creature would be s demon and the author of such "periec- tion' unthinkable.
 The sufferings of our Savior exemplify the broad position that suffering is essen- tial to true perfection. It behooved the captain of our salvation to be made perfect through suffering, and only those may hope to attain that perfection possible in their day whose brows are bieaohed with the dews of solitary prayer, whose faces are etched by infinite sorrows, and who have sweated drops of blood in their own Gethsemane. Experience combines with scripture in attesting this truth. Philoso- phers and moralists describe it; poets sing what they suffer, and "In Memoriam'' never would have been written had it not been for Tennyson' s grief on account of the death of Robert Hallan.
 The universe relates itself to suffering in three ways: First, the epicureaus, who seek to forget it with mad intoxioation of sensual pleasures, shutting their eyes to the skeleton that sits at the Grecian tables and closing their ears to the soft, still voice within. These are in some instances the aguostics of our day-not, however, with their modern presumption of intel lectuai ignorance, but because of their ma iignant denial of common morality.
 Second, the Stoio, who seeks to deaden all sensibility-in doing so, however, fail- ing to remember that when thwarting the solemn Influence or pain they par the ave- pues to all pleasures.
 Third, the Christian, who realizes that It IS God's way Uf making him better, and that iu the great universe there is one far off divine event to which tue whole crea- tion moves. While he does not seek suf- fering, he does not shun it and is always abls to say in later years:
 ''I would not miss one si gh or tear,
 Heart pang or thro bbing brow
 Sweet was the chastisement severe,
 And sweet its meniory nOw.'
 The rector was so enthused with his sub- ject that he forgot to take up the collec- tion.
 The choir was reinforced by Mir. Gohe- gan, who has rich bass voice.
 CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
 Dr. L. s. Handey, the pastor, an- nounced that this church was just five years old, and that the anniversary would be duly observed by a public entertain ment at the church on Thursday evening next the date having been changed from Friday on account of the lecture by Rev. Sam Jones on that date.
 At the morning service Dr. Handley's text was, ''I count all things but loss but the excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. '-Phil. iii, g..
 The character of Paul was the subject of the discourse-the zeal of Saul of Tarsus 10 support of the Mosaic law, his opposi- tion to Christianity and persecution of Christians and the sudden transformation Of the man to fellowship with Christians and devotion to the cause. The life and work of Paul was beautifully depicted by the preacher, and his zeal for the newly espoused cause was presented as a guide for all converted Christians. Paul's deep re- search, his astute scholarship and philo- sophical mind embraced, through faith, love of Christ, Gnd he gloried in the knowledgsiof his Lord and Master. The apostle was bold in his new faith fearless In his advocacy of the doctrine, and gloried not save in the cross. He plead unceas- lngy with men 10 accept the teachings of Christ. No wonder Felix trembled at his teaching. no wonder thai Aprinna ,R as aI.