Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-24

Ing as tue subject, Some Mistakes OF 'ns
Church. " He said that JESUS had just
spoken the matchless Parable OF the
Prodlgal son. In answer to the complaint
Of the Pharisees that the pubncans anu
sinners drew near 10 hear him. Ihe
presence OF these same rich publicans no
doubt suggested the words OF the text
words which seem 10 advise how their
wealth might be used within the Kingdom
while presupposing that duty OF resti'o-
t!on taught US in the narrative about
Iaccheus. We have brought before US
truth OF wide import that not oniy IN
regard 10 wealth. but also In regard To
all resources possessed by those who come
into the fold OF the Master, the true con-
sscration IL not In the surrender OK them.
but in the CONSERVATION Of them TO the
good OF humanity. for the sake OF CHRIST.
II is far moro noble 10 use the wealth
for the benefit Of the race than to take
the vow Of poverty. unless That poverty
be needful In order 10 the accomplishment
OF the life-woTk. Too frequently the
Church has appeared 10 be AFRAID OF the
larger scholarship. has taken IL FOR grant
ed that there was n necessary antagonism
between the science OF the day and the
teaching OF Jesus. has rallied against Ger
man and French thought. as II each was
POSSESSED OF the devil How much better
the course Of a Henry Drummond, with
all Of whose views We are not compelled
to agree. In our admiration ~ the spirit
Of his labors or take. "a another Illus
tration out OF many. the gifts and sraces
Of the man behind the pulpit 1t is too
common 10 think that now we must have
him leave behind al those traits that
have distinguished him before. and that
ne must be other than Il man-elther more
or less As lecturer. or writer OF nc
ton, in all probability the man is at
tractive and Inspiring. As a preacher.
he Is duh. Just because he has no place
for those very qualities that might make
him q power. We might find further IL
Illustrations In the usss Of literature. art.
music. the social nature, the needs OF
the wUrkingman. the political problems
of the day. by means OF all these things
we might make friends who might at
last receive us into everlasting habita-
tons We must. however. guard against
the danger Of forgetting the end toward
which our use Of the mammon OF IN
righteousness must move. Too frequently
the Church has bsen content 10 get hold
Of the wealth and culture and social life
Of the people. often Ending In them a
breakwater 10 the inhowing OF Divine
power They must be used to aid in the
accomplishment Of human redemption
that the race may be lifted up nj last and
seated at the side Of the Son or Man.
We are reminded IN the parable itself
that the things secular. even when put
TO spiritual usss. cannot abide. The re-
vlsed version reads. as IL ought. THAT.
when Il shall fail they may receive you
into the eternal habitetions." Even at
the altar the gold and the silver shall
tarnish; The church building. however
well built. shall go TO decay; the music.
however beautiful. shall be lost In har-
monies in whose presence Il shall be as
dlscOrd: and. whether there be know
ledge II shall vanish away" The only
lasting thing Is the good we do-the good
I'm accord with the cross Of Jesus. But
row abideth faith. hope, love. these three;
and the greatest Of these is love"
DR.. sicdd on baptism.
Rev Dr. r. y. Sledd. pastor OF Csnte-
nary Methodist Episcopal church. repeat
Cd Sunday nisht sermon which he had
previously delivered on the baptism OF
Christ, and was listened to by a very
large congregation. despite the torrid
weather. Or. Sledd took his text from
Mathew, ii. and after setting forth that
II was impossible 10 ascertain definitely
from history the mode OF Christs bap-
tism. he argued that the Lords going
down into the water and coming up
out of the water did not warrant the
conclusion that he was Immersed The
preacher next argued that Christs bap-
tism was in no sense an example 10 us
but was rather an official prerequisite
10 his initiation into the priesthood; and
I'm conclusion he spoke OF the Importance
Of men submitting TO Gods ordinances.
Preparing for Conference.
At the Methodist ministers meeting yes
terday the following committees for the
Arrangement of conference were APP
pointed
General Arrangements-Rev. DR.. r. n.
Sledd chairman. Jackson Guy, j.
Thompson Brown, r. j. Taylor. w. a.
Christian. 7. a. Harrelson. George &.
Nanderylice.
on Entertainment-Rcv. R. T. Wilson.
chairman. c. p. Rndy. c. T. Brauer'
G. j. Hunt. W. J. Young w w. Lear.
II. c. Osterbind. J. W. Moore.
on TranspOTtati0n-Hev j. L. Whitley
chairman. Or. X. Midyette. S. c.
Hatcher, ". NJ. Bickers, John Freeman
S. c. Whitehead
DIR. Fair on Old Songs.
Rev. DR. James Y. Fair. pastor Of the
Grace-Strcet Presbyterian church preach
ed on Sunday morning 10 his congre CATION
for the first time since HIS return from
Europe. He was welcomed home by
large audience, and his discourse was
regarded to have been one of his best
efforts. Or. Fair took as his text ReVe-
latons. XIV. 3: "And they sang as 1t
were a new song before the throne.
The minister. who Is a great lover OF
music. described in beautiful words the
effect Of song upon the human being
He smoke Of the charms of music, ana
contrasted the old. old songs. so dear
TO memory. with the songs of modern
composers, and called TO the minds OF
his hearers the sweetness of such dear
old hymn as Rock OF Ages when rem
dered properly These old songs became
new. and charmed and thrilled the world
with their beauty and sweetness.
At the Third Presbyterian church Mr..
Robert Lee McNair, of the Union Theo-
logical Seminary Prince Edward county.
| preached with fine effect al the morning
service on Sunday.
Among Our Episcopalians.
Owing to the extreme heat OF yester-
| day the meeting OF the Episcopal clericus
was rather SHINY attended, and the dis
| cussions were purely informal.
! Next Monday Rev. DIS. Carmichael and
| John X. Mason, OF 81. Paurs and st.
| James churches, respectively. VIII leave
| 10 attend the Triennial Convention OF
| the Episcopal Church, TO be held at Min
neopolis. Mimi. next week. While they
| are away Dr. CalMcnael pu'pi' WIZ
be filed by Rev Mr.. Farland, the as
sIstant minister at st. Paurs. on the
| first Sunday Of DIT. Mason's absence Rev
II. Webb-Peploe, Of London, will preach
| at ST. James church. Rev. Or. Il: Il.
| Wharton. of William and Mary College
| win conduct the services there on the
second Sunday, and Rev. DR.. Walker. oil
| the Theological Seminary, Will iii tha'
| pulpit on the third Sunday.
| ,triO at