The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-16
IN BAPTIST CHURCHES.
coon SERMONS AND CoNGREGA-
TJoyS DESPITE THE WEA TIER.
rx,r eta From the Dscouises of Some Of
the Proinineut Pastors OF tho bsp-
tist Churches.

christian Forecast was the theme
OF the discourse. DR. Hiden, in comment
ing upon the conduct Of the unjust
steward" who was too lazy to dig and
too proud to beg" quoted the saying OF
the famous French orator, Mirabeau:
There are three ways Of getting liv-
ing I'm this world-earn II, beg II, steal it,
He then contrasted the financial methods
OF men OF the world with those which usu-
ally obtain In the churches He held
that the financial burdens Of a church
ought to be born by the great body OF
the membership, and asked. What Ma
sonic lodge could live without regular
dues from the body OF the members"
The duty OF church members TO use
their Intellectual resources IN behalf OF
the church was earnestly insisted upon.
Christians should thoughtfully study the
question, How can | approach and how
influence my neighbors for their goodf'
Men who have become eminent IN the
political world were often men who knew
how to deal with the people. Thomas JET
ferson WAS as easily approached as was
any plain farmer In Aibemarle county.
He would talk with interest TO the hum
blest man on any subject that was worth
thinking about. John G. Calhoun was the
idol OF his neghbors. He would tax with
the hunblest farmer about crops, and he
was a very successful farmer. \ hfteen-
year-old boy, who had just got his first
gun, could 20 TO see Mr.. Calhoun, ana the
great statesman. who was an excellent
shot. would talk to the boy about hunt
ing Hardly any young man could live
near Mr.. Calhoun without being lndoc-
trinated with States-rights principles.
An insurance agent. who puts mp his
sign. advertises I'm the newspapers. and
then sits down i'm his office, waiting Tor
business Is sure TO fail. lie must be
alive and astlr. lie must be active in
making acquaintances among the business
men-learning how much insurance they
are carrying-who is and who Is not IN
sured. Personal contact. personal inhu-
ence. personal solicitation, are the lie
OF his business. II our church is to sue
coed. this work cannot be left TO the
preacher. The people must use prudence
forecast. sound Judgment in pushing the
work
At night DR.. Hiden preached from Ro-
mans. 9th chapter, 10Th verse: Moreover
the law entered, that the offence might
abound. But where sin abounded, grace
aid much more abound" The theme was
"The Functions of Law and of Grace
PUNISHMENT BAPrIsr.
AT Plne-Street Baptist church on sun
day morning the pastor preached from
tho 2lst verse OF the 18th charter OF TX
odus; And the Lord went before them
nv day In a pillar Of cloud, 10 lead them
tie wav. and by night In pillar or nie' 10
give them light" MIR. Hutson said 10 MS
mind-thcugh lie had not noticed IL Was
so claimed by the COMMUNICATIVE
this pillar was a beautiful type OF VI.
Holy Spirit 1t might be noticed that ,he
pillar was ever present, never uePd' ms
tthqn they
nartook OF the passover lamb, with stan
in hand as soon as they started, the
rilar appeared before them 10 guide
tbam II might be claimed this W., put a
tvpe Of the sinner leaving the bondage
OF sin. and starting havenward. As
soon as he believed and accepted christ
the Spirit of the Lord came 70 him 10
Guide him Alright. The pillar appeared
before the IsraeliteS under all circum-
stances.
Sometimes their ways were rough anu
they were soreiy beset All they hai 10
d, was to look and there Was the PEI
lar "a guide them on. When W. are
sorely beset with temptatio 10 ana COM
passed about with doubt, If we VIII only
look TO the Holy Spirit We Will ma lie
Is with us 10 guide us.
God did not lead the Israelites py cl-
rect route. He could have carried thoin
through the land Of the Philisunes, Wnlch
uas a much shorter way, but the pills
tines were at war, so God would not lead
them that way lest peradventufe the
people repent when they see war anu
return to Egypt" The Philistines were
too strong for the leraelites % hght' lhe
Epvptians we're too strong tor them to
fight. so God led them out Of the way OF
their enemies, though 10 do So he took
far route.
our enemies are stronger than we are
said the speaker; We do not fight against
flesh. but against principalites, against
mowers. and 1t is thus that God, through
His Holy Spirit, often leads us away from
our enemies
The pillar. he thought. sometimes chang
ed its form and position. When the Is
raeites reached the Red Sea, and were
oyertaken by the Egyptians, the pillar
came between them and the lsraelites.
and II it had remained a pillar would
not have served Gods purpose. He thinks
il must have assumed wail-like shape
between them being cloud Of darkness
TO the Egyptians, and shedding light TO
the Israelites 70 light them across the
Red Sea. Thus the Holy Spirit often
apuears between us and our spiritual
enemies and forms, wall OF partition
between US. putting 10 confusion our enc
mics and lighting us on the way.
We often wonder said Mr.. Hutsor., that
the Isrcelites ever doubted Whatever
their condition. wherever they were, they
only had 10 look up and there was the
niIlar of cloud by day, and OF fire by
light" 10 encourage and TO lead them
an Ruf we doubt; and God has done
more for us than for the Is-aelites. He
bss led us. and If He leads us at all He
lads us all the way. His promises are
ever before us. Il will never leave thee
nor forsake thee"
A. night the pastor preached from
Mark 10th chapter 18th verse: And he.
casting away his garments, arose ana
came % Jesus.
BAPTIST sUNDAY-sCHooLs.
The regular monthly ana quarterly
meeting OF the Baptist Sunday-School As
sociation OF Richmond and Manchester
WAS held Sunday afternoon at the PINE
street church. There was a very good
attendance considering the inclemency OF
the weather. ard the exercises. particular
" the sorg-service. were varied aud at
tractive. The responsive chorus by sun
6av-school children was very creditably
rendered. ard Oslo Camden, a little miss
of six years both astonished and pleased
Ter hearers by the manner In which
she sang a pretty solo, entitled Res
cue the Erring One"
The SO eaker OF the occasion was Rev.
7. Morton Mercer. OF West View. who
spoke wholesome ana encouraging words
to the Smnday-school teacher2.
LFIGH-sTRTET BApTIsT.
A. Leigh-street Baptist church Sunday
mr. rio