Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-08
CHRISTIAN UNITY.
Rev. Mr.. Stickney Speaks On This
Theme al DR.. nose'S Church.
MEMORIAL CONGRESS- PROPOSED,
This Ia "a Good Way TO Advance Fraternai
Feelings Dr. Nelson's New.Year's Ser.
mon-The Ladder of Time.


Sunday afternoon by a mass-meeting at
tho Second Presbyterian church. The
feature OF the meeting was that the SER
mon was preached by Rev. Fenner s.
Stickney. rector OF the M0num ntal
church. On the preceding Sunday after
noon DIR. Hoge had addressed an inn
morse gathering in the Monumental. the
occasion being thu celebration OK the
eightieth anniversary Of that church. The
elders of DIR. Hoges church attended
the Monumental meeting IN body, and
Sunday afternoon the vestry Of the latter
reciprocaIed, and occupied seats near the
pulpit.
There was large and interested con-
Eregation. repr senting all the Protestant
denominations at last Sundays meeting.
and after the usual Presbyterian service
OF song. prayer, and the reading OF the
Scriptures. Dr. Hogo briefly but most
gracefully and feolngly. introduced MIR.
Suckney.
MIR. ST1CKNEY'S ADDRESS.
The subject Of Mir. silckneys remarks
was Prayer" selected as an appropriate
Introduction to the Week of Prayer
beginning yesterday. After speaking OF
prayer as one OF the highest elements OF
worship. the sweetest privilege OF the
soul. and an act so well pleasing TO God,
who loved 10 have as come. and in he
spirit OF children, ask for what We
needed, the speaker discussed the Offices
OF so1g and preaching. He Gwelt espe-
ciaily upon the high calling OF the
preacher. and emphasized with great force
the Service that could be rendered by the
lady.
Towards the close OF his remarks Mr.
Stickney referred feelingiy 10 the
brctherly invitation ne had secured from
DE- Hoge. This. he said. was an evil
dence OF the fraternal spirit existing
among the churches Of Richmond. He
then read AN extract from letter to
him from Or. Hogc. IN which the latter
said that IL was possible that the peo-
pie might by tn advance Of the pastors
in the matter Of fraternity. This, Mr
Stickney said. had given him great food
for thought. and suggested 10 him the
appropriateness of n church union con-
gross as a memorial Of his reverend
brothers hftieth anniversary as pastor
The subject Of Christian union was one
that had long been dear 70 Dr. Hoges
heart and 10 his. lie did not propose a
Congress to make laws, but 10 dis
cuss the questions bearing upon the all
absorbing thought Of Church union. He
would gladly meet with those who
favored the move. and ne doubted not
the desire would he fulfilled. In many
minds # was believed that this problem
OF Church unity would be the last church
problem solved in this world.
OUGHT TO WORK FOR IT.
lie believed it would he the next. and
that Christians should not talk about 1T
only. but DO all in their power TO bring
IL 10 pass.
or ali places he said. Richmond was the
place for such d congress as he had IN
Ills mind The speaker discussed with
great ealncstness and tenderness the nj
n,ss Of making the gathering memo
rial such rs ne had indicated.
Mr.. Stickneys ideas in regard TO the
preparation for the assembling of our
selves together for prayer were foTciby
EXPRESSED He said the preparation should
be made in the closet. not as many did.
In the toilet. and # the congregations
would Join with the minister in hearty
Amen the power Of prayer would be
greater than we could estimate.
JOINT COMMUNION.
An impressive joint communion service
was held at the First Presbyterian
church Sunday night The pulpit was
occupied by Rev. Doctors hoGe, Kerr,
and Fair and Rev. Messrs White. Cam
non, Hnl. Stewart. and buchanan. ana
the building was densely crowded
The opening services were conducted by
Rev. Messrs. Stewart and Little. after
which Or Hoge delivered a touching ad-
dress on the communion. After the adj
dress she ministers took their seats
around the table and the elements were
distributed Or Fair and Mr.. Cannon
conducting this part OF the service.
Lesson. for Old and Young.
Emmanuel Baptist church was crowded
Sunday night. when Dr. Nelson preached
a special sermon on the lessons OF the
New Year The service was one OF I'M
usual interest. The text was sleep on
Now. and Take Your Rest Rise Up and
Let lis Go" Dr. Nelson devoted the lat
ter part Of his discourse to practical
application Of these words 10 several
classes. to all Of which he thought they
were appropriate. He first addressed him
self 10 the young. Youth" Dr. Nelson
said. "is the SPRING and seed-time of life.
The farmer who fails to plow and plant
in season shall hunger in harvest. 80
the young who fail 10 improve the golden
period OF youth shall doubtless suner IN
after years the keenest pang OF remorse.
See that young man who had fine or
portunites, but let them pass unimproved,
and now manhood with all its cares Is
lpon him and he is unable TO meet them.
lie fails in life-and why? The answer Is
plain: He slept away his youth, when
hould have been full OF watchfulness
and push and energy while others VINO
commenced life with no prospect OF sue
cess win brightest prizes and stand upon
Nhe pinnacle of success lie is a poor,
ragged, and miserable failure. | tell you
my young friends that the only sure way
TO win success in life Is 10 deserve IL.
Many misread the words OF the Apostle;
"Redeeming the time They seem 10
think that they can recall the past. ms
the Apostle could not and did not mean.
The phrase seems to SAVIOR OF t"e spirit
Of the auCtOneer's stand. He says; BUY
up the opportunities. seize the present
passing moment. for when II is gone IL
VIII never return
young man. do the duties that sprine
up At your feet In life's young morning
march II you would not hear conscience
saying in after years-not in gentle irony,
but In terrible earnestness-'Sleep on
now
THOSE IN MIDDLE LIFE.
Then these words are appropriate"
Or. Nelson continued. 'to those in middle
lie. The past year may have been one
OF trial and failure; your plans have mis-"
carried: your enterprises have failed; you
are sorely tried and perpleXed in these
hard and perlous time; what shall do?
These questions press heavily upon many
to-day. one thing you must not do. |
Under no circumstances should those in |
middle life and In the vigor OF man |
hood sit by the poisoned springs OF life |
waiting for some tomorrow to free them |
from the strife nor should they go for |
ward IN despairing dependency 10 meet |
the future l tenderly sympathize with |
you. brother man. bearing the heavy bur- |
deus Of NE. and would gladly come down
10 you as you toll in the crowded arena
swept now by the bleak, wintry blast, |
and scOrched now by summers burning |
sun-with the OLD Philistine war-cry. bap-
tized In the hopeful spirit Of the Gospel.
and say, Quit you Ike men The craven
heart neither deserves nor wins the fair.
nor shall the nerCcless arm wave the
Nctors palm. Rise up. let US go 20
pluck with manly courage success from
the very teeth % failure. The past is
past. LIT not the memory OF It's fruitless
struggles unfit you for the pressing. ur-
gent. available future The Saviour often