Evening star., 1896-07-09

He. exhorted Christian young people not
to stop growing in the spirit of God. The
glories of Christianity would be appre-
full growth has been attained The study
of the Bible would assist in the proper
growth. DR.. McCrory emphasized the i'm
portance of Christian Endeavor.rs keeping
their pledges by reading their Bibles every
day. God would help the young people to
grow.
Rev. DR. Smith Baker of Boston, Mass,
was the second and last speaker.
DIR. Bakers Address.
DR.. Baker said:
The material is a type of the spiritual.
The laws of the lower represent the laws
of the higher. Tie wise men of the Old
Testament constantly refer to them. Go
to the ant. thou sluggard, learn her ways
and be wise" 1.-THE spider layeth hold
with her hands and is III kings palaces"
No other teacher Is so fruitful in this
method our Lord. Consider the lilies
how they grow" 1.-The kingdom of heaven
is like unto grain of mustard seed" "A
sower went forth to SOW" and without
some kind of Il material illustration He did
not speak to them. There are but few SO
instructive, complete and beautiful types
or the nature and growth of the Christian
life as that of the healthy tree. The tree
has an unseen and an outward life; so has
the Christian. The tree has trunk and
branches, without which it's inner life
coEld not be manifested so the spiritual
life has it's great fundamental doctrines
and moral precepts which give 1t strength
and without which it would be only a
changing sentiment.
This is the Importance of our subject.
The Deepening of the Spiritual Life"
The strength of the tree depends upon it's
roots, the beauty Of the tree depends upon
it's roots. and the usefulness Of the tree
depends upon its roots. How is the unseen
lie OF the roots to be cultiVate62
The first thing for the deepening of the
life of the tree is nutrition. The soil must
he rich in that which feeds the sap of the
tree. Thus in the deepening of the spirit
ual life the love of Christ is not enough.
The Christian life must be rooted in the
truth or it will be but a transient emo
ton without strength or fruit
Inc Bible Is that truth; 1t Is the soil in
which the faith of the soul is to grow All
other soil is desert land for the spiritual
me There is no nutrition for the divine
me IN heathen mythologies or ancient
philosophies or modern science AS well
try to satisfy the hungry body with his
tor1cal facts or the healthy eye with moon
l,ght' or Inc natural affections with paper
doii.' or marble statues to seek to salts
fy the soul with anything less than the re-
veaed Word of God.
Mere intelligence cannot unlock spiritual
mysteries. Secular educat tion cannot feed
tne soul any more than agates and pearls
ana beautiful stones can feed the roots of
tree Secular education must fall befors
me cross. be baptized with the spirit ane
warmed with the love of Christ before i
can deepen the spiritual life.
The Bible is the basis of the Christian re
llg1on. The Bible is the life of the Profess
tant Church. The Bible is the spiritual life
OF the world. A man In order to get the
M spirlt OF Shakespeare or of Browning must
not only hear them read once in a while
or read few verses Of them now and then,
put ne must read and read and study them
over and over before the thought which
moved the poet shall become clear and real
10 hln We must get into the words he
lore the sentiment can fill U.S. Thus with
the Bible, 1t must be read and studied and
IT'S words and expressions become fixed in
. .ne pran before Its spirit will fill and thrill
tne soul: There is no more important mart
OF the Christian Endeavor pledge than that
whlch requires its members to read a por.
lion or GODS word each day. Our Savior
h.ina 'taue ea.a1 strong to resist temptation by
peing iuli OF the word of God The word
OF God is the sword of the Spirit and
when we are full of that word then the
splrlt mas something to work with. The
Wnen We are full of that truth then the
spirit mas something to illumine our wav
WITH No other words are so suggestive
no o.ner words are so penetratin no other
~, u.s; uS are so revealing, no other words are
go quickening. and no other words so sat.
is1y the soul as the words in which the
Spirit has been pleased to reveal Gods will
to us. 'o " III
In ma
me develops that life more than ali the
schools and all tho rituals of whole gen
GRAFTON. 1t is communion which deveions
the mlnd and heart and soul. The poe
communes with great ideas in nature Tn.
scientist communes with the rock. and tho
stars and the forces of nature The artist
communes with some great thought "a ~
Waispers TO his heart in the harmony of
souno until his soul Is fired and thrilled
with a passion which finds expression at
the Keys or the organ. or in the matchless
powers OF the human voice in song. Thus
wne1 sei, tne redeemed soul opens itself to the
~ord OF God In meditation, and to the
Christ OF God In prayer, and the saved man
communes with his Savior as lover com.
munes with lover, then higher. broader.
~ tne ana nonS clearer views of truth come in
10 the MIND, and sweeter intenser and
rlcner love burns in the heart and faith
stronger and stronger enters into thai
"lthn the veil, and hope brighter and
brighter rises above all tears and ali foar.
and joy like the beams of the morninn
makes the world a chariot of victory unon
which the Christian rides into glory
me ciosine exercise was the quiet tour,"
conducted by c. N. Hunt of Ninna,n 1I;s
He made short and enthusjostic t,ilr 70
members of the Christian iGnd.,avor He
said that he was Tor many years an i,.f1del
anu a., ,h hnoedlsver and took pride in it. Final
ly, the light broke in on him, and he was
convinced. He talked on the subject Of
conservation and inspiration, and invited
the CONGREGATION to join him in prayer.
talks were made by Christians In the con.
sregatlon; giving their experience in te-
coming Christians and in doing Christian
work A period Of silent prayer and a
song ended the exercises.
In the adult Sunday school room George
Judd presided, and directed the music. win
Miss Minnie Roberts as pianist The nro-
gram there was somewhat different from
tnat In the main room. c. N. Hunt spoke
and was followed by DR.. Smith Baker snd
Rev. j. e. Muir, pastor OF the e Street
Baptist Church.
FIRST BAPTIST
The young people Of the First Baptist
Church, 18th and o streets, are the hosts
OF the Virginia delegation, but as the peo
from that state after a delay of several
hours were momentarily expected both the
main auditorium Of the church, where one
Of the preliminary meetings was going on.
and the lecture room as we'll, in which the
headquarters are situated, presented ami
tod n