Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-28
TIE CHAOTAUQUA CLOSED 4 It Has Been a Success inis All
 Respects. "
 . n.1r-
FEATURES OF THE LAST DAY
Were Two Powerful Sermons by Dr.. TaImage The Vesper Service Swelling Notes of Grand Benedicton

Talladega, July 27-(Specla1)-Th third annual session of the Alabama Chautauqua assembly came to a close last night.
 On Sunday morning at 10 o'clock an hours song service was held.
 At Il o'clock Dr. Talmage preached a magnificent discourse to vast con course of people from the text: "The statutes of the Lord are right. ."-Psalms 19. IS. z. s.
 Old books go out of date they discuss questions or advocate principles which no longer interest us. We do not want Sappho or Pythagorus or Fully to teach us lessons of-poetry, philosophy or ethics. Most libraries are cemeteries for dead books. But one old book has outlived the centuries. Tyranny issued edicts against it and infdelity tried to put out its light, yet 1t has lived. It will not ac- pole to pole and sea to sea.
 This book $ right in it's authorship. There isn't so much evidence that Virgil wrote ''Eneid," that Milton wrote Para disc Lost" that Scott wrote "Marmion," that Longfellow wrote "EvangeIine" fact that no part has been taken away from it-no verse knocked out through all the ages-proves that 1t was given by inspiration. There is a great plague of sin and sorrow in the world. Here Is the medicine, the divine pre- scription. Whose testimony will you take in regard to the medicine-that of the thousands who have tried it and been healed, or that of those who know nothing about it? The modern explora- tions prove that the history of the book is perfectly correct. Ohl 1 am so glad L commentary, 'The statutes of the Lord are right" on rock and stone and land and sea. Give me names of scientists who hate he Bible and I'll give you twice as many names as scientists who revere it. The brain of the world, as we'll as the heart of the world, is on the siae of the Bible. No one doubts the intel lectual supremacy of Gladstone. The testimony received from his own lips is this:, "There is only one great question tn all the world, and that is how to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ into closer contact with the lives and consciences of the people,"
 Without a divine revelation life is for you and me and everybody else the blackness of darkness forever. The meanest thing in the universe is the at tempt to take away this Night and give no substitute T
 Again. it is right in style. We don't read the Bible right. We should read it like letter from beginning to end. Like. all other palaces, it has door to come in and a door to go out. Every para graph is like an old banyan tree with a thousand branches and a thousand roots 1t abounds in poetry, history, science and philosophy. God shows His wisdom in choosing different authors 1t gives delightful variety in style.
 Again, it Is right in doctrine. Two great doctrines above all others-man, .t.k tI.xe rt.rt f1aAI ble had to be compressed in one word I'd choose the word mercy" (Here the worlds mercy was contrasted with Gods mercy) There is more mercy in the fangs of the rattlesnake and the tooth of the hyena than there is in the hearts of men and women towards those who go astray. We all like to help somebody because we need so much help ourselves.
 Lastly the Bible Is right in it's effect. The cross of Christ is the lightning that takes the bolt out of the clouds of sick ness and sorrow and desolation. Good night to earth, to pain, to sorrow, means good morning to Heaven, to joy to com panionship with Christ-that Is death
 Become the champion of this book. Dare to do your duty.
 Educate a mans head and you make an infidel; educate his heart and you make fanatic, but educate both head and heart and you have Gods noblest work.
 At D. m. a concert of sacred music was given by the orchestra.
 At D. m. Professor McCartha lectured on "The Lost Tribes"
 At p. m. the last Chautauqua vesper service was held at the First Presbyte- rian church. Rev, MT. Walker talked beautifully on unconscious Influence"
 At 8 D. m. Dr. Talmage preached again from the text: "rhe people that do know their God shall be strong and do ex- ploits." It was a strong heart to heart plea for more unselfsh disinterested Christian work. The parting words of the great preacher rang like a trumpet tone through the vast building and rang deep in every heart: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let the whole world be fill ed with His glory. Amen and amen"
 The Chautauqua has been an unquali- fled success. Hon. J. Wellington Van diver, who had returned from a visit to the Chautauqua at Monteagle, said in brief speech that the attendance at the Alabama assembly was equal to, If not better, than the attendance at Mont eagle; that our platform was better man. aged, compliment well deserved by our platform superintendent, Hon. J. B. Ora ham, that our music, furnished by Grambs orchestra, was far superior; that after all, he had never been before a more highly cultured and intellectual audience than he found at Talladega.
 GADSDEN.