The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-01-11
TO BE NO MEETINGS TO-DAY
CConLinued from Flrst Pagel

Continued from First Page) There is no character in history that flhs me with so much alarm and at the same time so much comfort as the character of Peter; on the one hand he was the man to whom came an op- pOrtunlty of the centuries, one Of the earliest and most intimate followers of esus. And yet he fell and when l think of this catastrophe, l feel like crying out, "Who of us shall stand?" On the other hand as l think of Peter l feel like lifting up my head singing songs of praise, thanking God, and taking courage as I remember that there is hope for anyone of us, AL though Peter fell into such seemeingly grievous disloyalty his faith did not fail and in the hour in which he was smlt- ten by the loving look of the Master he had denied, rushed away to the lowing one who had seen him great ways off! Peter did not desert the Master; moved by a sudden impulse. In his previous career we see evi- dences of the pride and self-conscious- ness which led to his fall. Four thoughts of great encourage ment come to me from this message of ! the risen Savior to His mfaithful dsci- pie. The first is this: That Jesus re- members his unfaithful disciples IL is the old story of the shepherd that leaves the ninety and nine and goes after the one chat is lost, like the heard of the father reaching out to the prodi- gal son. Not only does Jesus remember | His unfaithfM disciples, but, in the second place, He takes especial pains 1 to assure them of His continued love. l Poor Peter had probably had been hay ing hard time of it. The enemies of Jesus did not want him and poor Peter did not know what to do. When finally 1 he hears that Christ has risen again 1 with what haste does he speed away to the sepulc4lre and enters, the first mortal to enter the holy place after the resurrection. The third suggestion which comes to me from these words is that the Lord freely forgives out trnsgressions when we are truly peni- tent. Like the Oriental father who when his son rose in rebellion against him with an army, gave strict orders not to have his son harmed in battle,
 Q the Lord turned the gentle loving look l ol 1OTSlNeneSS on Gelef.
 The greatest encouragement is, how ever, that the Lord even uses these re- stored prodigals in His service. Who | was the one whose very name meant Rock upon which Jesus promised He would build His church? So there may
 be many to-day who have once found the Lord but have let Him go again
 from them. Seek these out and bring l them to be workers in His kingdom 1 Following the service there was a 1 meeting of the executive committee with Mr. Mills in the lecture room. TO-MoRROW'S PROGRAM l The program arranged for tomorrow 1 is as follows:
 Grand avenue Congre gational church, Fair Haven--At 10:30, Rev. E. Fay Mills, preacher, with an overflow meeting ad- dressed by Rev W. F. Bierderwolf i'll ! the Grand avenue Baptist church, if
 necessary.
 summerfeld M E. church-At 10:So, J. H. Murray, preacher.
 Grand opera house--3;30 D. m, Rev. B. Fay Mills. preacher,
 English Hall--3:30 D. m, Rev. l. H. Murray. preacher
 l East Pearl street M. E. church--3 30 D. h., W. F. Bierderwolf. preacher. ! Grand opera house-7:30 p. nl., Rev. B.
 Fay Mills, preacher; only men admit 1 ted.
 Calvary Baptist church-7:30 D. m, for women only, " ". E. Bierderwolf, preach CT.
 Davenport church, Wooster square 7:30 D. m, Rev. J. H. Murray, preacher.
 Second Congregational church, Fair 1 Haven--7:30 p. m, Rev. Edwin M. Po-
 teat, preacher.
 Grace M. F. chureh-7;S0 p. m, J. Lee
 Mitchell preacher.