The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-09-21

look down on Il. II was lacking In what
the world called nttractivcncsS. The
gospel did not come recommended by
tho poets. II had no splendid temples.
no pll,tcrlnE show Of O priesthood. II
was lust the opposite OF nll this, No
wonder the established church opposed
Il, md that II vas unpopular with the
masses. a religion to be popular must
have four essentials; First. good orl-
Fin; second, IL good purpose; tllrd, must
have power; fourth, must have II good
history.
Tho gospel OF Christ, the Christian
religion. certainly hnd all these rclul-
sites. II had its origin IN Christ. lie
was tho founder and lie Is the great
head OF the church. Many other rrli-
glOns have their origin In tho brain OF
mniL ThcHc generally flourish best In
tho darkness. This Christian religion
brings light and civilization. Any re-
ligl0n IL better than no religion ut all,
ami the better the religion the more elG-
waited the masses.
Tho purpose OF tho Christian religion
II to lift up the world, elevate man. and
to make him better and purrr In this
life. Whatever seeks To thus elevate
man Is to bG commended. The religion
that does the most TO help the world Is
tho one TO he tho most commended.
Show me n religion that will do mort
for mo and for the world Mt large thnn
the religion OF Christ docs-thcn | Will
discard this religion and embrace that
which Will do so much for me, but until
you do this give me that which thus
llftH me up and makes this old world
better. This religion has power TO make
nN1arNthIntF ~ tntIRhna haitian DnVsar tn
make the man Of the savage. st. Paul
saw. In the dawn Of the Christian rcllg-
lon the great spiritual power Of the
church and the great things TO be Gc-
cOmplishcd by II. We are not ashuincd
that We Hrc American citizens. Why?
Because OF the great power that all this
Implies the greatest nation IN earth.
But It Is n higher power to be II citizen
OF ChriSt'S Kingdom. The gospel Is the
power Of God. Ii breaks down caste. II
tenchrs the brotherhood OF man and tho
fathprhnOd OF God. 1t has done this
and IL doing II, and Il Is the only thing
that ran. or ever lid DO II.
The elements OF power In this world
are generally those Of destruction. We
have Il In the Hood, the hurricane, the
flames, but the power OF the gospel Kills
but TO make alive again. humlliatcs but
to lift up.
The history OF the gospel Is glorious.
II was glorious when Paul wrote, II Is
80 yet. We find all down the ages this
has been 90. The history OF the world
shows that those nations that have been
ruled by the gospel have been the hap
py and the prosperous nations.
1t IL now five years since Mr.. Ash was
pastor OF this church and ever since
then he has had charge OF the Morgan
own district. where he IL held In the
very highest esteem, both as 4 man and
Il minister. He has greatly improved
MS Il preacher since he was pastor here
and Is surely destined to be II OF the
very foremost ministers In the state.
There was Il large congregation present
and all were pleased 10 greet their for
mer pastor. At night $. ]. Miller. OF
Guyandottcc. preached to n full house
and his sermon was greatly enjoyed by
all.