The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-17

/ was an able and q striking sermon,
based upon the first half of the ninth
chapter of Judges, touching the eleva-
/ Of Abinelech as King of Israel. He
| obtained the Kingdom by staying all
| Of his brothers, except lothian, who
/ escaped when Abimelech's hired vain
/ men were staying his brethren so that
he might be elevated to be ruler. The
parable given by lothian of the time
when 1.-THE trees went forth on a time
TO anoint q King over them" Where
the olive tree declined to reign, saying,
.tShall I leave my fatness?" the fig
tree declined saying, SHOULD forsal1e
my sweetness and my good fruit?'
the vine likewise saying, "Should
leave my wine which cheereth God
and man." the bramble accepted, and
reigned as King over the trees.
From this Bible incident and parable
the preacher spoke words of wisdom,
alluding in a sensible way to the evil
that is wrought in the world by self
seelxin. He did not believe that men who
were always seeking Office were worthy
to hold it, and that those who obtained
it by resorting to buying votes or any
other species of corruption would be
sure to become corrupt officials. He
said he eschewed politics, and was only
deducing the lesson that naturally
came from the scripture read. He
showed also by many apt illustrations
that the highest usefulness in life was
in doing what one was best fitted
by nature to do. The olive and the fig
and the vine declined call to reign
over the people, believing they were
more useful in their own calling. Pub
lie office ought only to be filled by
patriots, and by men who do not seek
If for the glory but because it is the
an open door to usefulness Those best
fitted often shrink from public honors,
as the vine, the olive, and the fig re-
fuses to be king of the trees. The
worst men initiate the bramble and
when chosen 'deyour the cedars of
Lebanon"-prey upon and Cypress the
people. This was the healthy tone of
that portion of the chapter that bore
upon elevation to places of public |
trust, only it was put by the preacher |
in a stronger, more direct, and more |
language. There was a con-
of interested hearers who
were greatly impressed with the wise |
and able discourse. AT night Rev. L. /. |
preached.
At the First Presbyterian church |
Sunday Rev. Neal Anderson, of Mont
gomery, Ala, preached two fine ser
mons, well delivered, earnest, thought
full. In the morning the text was taken
from John 1922, the subject, 1.-THE
Lord is My Shepherd At night the
subject was, Faith in God" In the af-
ternoon Mr.. Anderson delivered an adj
dress at the Y, M. G. A.. on christian
Liberty Limited by Love-"
Rev. DR.. Eugene Daniel, pastor of the
First Presbyterian church, preached
1T Central Methodist church Sunday
on christian Unity" Rev.
p. III. Tuttle, pastor of Central church,
preached his first sermon in the new
Methodist church, at Garner, which has
ust been completed. The new church
viii be dedicated some time in April.
At Christ church Sunday morning
Rev. j. S. Bronson presented the needs
md claims of Thompson 0rphanage,
me of the greatest charities of the
Episcopal church in this State. The
has several pressing needs
it this time, and no doubt Mr., Bron-
;on's unselfish mission viii accomplish
to object.