The morning times., 1896-04-27
SERMON TO ODDF[LLOHS
They Listened to Rev. Or. Canter
at Mount Vernon Church.
CHRIST THE TRUE FRIEND
On This Subject He Delivered an Elo-
quent and Appropriate Discourse.
Special Music by Chorus of 200
Voices Selected From the Christian
Endeavor Choir

Every seat in the Mount Vernon Place
Nj. T.. Church, at the corner OF Ninth and
streets, was occupied last night when
the Rev. Isaac NJ. Canter, pastor of the
church, delivered the annual sermon to
the Odd Fellows of the District OF Columbia.
II was an able discourse and highly COM
mended by those who listened 10 it.
The singing was by a chorus OF 200
voices, part or the Christian Endeavor
choir, under the leadership of Mr.. p L.
zimmerman. Mrs. j. B. Brown was the
soloist and Sallie Mason, organist. The
music was exceptionally interesting and
gives one a most excellent impression
OF the singing which is to he heard during
the sessions OF the Endeavorers in July.
Aside from the very eloquent sermon
which the Rev. Mr.. Canter preached, the
musical part of the evenings exercises
was decidedly interesting and q treat to
those who were fortunate enough TO gain
admittance.
In the ranks of Odd Fellows, who occu-
pied seats in the center of the church audi
toriun, were the officers of several lodges
In this jurisdiction, grand lodge officers,
officers of the subordinate lodges. officers
of the grand and subordinate encanpments,
officers of the grand cantons and delegates
from the Daughters of Rebecca.
CHRIST Is THE TRUTH.
The Rev. Mr.. Canter took his text from
the book of Proverbs, xviii.24. His theme
was Christ, the true friend In intro
duoing his subject he sand that when God
wishes TO impress thoughts upon our minds
In regard TO Himself He draws favorab bic
Illustrations from nature or personal Tela-
tions.
He spoke OF how God approves OF our
-. - -
our brother and friend. He spoke al length
on the element OF truth us tic basis for all
true friendship.
Christ the speaker said, was the
truth and all true friendship is based
on this. Whatever is good in the world
and in every benevolent organization may
be traced to Christ as the source. What
kind of a friend, therefore, is Christ?
He is an Interchangeable friend, an everlasting
friend, u friend of the strongest attachments,
one who never changes-Jesus Christ, the
same yesterday, today and forever.
1T is not The nature OF Jesus Christ TO
change; His composition is not made up
of those elements that change. He is the
love, the truth. light and all that make
perfect deity that changeth not. Man
is oftentimes unable to do what he wants
to do. He is unable to meet his oblisa-
tious, to perform the work which he has
demands made upon him. 1t is the work
or his heart, but he can not always do
what his heart would have done. With
Christ all things are power, might, aud re-
source.
1--WE read OF the love OF Damon aud
Pythias, the SyracusanS. In the Bible we
are told OF the love of David and Jo nathan
and of Ruth and Naomi, but the love and
attachment OF the Lord Jesus Christ is
Interchangeable.
WHAT A TRUE FRIEND is.
"a true friend Is he who will bear the
pain aud shoulder the troubles Of others,
and when such friendship is shown the
stamp OF Christs approval Is seen thereon.
There is very little true, disinserested
friendship in the world among men, con-
tinued Mr.. Canter, land this remark can be
applied to everyone for the principle Of
selfishness Is dominant within us. There
is friendship, love between man and
man, and poor indeed is the man who las
not such a friend to love him.
The speaker feelingly told the story of
Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus. How he
wept not because Lazarus, his friend, was
dead, but because he saw the sorrow,
misery and distress which was to come
to the generations Of the world. He wept
for you and for me. With such a lesson,
such an example before us, ought we not
to be responsive in our hearts for our
fellow man? In conclusion, Mr.. Canter
| said:
when death shall come to us, when
our earthly friends say goodbye, and
pray for our safe deliverance on high,
we should he prepared to say that Jesus
Christ Will be our guide and although the
| Journey be dark and dreary, We shall not
be alone, for Christ, the true friend, will
| be with u.s.
After the services had been concluded
and the benedictiou had been announced
| there were many who waited to thank
| the reverend gentleman and congratulate
| him for his able discourse. Among these
| were number of the Odd Fellows, for
| whose especial benefit the sermon had
been preached, and number of ladies.