Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-29
q. SdkS and Company,
SAKS' CORNER.

content while the ola Year speaks the
farewell word at midnight"
HAVE WATCH-NIGHT SERVICES.
The ministers Of the various Methodist
churches met yesterday morning in the
library of Centenary church. The re-
ports from the special Christmas-Day
services were highly satisfactory. as also
were the records Of the services which
took place last Sunday.
The usual routine business was dis
posed Of, after which arrangements We're
made for the watch-night services. to be-
held on New Year's-Eve. At Centenary
church the service will begin at o'clock,
and will last until shortly after mid
n.,ht. At Broad-Strect the hour Of
meeting has been set for 10 O'Clock, and
at Clay-Street and st. James at $50
o'clock.
DIR. HOGE on CHRISTMAS.
Rev. Or. Moses d. Hoge preached
sermon Sunday morning especially APP
Iropriate 10 Christmas The discourse
had for its general theme the divine
character Of Christ-Christ the hope Of
the world. Or. HOge pointed out the
improved condition Of humanity since
the beginning of the Christian era and
took q hopeful view of the progress OF
the Church. He hoped for the ultimate
triumph Of peace among the nations. In
concluding his sermon. the preacher re-
ferred TO the inappropriate way that
Christmas was celebrated in Richmond.
The old pagans had a god Of wine and
revelry-Bacchus. They had a god of
war-Mars one might suppose that
Richmond had dedicated Christmas TO
both Bacchus and Mars, instead Of the
Prince of Peace. The pandemonium
that resigned here spoke badly for our
civilization and our REF. cement. IL
marked Richmond as a provincial town.
The speaker thought il could be- changed.
By way Of Illustration Of what might
be done. if the people would only take
the matter up seriously. Dr. Hoge told
Of q large city not far from Washington
where tho pandemonium was formerly
the rule on Christmas but whore not
the sound Of a pop-cracker or tin-horn
was heard now on the streets.
PAUL AT ANTIOCH.
Rev. Or. Kerr delivered the third SER
mon I'm his course on the Life and Work
Of ST. Paul at the First Presbyterian
church Sunday night.
Ii was in Antioch, he said, that ST.
Paul did his first important work as
an apostle. and il was by the witty and
sarcastic Antiochans that the followers
Of Jesus were called Christians At that
time Antioch was one of the three most
important cities in the world, and was
a splendid metropolis. with population
Of over half a million. Now, however,
il is "a miserable Turkish town OF barely
GOO inhabitants
The church founded by st. Paul in
Antioch. became the most important
Christian propaganda in the world, but
its prosperity was marred 10y a sectaran
controversy on the matter of circum-
cision between Hebrew Christians and
Gentle converts, who declined 10 assoc
ciate ST. Paul strongly resisted this
narrow view. Or. Kerr deduced pracu-
cal lesson from this historic fact Sec
tarianism, he said IS one of the greatest
dieappointrnCuts of Christian history and
be- concluded his most interesting dis
course with prayer that the time might
speedily come when loyalty 10 Christ
was the only test applied 10 churchship.
There win be no service at the First
Presbyterian church next Sunday night
on account Of q joint communion at DR..
Fairs church. but Or. Kerr will con-
tinue his series on ST. Paul the Sunday
night following.
GRACE-STREET PRESBYTERIAN.
In the absence off Rev. Or. James Y.
Fair. who is attending the twcnty-Aith
anniversary Of the Durham (N. c. First
Presbyterian church. the pulpit OF Grace
street Presbyterian church was occu-
ricl last Sunday morning by Rev. Or.
Joseph X. Wilson. the stated clerk OF the
General Assembly. Rev. David x. Wall
than, Of Mizpah church, Chestnut Hi,
preached az night The choir sang spc-
cial Christian music at both services.
one member vas received at Vest
minister church Sunday morning. To-
night the pastor ana congregation VIII /
be extended a reception by the West .
minister League.
ELECT 4 NEW PRESIDENT
The Methodist SundaySchool Society
met at BrOad-Strcet church on Sunday
afternoon and elected the following oiii-
GERS for the ensuing year. Mr. n. }.
Gary. Of COrinth school. esident; Mr.
G. l.. Raiy, of Trinity school, secretary; +
Mr.. T. NJ. Rediord. Of Clay-street as
sistant secretary; Mr. ). l.. Bishop, OF
Rroad-Street. treasurer Mr. r. S. NJ
Valentine. the retiring president, de-
cliued reelection. The reports OF the
old officers were most encouraging.
At the regular monthly meeting OF the
Missionary Society of Laurel-Street
Methodist church. held on Sunday after /
noon. the following officers were elected
for the ensuing year: Dir. o. i. Gillian,
president: Miss Bessie Atkins. secretary
Mrs. Bette Harrison, treasurer, ana
Misses Ilossie Atkins and Edna Mozart 4
ney. were elected as the Entertainment 4
Committee The pastor of the church de- /
lyered brief address, reviewing In NEST /
terms the work accomplished
by the society since its institution.
AN ADDRESS OK ARMENIA.
Rev. George Barsoom. n native Of Ar
fnenia, occupied the pulpit at Union .
Station Methodist church Sunday morn ,
ing. He did nor preach regular ser +
mon. but confined himself TO a graphic
description Of the suffernss OF his coun-
trymen under the violent prosecutions OF