The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-12
REV DIXON YESTERDAY
Storing. Sharp Sermon Before an
Immense Crowd.
GROWTH WAS HIS SUBJECT
The Preacher Goes For the
Theater and the Dance.

That was strange sight at the mar
ket house and Metropolitan Hall yes
terday morning.
Saturday is market day, and early
the carts begin to come in until by ten
o'clock both sides of the long market
are lined with carts and wagons full
Of country produce. Yesterday morn
ing was no exception. but there was
another attraction that must have
made the vegetable vendors and their
teams wonder. Before ten o'clock men
and women hurried up to Metropolitan
Hall, evidently forgetful Of the fact
that this was market day. 1t was a
good sight to see prominent business
men, with their families, farmers from
the country, mechanics, school chill
dren and others in the glory Of per-
feet morning, turning aside from BUSH
ness and pleasure, to hear the story
of the Cross.
Rev, A. 6. Dixon. as he looked out
upon the sea OF faces, must have felt
gratifed at the audience that greeted
him on the busiest day Of the Week
He was in his best tTim-fulI OF Jhat
reserve force and ease that marks the
man. If he had an orators eye, he
would be great orator He lacks
nothing else. His sermon, which in
cold tpye. is as different as descrip-
ton of a sunset is tame in comparison
with the rays of the setting sun, went
home to all hearts. and made pro
found impression. He is easily among
the ablest men who have preached the
gospel here, and it is his ability. mani
tested chiefly In his simplicity. That
makes his sermon magnets 70 straw
the multitude.
Growth was the subject of the
mornings discourse. five verses Of the
second chapter of Peter, forming the
basis.
Peter had All idea. began the
preacher. that lie could prevent the
crucifion Of Christ. lie had to
he converted from that foolish notion.
After his conversion, Peter was told
to comfort the people. Peter had en-
thusiasm. 70 harm can come of en-
thusiasIn. God uses discipline to bring
men to the truth. Sometimes He brings
suffering to them for their own good.
The dentist and the surgeon hurt me,
but they do not harm me. God let's
hurt come into our lives that we may
not be harmed. This is the law of
growth for the individual and the
church. The possibilities of manhood
depend upon growth In youth. There
are three conditions of growth:
Il. Taste. The new birth gives a
new taste Tell me what man or
woman likes, and | will tell you their
character. Once we didn't have a taste
for the Bible. for prayers, for spirit
ual things, but when 'ye have tasted
that the Lord Is good, relish for these
things is certain to come.
II can look up at the stars AMI at
the ocean and see that God is great
and wise, but only on Calvary can /
see His mercy. III YOU break the ma
tural Law, YOU viii be punished There
is mercy for sinners nowhere except
in Jesus on the Cross.
How careful We should be Of our
taste. Our literary taste may be
yitiated by one bad novel: our moral
and spiritual taste By one bad act. If
You want to be noble, watch your
taste.
Mamma was the best food ever given.
lit was a Delmonieo bill of fare III one
dish Ii was luscious, Strengthening,
good. The Israelites didn't like il be-
cause their taste had been yitiated by
eating garlic and onions. When man
gives himself over 10 eating onions, he
viii not like mama.
Whenever i find church-member
cult attending prayer-meeting and
stop working En- the Sunday school,
say to myself: lie has been eating
mess of onions Onions are cheap IN
Raleigh. So they are IN Brooklyn and
NeW York If some shFeWd Yankee
trader among the Egyptians had fol
lowed the marching Israelites with
leek and garlic for sale, he would have
made his fortune.
THE worst mess In the world is
mixture of mama and onions. Sup
pose some housekeeper, as she was
leaving Egypt, had said to her servant:
Get bag full Of onions. and after
rhey had gotten well on their Journey,
had said: Let's have meal Of onions
and mamma mixed, she would hage
done what yoH Christians are trying
to do now. The troable with you is
that yon are mixing mama and on
ions-a mess that a dog wouldn't eat.
III you II quit the onions, Lag mamma
will satisfy you.
"A young man joins the church. At
ter awhile he tells the pastor to take
his name of the church bookhe fears
he has never been converted. The
truth is that he has been down to
Egypt mixing onions with his mamma.
If you will separate the onions from
your mamma, you'll grow strong and
happy You cannot serve the world
aud Christ.
THE second condition Of growth is
desire. AS new born babes desire the
the sincere milk of the word. After
taste. comes desire. You should get
your desire from headquarters. Don't
depend on any ecclesiastical dairy. Go
To Gods word. When / first moved
10 city, my father wrote: My dear
boy: Don't risk your health on city
milk. Keep a COW of your own He
didn't know it would cost $40 month