Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-05-21
means to the founding of a college
inUtah.

| the Winona assembly grounds this
forenoon, the retiring moderator, the
Rev. DR.. John L. Withrow, Of Chicago,
presiding and delivering the annual
sermon
The subject of Dr. Withrow was THE
Chiefest Grace of Christianity" and he
took as ms text, And above all things,
have fervent charity among your
selves. u. Peter iv.:S.
He first examined the nature of the
grace, saying that not a Jew confined
the idea of charity to almsgiving. But
there was more than aims deeds meant
by the Holy Spirit when he bid us
"above all things have fervent charity
among yourselves" The substantive
term in the original, translated charity
in the text, was one of two that stood
for love in our language. 1t was not
love as defined in fuckers philosophy,
nor as described in Tennyson's graceful
verse. Ii was not such love that Holy
Scripture eXtolled and called us TO have
among ourselves. The line of defin-
ition must be dropped many fathom
lower TO touch the bottom sense of this
divinest term. And when we did take
soundings in the depths Of Scripture,
what riches were found reposing in
that one little word love" Eliminate
from the gospel what 1t had concerning
the love Of God, and nothing left would
serve a human heart more than an
empty cupboard would hungry man.
To make the message of Gods love i'm
pressively plain was the supreme re-
sponsibility Of those who knew II, more
than to do anything else.
Here. then. was discovered Ue
source and spring of the charity which
the text demanded. 1t was the deepest
pulse of the life Of the deity, whlch
must be kept beating in everyone who
would hope TO pass the great crises
which are yet to come on Christians
and the visible church. 1t was but as
we loved one another" that God
abideth in u.s." Thus the questions or
ones tolerance toward others OF oppo-
site opinion was made criterion OF
Christian character.
He next considered the greatness OF
the need of this grace, and said its pos
session alone proved one to be mem
Der of the Lords body. Eloquence or
Christian profession did not prove the
possession. of Christian principles:
Though he should subscribe his bellet
in every vowel. point, paragraph ana
portion of the Hebrew Scriptures ana
to everJ accent and affirmation OF the
New Testament. and though he were
ready a. drive any who would not agree
to such extreme doctrine of inspiration,
vet if his heart were not gentle and toll
Grant and tenderly careful of the faith
and feelings of others, then he was
nothing-of no account, according 10
PauTs estimate of what il took to make
a Christian.
"We live in the most restless era our
earth has had since Adam came upon II.
Everywhere there is disquiet and dissat-
isfaction with existing evil. economic So
cial and religious conditions. ldolatrles
were diving and atheism was succeeding
in heather states because nothing petter
than the discarded beliefs were ohered III
their stead And in the countries where
the cross Of Christ had supremacy over
all other insignia of religion, there was
Withholding of acceptance of Christian
itv and a looseness of loyalty in many
who did accept which might well awaken
annrehension for the future. And there
was enough evidence to indicate that the
intelligent and thoughtful were apprehen-
sive For what plentiful devices were In
vented 10 induce the unchurched to come
into the fold. Even the sobriety and SOL
emnties of religion was sacrificed TO SEN
sationalism in hope of catching the care
less. But the decoy did not succeed more
than fairly we'll with such as showed Il
studied shyness of the church.
What would draw them? Would WIDER
learning and sharper criticism OF creeds
multiply the followers of Christ? win
ALL the service that learning had rendered
IN Christianity It had never been sufll-
cient of itself to fill empty pews on sun
dav. nor greatly multiply names on the
sacramental rolls. Still II was most
common remark that something IS want
ing more than they had to recommend
the religion they professed to those VINO
were passing 1t by. Was there any rea-
sonable grounds for doubling that the
tonic pointed to the supply Of the need?
"Above all things have fervent love
among yourselves" Could any one esu-
mate the salutary effect it would have
unon those asking no claim to the Chris
tian name. if from this day on there
should never be heard one harsh word
between those who profess to be brethren
in Christ?
Divergence Of views there must be aris-
ing ont of constitutional and educational
causes. But what was needed was such
fervent charity among them that conflicts
between Christians would be unknown
When such a condition should prevail
among Christians men of the world wouo
mot mock at the text: Behold how good
and how pleasant it is for brethren TO
dwell together In unity" for they would
no longer see faction pulling the hair
of faction. as soon as the Amen ended In
nious service Of prayer and song. In that
bappy ard halcyon day which they might
hone for. the world outside the church.
tossed as the word was with trouhulous
thoughts and civil convulsions, would see
such conditions of amenity and calm with
i'm the communion Of saints as would
make mutitudes crave admission. Thus
could the world be won. and by no other
means. The poor heart of humanity new
or became so hopeless as not to believe
in the power of charity and the felicity
of fervent love to lift 1t to,a better life
and make it happy there. And this is ex-
pected first and most from those who
claimed to be His who said: Il com
mand YOU. that ye love one another"
Most Of the commissioners and many Wis
itors arrived yesterday and the buildings
here are crowded. many having TO seek
quarters in Warsaw. two miles away.
Last night a foreign mission meeting was
held in the auditorium.
THEC.P P. ASSEMBLY.