The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-07
The Methodist Ministers Meeting Effected
a New Organization Yesterday.
MANY BAPTIST REVEALS REPORTED
Dr.. Young Begins Notable series ui
sormons-D r. Johnson at cuInbrr-
innd a~treet-Rev. f. Is. Hatcher
delivers n Pertinent Disconrsc
MIR. AtwciI Hero.

In the interest of the Clcrgymen's Re
tiriIlg fund, preached at Christ Episco-
pal Chu-ch Sunday morning, at st.
faul's in the afternoon, and at S. Luke's
TAFT night.
Sunday was the 10th anniversary of
the rectorship of Rev. Beverly D. Tuck
cr, d. D., at ST.. Paul's P. L. Church. In
the course of an appropriate and clio
quent abbat informing ermon DR..
Tucker reviewed interestingly the his
tory of the old church. sand also dwelt
for awhile upon the results Of his own
recto.ship.
Rev. G. II. spooner entered upon hls
duties Sunday as pastor of the Lam
best's Paint NJ. e. Church.
Rev. Joseph Fl. Riddick. Presiding
Elder of the Dapvllle district. assisted
at communion at Cumberland Street
M. e. Church, of which he was once
pastor. He leaves this morning for
Petersburg.
AT Bank Street Blptist Church. col
ored, the pastor, Rev. H.. II. Mitchell,
asked the prayers of the congregation
for President. Mckinley. special refer
ence being made to the serious Illness
OF the Chief Executives mother.
REV. j. F. Garland, Presiding Elder of
this district, is at Buffalo Lithia Springs
convalescing from an illness. He Will
return to Norfolk in about ten days.
AT Cumberland Street Methodist
Church, DIR. Johnson prtlaohed on spir-
itual power at the morning service. His
tcxt was taken from Dachariah 4:G-
Not by might nor by power. hui: by
my spirit. saith the Lord OF Hosts" DR..
johnson spoke first of the vision of the
golden condles.ick described in the
context. saying Eihat it typiflcd at once
the unity and the diversity Of the
church. Gods work is carried on. de-
clared the speaker, not by n multitude
of church members, no. by human pow
or, but by the spirit of the living God
In the ministry and membership. Dr..
johnson spoke clearly any forcibly, and
evidently to the edincation of the con-
EreGatson. Frequent amens from the
pews added emphasis to the strongest
points.
AT the evening services at Fpworth
Methodist Church DIR. Young preached
the first Of Il series of sermons on the
eras tina have shaped the religious
thought OF Christendon. His text was
the last clause OF the third verse OF Jude
THAT yc should earnestly contend for
the faith which was ono delivered un-
to the saints" and his theme. 1.-The Era
of the Three Great Crceds." Our relig-
ious beliefs. said DIR. Young. have not
all been derived from thc New Tesla
ment, but are. to n very large extent,
he result of the development of relic-
ions Thought. The Apostles creed was
not written by the Apostles. nor dr:inE
their life time, but generations after
they had passed away, 50 Of the Nicenc
and Athanasian c:ceHs. which were for
mulated still later. Much Of Greek and
Roman philosophy was written into the
religious beliefs of the early church
ard is laugh: for the truth at the pres
cnt day. What right, inquired the
preacher. had the t~hcolnrians OF the
third, the fourth and the firth centuries,
which were hurt rs 4 candle to the sun
compared with the knowledge and learn
ing of the'rtinetcenth century, to him
for the modern Christian church and
prescribe its beliefs. The Bible is the
only authority in matters of faith. 1t
is the privileEe-Dw. Young may have
said duty-of the modern church. to
search nj the truth from the Work OF
ana to formulate its beliefs in ac-
cordance Herewith IN The light Of mod
ern learning and research.
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT ATTEND
CHURCH.
Rev. Mr.. Hatcher. pastor OF the First
Eap;l:. Church. preached a sermon
Sunday morning on the subject of
Our duty TO the people of ou- city who
do not attend church." Mr.. Hatcher
brought out sNme startling facts about
the large number of persons in the city
who rarely enter n church. "These peo-
pie" said Mr.. Hatcher, spend the day
in various ways. Some of them work;
others spend it in sleep and quiet. Others
in lettering on the streets or in the bar
rooms, or in tine c~lubhouses. Some
spend 1t Of their bicycles,in Their homes.
in social converse and pleasure and 9TH
ers /. f:ol!cing and still others make It
their chief day for w~ickedness." "The
church YES a duty TO these people. 1t
is 'twnfold. First. We must invite them
to QUE church. We recognize the pow
CT of invitations in other realms. Why
INST in this? Many have been brought
to church through invitations. There
are multh;udes who have never received
4 personal invitation to church, and
there are many church members who
very rarely invite any>ne to come" Mr..
Hatcher told several Incidents illuA.rat-
ing the power of invitations. Second.
We must give them cordial treatment
when they come. In other words we
mus; give them sympathy and kindly
greeting before we try TO give them the
gospel. Christ spent nTc.e t:ine on earth
ministerinE to the temporal than to the
spiritual wants OF the people. He was
sociable and helpful TO common people
and they heard Him gladly. There are
hundreds in our city lonely. burdened
and tempted who. on the Sabbath day.
with their social cravings yea:n for
friendship and sympathy. Let them feel
thai. if they come seeking f3r 1t here
they will not be disappointed. We mus;
approach u person as a friend before
approaching him as a sinner. And in or
der 10 give them the propc reception
here we must first feel a genuine inter-
est and sympathy for thom and then We
must show it in our actions after the
service. In other words. let our church