The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-14
Rev. Or. |. G. Rroughton Brings Some
Plain Facts Home 10 the People.
IF CHRIST SHOULD COME TO NORFOLK
rho Evangelist TelIs what I7o Would
Find-IIe Illus IL Poor OpInion OF
Norfolk and Thinks ROnIloke nIors
rally Ahead of It-Othcr Services
Past and TO Como.

figure more picturesque and striking
than that of the Rev. Dr. i. G. Brougf-
ton, the evangelist. who preached al
the Academy of Music Sunday after
noon upon the theme: "If Christ Should
Come to Norfolk" Likewise, there was
probably no discourse delivered from
any pulpit in the land more striking
and picturesque. Those who attended
1.-THE servYces-and the Aeadeny was
packed from pit to dome-will not soon
forget the two pictures-the picture OF
DR.. Broughton. angular, ungra ceful
nervous, emphatic, inspired: the picture
he drew-the coming OF Christ, the
heavens filled with brightness and mel
ody, the yawning graves giving up their
dead, the living in Christ enatched into
the air to meet the coming King, the
claiming of the devil and thrusting him
into the bottomlcss pit. there to remain
for Thousand years, while Christ rules
the world, probably from Jerusalem,
where he had suffered so much, had
been despisedi rejected. crucitied.
Il would like to see him when he
chains that old devil" said Dr. BrouEh-
ton, Il would like to help put the lid on
when ne is cast into the bottomless pit"
The preacher, who was applauded at
various points of his discourse. began
by proving from the Bible that Christ
would come again at an hour and on q
day known to no man. He argued that
the pre-millennial theory was the correct
bne, and declared that while he was
ready for the coming of the Lord. let
1t be when 1t might, and he expected It
any moment. he rather hoped 1t would
be on Easter, when so many people
were at church, and the theatres were
closed
If Christ should come to Norfolk now,
he said, He would find the wickedest
~ rxtf Ill ,k..N
the most unEodly spot in the confines of
the Commonwealth No town or CITY
In the State was there where there was
such reckless disregard for the Sab
bath. He compared Norfolk ITO Roam
0ke in this respect, and the advantage
was decidedly with the Magic City.
The evangelist next got on to the
trail OF the dourts. He was very bitter
against those judges, who, in the course
Of their prescribed business issued IL
cenSeS for 'barrooms. Such Judges, he
said. ought to be turned out OF the
church, or resign from the bench. With
this proceeding, after n while, accord
Ing TO DR.. BroughtOn, there would be
none on the bench. but devils doing the
devils work." land that Is about what
1t amounts TO now" he added tentative
ly. He threw hot shot into the police
because the laws were not executed
hundred houses of ill-fame in the city
kept open in direct violation of the
law. Speaking bf the billboard posters
ne round In the city, he said they were
obscene In the EXTREMIST degree and
would be torn down in twenty-five min
utes In Roanoke and THE posters or
rested.
Coming to the churches, he bitterly
denounced those which paid three dol
- IL. n
the service OF the Master a paid choir.
he said, which sang classic music, which
on an average had no more religion In
1t than Dutch waltz. This church, he
declared. Christ would close up the
first thing when he came
DR.. Broughton touched upon other
features In connection with the churches
and then turned his attention TO the
home and heart. telling what should no
their condition when Christ came. He
dismissed the congregation rs they re-
manned seated.
THE DARK AGES.
The second Of DIR. Young's series of
sermons on the eras that have shapel
the religious thought of Christendom,
attracted n very large congregation to
Epworth church Sunday night. The
subject of the discourse was 1.-THE Dark
ages the long interval between the
NTH and thirteenth centuries, when his
tory was a blank, so far as human nro-
gress was concerned. 1t was an age in
which the church had the form of god
ilness without the power thereof as in
no era before or since. The whole world
was given over to ignorance and sill
perstition. Men did not think excent as
they followed the thoughts of the creed
makers and dogma makers of the first
hve centuries Hf the Christian era.
with the dawn of the Italian Rennai-
sance religious thought began to move
| n1rward with the progress OF literary
culture.
Inc leading Thought In the discourse
was that there could he no real devel-
opment OF religion aside from progress
in letters. If, he said, the Christian
religion could not stand the most
searching investigation in the light of
the highest standards of truth. he
wanted to know II, and he would give
up his religion. however painful i, might
| DO 10 make the surrender.
| The church has no reason to he afraid
| OF scientific investigation. When Won
| have flashed the light pF modern re-
sehrch upon every page of the Bible
You Will have faith in the sacred
| word that cannot be shaken
DR.. Young closed with Il beautiful trlb-
ute TO ST Francis. VINO, like his Master,
went about doing good
The singing was of the usual high
order Of excellence.
NOTE OF INTEREST.
| The Methodist pastors met yesterday
at Epworth NJ. L. church and ,transactnI
the usual routine business The con-
/ Wlct evangelist M. f. ireland, was
| present and gave an account of his
work. The Rev. James Cannon, .Ir.
| president of Blackstone Female sem
| mary, was present also.
| The Baptist ministers conferences ,,.,