Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-12
MUST LET THE WORLD GO.
Powerful Discourse by Bishop PEN
icix Yesterday mt Lenten Services.


The midday Lenten services at No. 1906
east Main street, under the auspices Of
the Brotherhood of st. Andrew, are at
tracing large crowds Of men daily. Yes
terday the spacious hall was filed, and
Bishop Penick, who Is making the talks
this week. delivered his fourth discourse
on BALKAN. He took as his text the
18th verse Of the 24th chapter Of Num-
bers: II shall see Him, but not now;
shall behold Him. bat not nigh"
when Satan brings down a Christian"
said the Bishop, 1.-THE first thing to die s
his will; sentiment may long survive, just
as a snake may lash It's tail long after
the head has been crushed. Go into all
countries in ages past, and where you ma
a religious corpse you VIII md 1t over
grown with rank growth OF sentimental
Righteousness. AS a soul betrays God, sells
out to His enemies, II seems 10 comfort
itself with over-much sentimentality.
so Judas kissed the Saviour he was
betraying. and so it is that woman Will
wear a 5000 diamond cross. and her neg
the back alley, whom angels keep watch
over. and report upon face 10 face with
their Father in Heaven.
POSITION OF BALKAN
ION Baars loftiest peak stands BALKAN.
back of him seven affairs, with bullock
and a ram on each, and the King and his
princes i'm their midst. They wait for the
smoke TO make God change His mind and
curse His kingdom, re-establishlng the ac-
cursed and rotten reign OF Moab Such
false worship-smoke only blinds men, but
never changes God. But God meets Ba-
laam, and. 10. opens his eyes. quickens his
vision. clarifies his mind, and IL sweeps
out and on. and up. into glorious heights
and splendid scenes. through space and
through time. making his tongue sing
such a song as the ages rarely heard.
Yet when the song died away. Balaam
moves not down to take his place in Gods
ranks. by the side of His advancing ark,
hut goes back to consult the man by the
side OF the ash-covered altar-the world
power, with gold in its hand and falsehood
in its heart.
TAKING THE CROSS INTO BATTLE.
1T is not seeing the splendors of Jeho-
vah's army nor the g.ories OF their deeos'
nor is Il singing these glories with match-
less song. or telling with peerless elo-
quence. or enshrining them in classic set-
ting OF sentimental admiration, but IL ~
taking the Cross and moving into real
battle with them. ., -,
THE thousands that saw Picketts d.
vision as IL moved time and again win
steady tread and flying banners through
these streets can never know the SlOIles
OF that body Of men, unless with theni
they climbed the heights OF Gettysburg,
where fire. battle, and death surged: ~
is not well sung but well done Christ
will say as He plants the crown OF glory
and life on immortal brows.
Gods host must be made up or heroes,
cross-bearers, real and true. whose crosses
have ragged edges, cutting deep, anu
sharp mai that pierce selnshness 10 the
death. This must be real thing, tfn rue
Offering up Of self in the service or the
King. This, and this alone, Is the only
kind Of Christianity that ] find Jesus call
ing for or Heaven waiting FOR, WIN
crowns OF life and love.
'If we suffer with Him, we shall also
reign with Him.
1.-The Son of God goes forth TO war
Who follows In His train2 All, who? This
power of heroic action is lost when the
head is allowed TO slumber in the lap oil
self-indulgence just as Samson's locks
and strength were lost when that hariol
came between his heart and the sacred
trust and secret life OF his God. Yes, he,
the strongest man, so fel and none less
strong can daily with selfish indulgence
or parley with treacherous world In the
Devils service and live.
WHAT DO CHRISTIANS MEAN?
Hearing good music, saying orthodox
creeds, hearing or preaching eloquent ser
mons, building faultless temples OF ex-
quisite architecture, decide inviting II the
soul stops here. Loving to hear the
bands play never yet won an army 5
battle, nor kept the banners of king
going forward in a glorious conquest.
These things are good I'm their place.
Shame upon the man that would give TO
their kind less than his best for the SER
vice of his God. Principle vivihed into
action, and action wrought INTO charac-
ter. and character that presses as close
to the Cross OF Christ as is possible right
down here and right now in the battle
that is on us, is what God wants, and the
salvation of humanity and glory of the
Church demands. What DO Christians
mean to let the income from prostitution
and from drinking saloons and gambling
bells mount up TO many times the sum
they place at the disposal of the King
to help save our sons and daughters and
purify and glorify the humanity tie
places within reach OF our ministerinS
hands?
eff the 100 men looking so steadily in
my eyes al this moment would but throw
themselves heart, soul, and power into
this (Christ's) battle, we could do deeds
that would not only make this city leap
for JOY, but this grand old state thrill
yea! this whole nation respond and the
entire world move up closer and truer
to God and life. But we must let 90 the
world. and swing clear of self"