The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-23
THE SUNDAY SERVICES.
REV. ". A. BARR ON THE "sALVA-
TTON ARMY"
Meeting OF Episcopal Ministers-Rev. Mr.
sweeney's Eloquent sermon-Other
Church Services.
Rev w A uarr. rector OF Monumental

Rev. w. A. Barr. rector OF Monumental
church occupied the pulpit AT Broad
s,,co, Methodist church Sunday. The
sacred cdifice was filed TO the uttermost,
every seat being taken. both in the gallery
and i'm the auditorium. and the large
congregation gave the closest attention
TO the eloquent discourse. when the
speaker based on a part OF the l5,h verse
OF the 9Th chapter OF Acts; Ana they
took knowledge Of them, that they had
been with Jesus.
Mr. Bars sermon was IN part as ioi-
lows:
Two things. in these apostles caused
the people and authorities 10 wOndcp
one was their boldnoss. They may have
known ST. Peter before a. the moral
cow<d he was and now they wonder
at his transformation. The other source
Of wonder was that they were unleaTned
and ignorant and yet here they are hand
ling the NEST reconcile theological ques-
tions.
Thus In the character and conduct OF
these disciples these people found the
evidence Of Christ's divine power.
Though nineteen centuries have elapsed
the case is not different now. To the
great arguments drawn from miracles
or prophecy or the resurrection or the
existence of the church. the skep-
tic can make reply. but when ne
scss the drunkard become a sober man,
the brute become refined and gentle. the
villain upright and honest and when
the subject Of such change explains II
by saying he has been with Jesus, the
mouth Of the caviler is stopped. when
they saw the man standing by, on whom
this miracle was wrought they could say
nothing against IL"
And such wonders. in the name %
Jesus are wrought in our own day. When
the police of London report that whole
quarters have undergone a moral removal
ton through the work OF the SALVATION
Army: and when they achieve such re-
suits as have been reported by their New
York "slum brigade" however grotesque
their methods we must conccde that
these people have been with Jesus. /
am glad that the church | represent
through many Of its prominent lead
ers. has given the Salvation Army God
speed" in its work. Had the church
shown the same spirit a few generations
ago. perhaps there would have been no
Methods. pulpit for me TO preach In
tonight.
The fact that these apostles were 'un-
learned and ignorant men, so iar as
the schools were concerned. suggest the
marvellous educating power OF The reh-
gion of Christ. Religion takes the hum
blcst person TO the centre Of things. II
is a kind of key TO all knowledges and
operates on the mind Of man as "a sort
OF genius.
1t has moreover a wonderful refining
power. Beneath an dogmas and shibbo-
leths, there is such a thing as the light
Of the Holy Ghost that shines through
the individual and that men recognize as
a beauty all its own.
This subject indicates what is after all
the greatest work OF Christian Disciples.
BY doing good" we too often mean
only this or that particular activity and
do not see that the chief requisite FOR do
ing good is in being good. Character
teaches behind the word or deed. The
divine life in men is like light or frag-
rance that lnsensbly dnuses itself
among all around.
Do you complain that you can do so
little work for Christ. You can at least
live for Him and the most untOward lot
cannot interfere with this.
May we all 50 live that men Will take
knowledge Of us that we have been with
JGsus