Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-21
LAST SERMON HERE.
pR. HALL CLOSES ms pAsTonATE
AT SEVENTH STREET.
VISITING MINISTER'S ARE HEARD.
M ssrnnuc ut Monumental, and
urv. MIR. Finley nf Grace-strcc'
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS "ee'-
,,u-pastors' Conferences ResuTncd

nan NJ sevcnth-street Christian church
and this much-Ioved divine's life In Rich
moid draw slowly to close Yesterday
VAS spent in getting ready TO go; to-day
The Doctor will rest and tell his friends
and flock good-by; tomorrow he VIII
leave for his western home in Indian
apolis. Ind The sermon which Or. nan
preached Sunday morning from his pulpit
ri Seventh-Street church was the last
ne will preach. and that service was ms
Inal one in connection with that church.
II was not a farewell sermon in the usual
sense Of the word, but a strong Gospel
message Of truth lovingly told. Only an
Incidental aluson was made TO his going
ewav.
Mr.. Hall took as his text the familiar
words found in John Kill, l7-"lf we know
these things. happy are ye II ye do them
p'Knowledge." said the Doctor. sis the
basis Of happiness, and happiness is the
prize which all mankind is seeking Or.
Hall then went on to show that true
happiness does not come OF worldly and
Relish pursuit and man is not satisfied
when the desires Of the physical life are
satisfied. True happiness, the happiness
alone which Is worth the name. comes
pnly Of the knowledge of Gods laws ana
obedience 10 them.
TRUE HAPPINESS IN SLAVERY.
Here DR.. Hall proclaimed "A truth which
The honored and lamented Professor II.
A. Harris was once heard to utter: "The
lruest happiness is only found i'm abso-
hte slavery to Jesus Christ" DIR. Han
hen drew the other side OF the picture
Ne are happy If we hear Gods call ana
,bey. but the utmost woe comes TO the
nan who knows the law Of the Eternal
ind heeds II not.
Though no invitation was given, ana
10 general movement was made In that
direction, quite a number OF the large
congregation present went TO the front
tfter the service and silently clasped the
PASTORS hand in farewell. Especially was
Mis- true of those who live out of town
q little way or who did not think they
would be able TO go TO Mr.. Halls resi-
Hence and say good-by
The orphans from the Masonic Home
were present in a body, and DIR. Hall
made a touching allusion in the course
of his sermon TO the kindly relation al
ways existing between them and him.
He expressed regret that he would see
their happy faces now Sunday after sun
day no more.
DR.. Hall attended the last session OF
the Ministers Conference of his denom-
nation yesterday morning which it will
be his pleasure TO do, and said good-by
10 his colaborers. who have held up their
corners OF the work I'm Richmond. lie
has been the soul and life of the confer
ence, the younger ministers looking up
~ him for advice and direction in their
work. In this weekly meeting he will
be missed. and through their pastors,
every Disciples congregation Of the city
will feel his absence DR.. Hairs scholar
ship challenged the respect Of ministers
of all denominations while his genial,
courteous bearing won their affections.
DR.. Finley at Grace-street.
Rev. Or. C. w. Finley, Of Fish
srsvlle. Va, occupied the pulpit OF
6race-Street Presbyterian church AT
both services on Sunday. lie took FOR
mis- text in the morning. And so. after
nc had patiently endured he obtained
he promise" Said he: THE Scriptures
were given TO us for profit as well as
for doctrine. and TO be a guide TO us
for our daily life here upon earth. as well
as TO control our conduct in seeking the
life beyond. Take Paul's letters and
you find him anxious 10 state doctrines
first Ia those he is writing and exhorts
them to live up to the doctrine as taught
BY the Holy Spirit-tO be patient and
endure the trials of this lfe-feeling sure
that God win fulfil His promises as to
the life 10 come. We so often murmur,"
continued he, land complain, and are
ready to give up i'm despair. but delay. or
what we call delay. on Gods part is not
denial. Consider Abraham. how he
patiently endured. knowing through faith,
that he would receive the gift. If we
no a..
have more fulhlments of promises At
a time that Abraham was promised an
heir there was TO him. as far as he
could see. no way for the fulflment of
the promise. but through faith he waited
patiently for God to bring about the
promise. and God in His own time showed
Abraham that he had not en-
dured i'm vain But as the text saws.
after he had patiently endured. he OBJ
tanned the promise. our life sometimes
is very gloomy dark, and hard to bear,
as If there was no happiness beyond.
But" said he, "the promises of God, as
contained in His Word, are sure not
only sure. but they give hope to the
sin-strickcn soul. and the field of hope
wldens as our faith in the promises in
creases, and our faith I'm Gods promises
develops a fruitful life Consider Abra-
ham again. What a fruitful life was
his because he patiently waited Gods
time. And living life approved Of God
will as surely bring us the promises and
make our lives fruitful. No, my friends"
declared the preacher. delay is not de-
NAL. How long, how long! we cry, as
II the Heaven above us were brass and
the earth beneath iron. but patiently
endure. and we Will obtain the promise
''Then. remember. my friends, the
promises OF God are not for time alone.
but for eternity. and many of them will
not be fulfilled here. Delay is trying and
Responding. but helpful-often strength
ems our spiritual life. Patience Is our
duty. but II does not mean idleness
Work for God. and patiently endure and
obtain the promise"
AT night DIR. Finley took for his text:
"We have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ. the righteous" "This."
the speaker said, twas written. perhaps,
Nv the oldest living Christian of that
t,me-one who had felt the teaching of
Christ: one who had felt the real nature
" sin, and wanted 10 leave behind a
correct view OF Christ as our advocate"
rhe Doctor then dwelt upon the quail
ecations of Christ as our advocate-how
he made Himself one with us: how
christ, as an advocate was always nc
tessible an advocate who never de-
filmed case and never lost one; how,