Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-20
CALL TO Mr. LOUTHAN
HE BECOMES PASTOR OF HOwARD's
GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH.
The SHIPWRRCKS IN
DR.. swecney's Sermon ON h Sub
iect Enjoyed by an Overlooking
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Notes.

A called meeting of the Towards Grove
Baptist church was held Sunday after
noon, and Rev. Henry T. Lcuthan. who
has been supplying the pulpit since Oc-
tober, was unanimously chosen pastor for
one year. from January LIST.
Rev. Mr.. Louthan IL of Scotch-Irish
descent with a good proportion OF Eng
lish blood coursing in his veins. He was
born at "Melrose," Rappahannock coun-
~. Va, November 8. 1866, but at an early
age removed with his parents to Clarke
county, in the Shenandoah Valley. His
father, Mr.. Carter VI. Louthan, of the
"Stonewall Brigade was for a number
OF years Commonwealth Attorney of the
latter county and is well known in the
State. Mr.. Louthan received his early
training at the Berryville High School,
and for several years was under the
tutorship of a Presbyterian minister. In
1856 he entered Richmond College. whore
he took a classic course. During the ses-
sion Of 1S90-'o1. after a spirited contest.
he was awarded the best debater's'
medal of the Mu Sigma Rho Society, and
during three different administrations was
a member Of the Board Of Editors of
the Messenger.
His first pastorate was at L. T. and
MOOdvIie. while ne was principal OF
the academy. at Washington, the county
seat Of R~appahannock. During the ses-
sion of 1924, he took n special course In
moral philosophy and history at the Uni
versity of Virginia, and while there was,
called TO the passionate Of the Mountain
Plain and Hillsboro' churches, in Able
marie. In October. 1895, he entered the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,
at Louisville, KY. and remained there
until last June. His uncle, William p.
Louthan, a master Of arts OF the Uni
versity of Virginia, was Professor Of
Greek at Richmond College at the early
age OF "a, but died QS6D after one years
service.
"Shfpwrec1ks I'm Life"
The congregation at Seventh-Street
church Sunday evening filled every avail
able seat in the spacious audienee-room,
including benches brought from the Sun
d~ay-school room, and placed in front Of
and upon the pulpit, while many persons
Went away because there was not room
for them TO be seated. A marked feature
OF the attendance was the very large pro-
portion Of men, who, together with others
present, gave close attention TO DR..
OWttltN = treatment OF MS subject,
"Shipwrecks In Life" The sermon was
full of practical suggestions, all brought
out and illustrated I'm a manner SO point
ed and plain that they must perforce
have made impressions helpful to every
thinking person present. He began by
saying the Bible is full OF beautiful
figures, and said the metaphor of Paul
concerning the "shipwreck Of faith" and
the many sad shipwrecks at sea so re-
Gently suggested his theme as appropriate
ar this TINA RaOfpnfnU with n IagqVfn-
tlon Of the monster leviathans of the sea,
the ocean teamers of the present age,
he depicted a scene at the departure Of
such a vessel from its pier. mid the
salvos n cheers OF friends left behind,
bidding those aboard godspeed and BON
voyage; and then gave a vivid and in
tensely interesting description OF the same
vessel when pressed on all sides by the
violence Of the monster waves, aided by
the great storm king of the heavens, and
It's final destruction and loss beneath the
waves. DR.. Sweeney said about the most
Notwithstanding thing about a big
ship was the helm, and said II, too, was
cttener at fault and faulty than most
any part OF a vessel, but he remembered
that upon the turn of the little helm
the vessel Is guided toward China in the
west or India in the east. so in every
human life there Is a helm. God gives
to each individual the power to set the
stamp of his moral life; this Is your helm.
He asked how many men are to-day I'm
our prisons because they have lost the
viii power to resist the temptation to do
wrong. Again, a ship at sea without a
compass Is like a man walking in the dark,
and said God had placed In every man
a conscience, TO be his compass. He adj
mitted that conscience had two ele-
acknowledgement and impulse-but the
impulse in conscience never told a man
to do wrong. Impulse" he said, lis
i%nfallible: look to your conscience and fol-
low impulse, regardless of worldly policy.
1PrYa tho n - n $1,000
deranged or DETECTED from its true bear
ing, and the mariner got out of his
course; so II is with cOnscience-some-
times It is distorted and you obey tudg-
ment rather than impulse, and this most
often leads to harm and estrangement
from God. And again, the mariner must
have his chart, or he would be in con-
slant danger OF striking on the rock or
reef. Now, there is one chart on which
all may depend in the sea of life, and
there IL only one; II is not OF human
origin, and no human being or set OF
human beings could make such q chart |
this chart is the Bible; the Maker OF Man
made the chart for man, and this was
the only competent maker of such a
chart.
The anchor, too, must not be lost sight
OF: It's need'is' often urgent. Fasten your
anchor 90 the rock of faith in God, which
is the only hope, and the lights-red and
white-are both your friends; the white
beckons you on to the safe course, but
the red warns you off from the DANGER
Gus coast. Young man, heed the warn
ing Of the red light and follow the beck
oning of the pure white light OF Gods
own viii, and earn the reward Of His
promise of a home In the Eternal City,
where there Is no more need for chart
or compass but where, in the calm and
perfect sea OF Gods presence, eternal
bliss will be your portion. The ship rot
properly cared for is likely 10 become
with barnacles; these impede her
progress. God has given to the world
the churches, and with the Bible as vonr
chart, and the Church and her people for
your association, will be found a spiritual
atmosphere fatal to the cultivation of the
barnacles Of bad habits.
VIII Observe Week OF Prayer.
The Presbyterians OF Richmond will OBJ
serve the first week in 1893 as the week
OF prayer" which is held with them an
nually. and is really n significant occasion.
The first service will be held on Sunday.
January LIST, at the Second Presbyterian
church. Rev. r. p. Kerr, ID. D., viii
preach, and Rev. j. i. Smith, ID. d., and
j. Calvin Stewart will administer the sac
On Monday evening the service will be
held at the Church OF the Covenant, con-
by Revs. Guthrie and Cook-sub-
ject. "Prayerful Confession.
Tuesday evening the exercises will be at
the First church. conducted by Drs. smith
and WitherSpoon. The topic will be The
Church Universal" ~
on Wednesday evening the Nations
and Their Rulers" will be the topic dis
cussed at the Grace-Street church by
Revs. Stewart and Laws.
The services Of Thursday evening will
be held at the Third church, conducted by
Revs. Van Houten and Chumbley. For
eign Missions" will be the topic.
Hoge-Memorial will be the place of wor-
ship for Friday evening, and Home Mis-
siOnS" the tonic. RpVs. Campbell and