The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-04-18
WITH MISREPRESENTATION
DEPENDENT on VISIONS.

Rey. Anna H. Shaw, Of Philadelphia,
last night occupied the pulpit OF
Fourth Street NJ. E. church, and preach
ed to a CONGREGATION which filled every
pen. The sermon was an eloquent and
torceful effort, and made a deep I'M
preston on her hearers. Miss Shaw has
been In the city In connection with the
woman's suffrage meetings, but she
merely alluded to woman's suffrage last
night, her discourse being on the In
splration Christians receive,
What is It TO be a Christian? Is a
question now being asked, said Rev.
Miss Shaw. What profit Is 1t to serve
God? In all the hurry OF the present
business life, men weary with the tolls
and struggles and worn with sin, ask
II there Is anything better than what
they know now. This Heart hunger 10
very evident. And the hungry ones
asking what 1t Is to be a Christian, are
answered in one way by saying that a
man born In a Christian nation Is 10 be
q Christian. Another says 1t is to be a
other, one must not only be member,
but believe tho creed3 Of Christian
church. Yet, all these answers are far
from the right one. Christianity is not n
belief, but a life.
The speaker had looked in the scrip
lures for a definition OF Christianity
She could find q definition OF religion.
Paul was a, rcllgionlst as Saul OF Tar
sus, a prosecutor but was Christian.
when he was prosecuted. His life had
been transformed by Christ. The DIFF
ference between; n religionist, lifting his
voice against men, and lover Of men,
was illustrated In Paui's life. Paul ac-
cepted Christ as his Master. and was
willing to give his life 10 Him. When
any man does that he is n Christian.
Rev. Miss Shaw related the story of
an agnostic, at whose burial In New
England town she ofiiciated. The agnos-
tic didn't want Christian burial services
over his body, but agreed 10 them on
condition that an article written by him
would be read at the services. This was
done. The article had 1t that Christ was
n myth. that Paul was the founder of
the Christian religion, and that Paul
followed vision. Miss Shaw stated
that no man ever reached success who
was not n ision-follower, and she gave
splendid examples In an eloquent and
graphic manner Of the rises to fame OF
boys OF humble birth. The boy who
started as cook on a fishing smack end
ed by being captain of ship. He had
the vision OF a captain when he was a
boy cook. The Office boy who rose to 4
judgeship, had vision OF that high Of
flee when he did errands and other
work as a boy. Thus 1t Is In all things.
The early emancipators had visions OF
the time when slavery would be abol-
ished. In this connection Miss Shaw re-
ferred to the first woman suffraglsts,
and their dreams of success eventually
to come when strivtn for. Those noble
women, cultured and OF fine sensibilit-
les, could not have borne what they. did
II they had not a vision OF what the
reforms proposed meant to the world.
This is true of all reformers.
But 1t Is more necessary to have n
heavenly vision than an earthly vision.
And 1t is quite natural that Saul Of
Tarsus became Paul. He lived with
Christ and became Christ-nke, which
was natural, for companionship makes
people akin. A boy or a girl become like
their companions. A husband and wife
living In perfect harmony are said by
people to resemble each other. Not In
any particular feature OF countenance,
but taken as a whole. More likely In
disposition, habits aad actions, but
nevertheless one reminds their, friends
OF the other. So Paul studying at the
feet of Christ. learned His patience, His
humility, and love, SO that like His
master he was willing 10 lay down his
life for the world; and he reached the
stature OF perfect man. Such Is the
power of a heavenly vision over n hu-
man life.
1t Is possible for all to sit in the light
OF the heavenly vision OF Jesus Christ
IL they will open their hearts to Him. It
is possible for all Gods children TO be-
come like Him X they so Will. And the
man who has had this heavenly vision.
and whose soul is inspired and thrilled
by 1t so that he goes on and on through
the world, despite It's buffetlng storms
OF sin, is Christian. That's what 1t Is
ito be a Christian. To go on and on
through the world making the world
brighter In doing His will, Is to be 4
Christian, and in so doing the man will
take on some Of Gods character.
wOMAN's CONFERENCE CLOSED.
Tha onpfarapca cIoend Saturday avan