Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-20
SWEET DAY OF REST.
SERVICES IN ALL THE CHURCHES
LARGELY ATTENDED SUNDAY.
REV. Mr.. BEAUCHAMp ON PEACE.
Pastor Of ST. James Methodist Church
Thinks the Cars Plan q Great
Move Towards Accomplishment of
Gods Purpose-Other Services.

All of the Richmond pastors have re-
turned now from their vacations, and
were in their pulpits Sunday. Rev. Drs.
r. p. Kerr and u. T. Sweeney are the
more recent to come back. DR.. Starr,
who has been sick for some time, was
able to be out also. and was warmly
greeted by his congregation.
All Of the church services were well at
tended.
Rev. w. B. Beauchamp, of st. James
Methodist church, preached Sunday night
from the text, peace On Earth" sug-
gested the minister said, by the recent
proclamation Of the Emperor OF Russia
calling for the disarmament of the ma
tons of the earth.
This proclamation declared the
preacher, "is the most significant occur
renee of this century and in all history
there are but two acts Of heads Of gov
ernments that approach 1t in Importance
the freeing of the serfs of Russia by
Alexander ii. and the liberating of the
slaves of this country by Abraham Lin
las, there can be but little doubt of his
sincerity, and the striking evidence Of his
appreciation Of the fact that the nations
of the earth are coming closer TO the ideal
of God and approaching the period fore
told by the prophet, when there shall be
peace on the earth, and the nations shall
know war no more
Mr. Rpanchaun highly e,llOPiZpd TOIGtOi
and Tennyson, both preaching the gospel
Of love through channel more effective
and far-reaching than word of mouth;
but before these two, Victor Hugo, the
greatest of the three, had with tongue
and pen espoused the cause of the COM
mon people and influenced France as no
other man in the cause Of the ideal bro
therhood as taught by Christ.
Tho preacher adverted to the many
evils, social and otherwise, associated
with militarism, from which the common
people were the chief sufferers. and said
every church which names Christ as its
master should pray for the dawning Of
the day when the Kingdom of God should
come to pass in the national as well as
the individual life. az believe in Christ
above every one else" he said. Il be-
lieve in His teachings above everything
else, and | rejoice that the Car Of all
the Russians, the most autocratic of
monarchs the head and ruler of 10000, 900
subjects, gives an indication OF his will
ingness to offer no further obstacle to the
sweeping forward of the blood-stained
banner of the Cross and the coming Of
the day when Gods ideal government
shall be the only one known among men,"
REV. u. II. SWEENEY.
Rev. Il. T. Sweeney was greeted by two
crowded houses Sunday and Sunday night
He is looking strong and hearty. and
preached with his usual vigor.
The morning topic was Christian
Character Development" and his remarks
were drawn from the first chapter of III.
Peter. He showed what God had done to
develop character and what man must do.
In the evening he discussed the sub
ject Of Authority" He took the ground
that divine authority was still in the
apostles, and they were still sitting upon
judgment thrones, and could have no sue
cessors, because there was no vacancy.
Apostolic authority is still in force in the
Church Of God.
MEMBER OF EAST HANOVER.
The Presbytery of East Hanover met
Yesterday morning at IL o'clock in the
lecture-room Of the Second Presbyterian
church, in this city. There were present
five ministers and three ruling elders.
Rev. Donald Guthrie was received from
the Presbytery of Bruce, Canada, and
was enrolled as a member of East Han
over Presbytery. Mr.. p. Bernard Hill, a
member of the First church, Richmond,
was received as candidate for the Cos
pei ministry. Mr.. Hill goes to Hampden-
Sidney College to-day to begin the seven
years of training which is recommended
for the ministry in the Presbyterian
church.
DR.. S. S. Laws. late professor in Column
bia Theological Seminary. was present as
a corresponding member.
GROVE-AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH.
At Grovs-Avenue Baptist church Sun
day the pastor, Rev. DR.. j. c. Hiden
preached from the text, Matthew XIV, IL
''Let them alone; they be blind leaders
of the blind" In speaking of how rapidly
changes take place in the membership of
a modern church, DR.. Hiden gave some
figures OF interest to his congregation.
The record shows that more than 40 per
cent Of the present members have Joined
the church during DR.. Hiden's pastorate.
about six years. About half of these were
added by baptism.