The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-27
THE LoAvEs AND FISHES.
DIR. HawthOrne's Sermon on Lessons
From the Parable.

From the Parable.
The beautiful line of thought that the
story Of the loaves and fishes suggests
was discussed by Rev. DR.. J. B. Haw-
torhe at the First Baptist Church last
night. The rich store Of lessons the incl
dent contains was demonstrated in the
many forcible thoughts that the speaker
eloquently deduced.
They need not depart; give We them to
eat" was the reply of Jesus when con-
fronted with the problem of feeding 10000
souls on the five loaves and two fishes.
With such a multitude crazed by hunger
something had to be done quickly With
such problem facing them the apostles
were lost to know what course TO pursue.
DR.. Hawthorne said the apostles did not
feel that they should callupon Christ, and
instead of leaving the vexed problem to
His wisdom and goodness and power, they
took IL In their own hands. They feared
Jesus would not divert His mind from
spiritual things to satisfy the hunger OF
the people and for this reason suggested
that they be sent away to buy food.
There is a marked lack in the church
Of strict reliancs upon Christ and His
judgment" said Dr. Hawthorne. when
the suggestion was made for that vast
multitude to be sent away for food, II
looked like an expression of genuine dis
interested benevolence. They took Jesus
to one side, and l suppose told Him there
were 10000 in the multitude, that the
people were in deplorabe condition and
should be dismissed. At times / have been
asked to shorten the morning service for
the sake of children, but I have always
believed such suggestions came more from
the desires of the persons who made them.
Ii shows an Impotence a spiritual drows-
mess and insensibility.
DR.. Hawthorne said that the problem of
feeding the multitude should have been
left implicitly to Jesus. The purpose in
making suggestions was probably to
help Him out of a difficulty, but it is
irreverent, he said, to supplement Gods
Judgment with a suggestion. The apostles
were not replied 10 deferentially, therefore,
but with a gesture the reply was, get thee
behind me satan. He told them the null
titude need not depart give We them to
eat'
From this DIR. Hawthorne took up the
practical lessons of the text, impressing
the fact that men need not leave the
church to find anything essential to their
real welfare. Some are of opinion the
church Is devoted to but one thing, and
that its influence did not reach out in
is a good and a benefit to mankind. The
mission of the church, and its ability to
perform It's work, are as broad as the ends
of humanity
In all cities there are deserving poor peo-
pie DIR. Hawthorne said, but they need not
depart from the church. The Christian
church is obligated to care for the help
less, and when it fails to perform this duty,
he said, 1t betrays the church into the
hands of the Lords enemies.
1t is not the part of the church to say
the Masons, or the Odd Fellows, or the
Knights of Pythias or any other purely
worldly organization shah care for the
poor. but this class should be assisted by
the church and given the aid they are en-
titled to at the hands of Gods people.
There are many who seek an educa ton.
but are unable to pay for 1t. They need
not depart from the church, as 1t had al
ways held out a helping hand to those
seeking knowledge. and who. were unable
to get 1t for want of resources AS the
church Is willing to help them spiritually,
1t should also help them in other proper
ways. Man cannot live by bread alone"
he said, and If the benefits of an educa-
ton We're not acquired, he would be little
above the level of a brute. The church
should have such an appreciation of the
needs of human nature as to provide for
the education of those under its care.
DR.. Hawthorne said that there is a social
side TO mans nature also, but it was not
necessary for him to depart from the
church to have this properly developed.
The church does not ask that those under
IFS care be sent to the music halls, or to
other worldly places for entertainment,
but il makes ample provision. He said
he recently visited a city known for its
social organizations, and in the visits he
paid to some of them. he did not hear any
thing offensive to his Christian sentiment
There was not an irrAverent word, but
every utteranee clearly recognized the ex-
istence of high and supreme God. The
church should be a house of many man
slons, he said, and none should depart for
want of the manifold blessings it affords.