Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-14

WESTERN OHIO VALLEY MIN
IsTERIAL ASSOCIATION AT
THE FIRST CHI RIS tt N
CHURCH, BY REV. CHAS. M.
WATSON. PASTOR OF THE BEL
IAIRE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
The regular monthly meeting OF the
North Western Ohio Valley Ministerial
Association was held at the FIRST
Christian Church yesterday afternoon.
About fifteen ministers OF the CHRIST
ian churches in this city and vlclnlty
were present. Following is an inter-
esting paper on Fellowship, with es-
pecial reference to young converts
read before the afternoon session by
the Rev. Chas. NJ Watson, pastor CT
the Christian church of Bellalre:
Fellowship" with especial reference
to young converts.
prominent British Wesleyan in
concluding a great speech recently, Is
said to have made this statement:
"The greatest need Of modern Metho-
dism is not more conversions, not more
Nancy hut A. deepening OF the spirit
nal life of the ministers, lay of1lcerS
and church members" Not less is
this true cf all other christian bodies,
and | think that We as ministers, WIZ
agree that the great need OF Individual
churches is the deepening OF the spirit
ual life.
Especially then at this time or the
wear, when new souls are Delng porn
into the kingdom, is it pertinent for
us to discuss a subject that shall help
lis to properly care for these young
followers of Christ. OF supreme I'M
portance rs the enriching OF our splr-
itual lives, and to my mind the thins
of primary Importance to help Drlng
about that end, is fellowship.
Ry fellowship we mean communion,
association, joint partnership in the
church. 1t is the end OF Fellowship
that unites christians and leads Paul
to write to the church at Corintn
BE We not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers; for what fellowship
has righteousness with unrighteous-
ness. and what communion hath llgnI
with darkness?' 2 Cor. 6:14 And
John to write. that which we nave
seen and heard declare we unto you,
that We also may have fellowship with
us: and truly our fellowship IS Win
the Father, and with his son, Jesus
Christ
The fellowship we need is: LIST. A
fellowship that will provoke love. 2.
A fellowship that will provoke good
work. and if text were given 1t
would be Heb. 1924, the sense OF which
| have Just given. What is said In
this paper will come under these two
heads.
The first calls for more love, an
obvious need of the church of to-day.
In apostolic days by their faithful,
continuance, doing things with glad
ness and singleness of heart, praislng
God the disciples found favor with ali
the people Acts PAT.
The church to-day should win peo-
pie as of old. Not by condoning the
evils of the world. Just the opposite,
by condemning them. Nor by striving
to win the favor of the world by al
lowing her evils to enter our church
homes. Not either of these brethren,
but by entering into the Christ spirit
continuing steadfastly in whatever he
would have us do.
We deplore the fact that the church
at large does not act as if this need
part as ministers to aid the young con-
vert to see these things. While peo-
ple are rejoicing over conversions to
Christ the serious question with the
preacher is How can l help these
young christians?" and remembering
the admonition of Paul, Take heed
how you build" we pray for guidance
in this important matter. In this pa
per we will waive theory and endeavor
to be practical, taking as an example
our own work in Bellaire church,
where we have been having additions
to our church every Lords Day for the
last three months.
My first thought in the case OF the
young converts, was that we might
district the city and establish regular
classes, for the purpose of instruction.
We hoped to derive these among the
elders Of the church, but certain OBJ
iections were made to this course and
1t was given up. In its place we have
Substituted cottage prayer meetings,
which are held at intervals IN dl1erent
sections of the city. To these, espec-
tal invitation is given the new mem
bers to attend and have the opportun-
ity of giving such instructions as VIII
lead to the fellowship OF Wnlcn L am
speaking. Some of these things l will
mention.
1. Impress upon all the need of
having Bible which they can call
their own A Bible to read. Study
to mark and grow familiar with as
they would a friend. In this connec-
ton I urge the Importance of the
Lords day school.
2 With the Bible goes prayer. The
Importance of prayer is brought to
their minds. In this connection l urge
the prayer meeting.
g. Then the Importance Of gather
ing around the Lords table each
Lords day and attending the preach
ing of the word.
4. These all breathe of the spirit
of fellOwship-society- help all
to feel in truth that lone is our Mas
ter and all we are brethren" Matt
1878. In this way we endeavor to
provoke love for the word, for COM
munion with God, for attendance at
the house of the Lord and for one an
other.
The second part of our subject calls
for aggressive work, and the admoni-
ton is to provoke unto good works.
1t is not suffice fog a young Chris