The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-24
THE BISHOP breaches
REV. DIR. HURST IN THE PULPIT OF
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Text from Paul's Sermon on Mars Hill
REV. DIR. Moore, of Cincinnati,
mt Plymouth.


ed yesterday morning for the half past 10
service. There were double rows of chairs
in the aisles and 1t would have been diff
cult matter to have made room for one more
person. An overflow meeting was an
rounced for the First Baptist Church and
many, who were standing in the vestibule
went across the street to that edifice. The
platform was occupied by the pastor Of the
church, Rev. ". L. Haines, and Bishop
John F. Hurst. d. D., Of Washington. D. c.
Mr.. IIaineS made both of the prayers and
there was special music by the choir of the
church. Bishop Hurst read the lesson for
the morning, Psalm xiv. Mr.. Haines said
that three weeks ago he had asked the COM
mittee tc give to the First Church, which
was accommodating both the First Presby-
terrain ana First Baptist congregations, one
of the best and greatest speakers in the
Methodist Church and Bishop Hurst had
been selected. With these words Mr.. Haines
introduced the bishop.
Bishop Hurst Is one of the strongest of
the Methodist bishops and his personal APP
pearance accents the fact. He is strong.
firm, answering and direct. His sentences
are short and one element of his strength
lies in his simplicity of expression. He took
for his text Acts xvii, q, THAT they should
seek the Lord, If haply they might feel after
Him and find Him. that He be not far from
every one of u.s. This is a part of Paurs
sermon on Mars hill, when he spoke from
the most picturesque, ennobling and pathet-
ic section in all human history. Bishop
Hurst pictured the superiority of Athens at
that time. naming the famous buildings
which could be seen from Mars hill. No
Roman was considered educated till he had
walked the streets of Athens, Alexandria
and Antioch One wonders what Paul
thought, said the bishop. The typical Amer
lean would have referred to the history or
the philosophers. but Paul said nothing of
the leaders Of philosophy; he took a new
view of human nature. A poem might be
written on the silences Of Paul. The speak
er graphically described the spot where
Demosthenes spoke. Marathon Salamis. the
mountains and the sea, but it was not of
these that Paul thought. HE takes in the
race, for humanity only satisfies him."
Many nations have sought Christ blindly.
said the bishop, but nevertheless sought
Him. Leaders of religions were mentioned
one after the other by the speaker; each
has offered some TRUTH but not the whole
truth. He told Of child entering a dark
room and hearing voice, for which it
er for Christ. he searches but does not find
Him. Again the illustration was of the
pearl diver, who goes to the bottom Of the
sea and brings up shells and moss, mud and
sand, which he examines eagerly. This he
does day after day and 1t is a happy hour
when he finds a single pearl. Worlds of
great thinkers have been diving for the
truth; now and then rich pearls have been
brought to the world. There has been many
fruitless search. many fragments and
shells. 1t is only fair to do justice to the
fruitless searcher.
Again Bishop Hurst changed his hearers
thought to the religions of the world. He
told of Mohammed, the believer in many
gods. who went up to Jerusalem and learned
Of the one God of the Israelites and believed
in one God. Mohammed went to Arabia,
where the people believed in many gods,
ard when he left they believed in one God.
The searchers after truth were not inspired
by the Scriptures. Bishop Hurst continued
by saying that Plato said that he believed
could ascend and meet His spirit. Leander,
a great writer of history, said that Plato
vas leading him to Jesus, and Plato should
Christ Farrer calls them seekers after the
truth and Gladstone says: IF you want to
get your first Lessons In Christianity read
compared to the fact. When Christ came
lie brought teaching true and simple.
The wonderful records that have been
brought to light by the excavations in the
Eastern countries were dwelt upon at some
length. The spades have lifted the con-
cealed ruins and made the past reveal its
story. and not a word of the Scriptures has
been disproved by them: In particular was
mentioned the missing Pharoah among all
the Pharoahs found. and turning to the
Scriptures there is the account of Pharoah
who followed the children of Israel and was
drowned in the Red All of the revela-
tons are but the combinations of the Old
and New Testaments. Bishop Hurst dwelt
at length on the great truths of the Bible
ard the great and noble benefits TO be en-
Joyed through them and the reward that
would belong to those who earnestly seek
after the truths found therein. The audi
ence listened with the closest attention for
every word could be distinctly heard in
every part of the church.