The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-21
RALLY DAY.
Impressive Services at the Baptist
Tabernacle on Sunday.

Sunday was Sunday school rally day
ut the Tabernacle, and the spacious
church building was filled to overlooking.
There were between 600 and 700 Sun
day school children alone present.
Supt. y. Il. Broughton made a short
and interesting review of the Sunday
school, it's growth and work since it's
small beginning.
r.. n. Simms, Esq, spoke on 1.-THE
Sunday School as IN Agency in Church
Work" Mr.. Simms us one of the States
most eloquent young men, and his adj
dress yesterday was particularly fine,
and has been much complimented After
the address the primary department OF
the Sunday school passed in review be-
fore the pastors of the church, past and
present.
The morning sermon was preached
by Rev. g. s. Williams, of Washington,
ID. c., after the scripture reading by
DIR. II. Il. Skinner. DR. Williams took
as his text Isaiah 52:1: Awake, Awake.
Put ON Thy Strength, o, Zion" His
theme was ''The Church: Her Strength
and Duty" DIR. Williams said in part:
THE church is a divine Institution Of.
unparalleled history and SIRE foundation.
She has stood through the centuries.
She has not only maintained an indepen-
deSt existence, but has been an agrees
sive power
The Christian church is a factor OF
our civilization. Regarded as civiliz-
ing agency she is worthy of all praise.
but she is vastly more than that-she
reaches downward into the depth Of
degradation and sin and saves the souls.
of men. 8
''The church is centre of Christian
influence, a means of the propagation
Of the gospel and salvation of the world.
As the church is strong and efficient
the various interests belonging to her
will be advanced.
There are two or three theories of
church strength against which we need
to be on our guard. This is the day of
organization and the advantages of thor
ough organization are obvious. The
elaborateness of our machinery brings
with il a possible peril We may be be-
trayed into a possible trust in machinery
to the neglect Of the true source or
power Wealth in church does not
make it strong Also undue Importance
Is sometimes attached to mere numbers.
1t is quality rather than quantity that
does Gods work in the world.
1.-The real strength of the church Is
spiritual. The church is a body growing
out of living head and animated by
divine life. Christ is the head and
source Of it's life. What we have most
TO fear is not agnosticism, inffdelity or
wickedness without the church, but for
mality and Indifference within the
church. Christianity was never more
widely diffused than now. Its very sue
cess is its greatest peril. The danger
is that Christianity will become merely
moral instead of spiritual. Morality
while necessary as a fruit is fatal as a
root
At night DIR. w. A. Nelson, of Jack.
son, Ca, delivered mastery discourse
from the text: "He That Winraetn
Souls is Wise" The preachers two
leading thoughts were:
ut is a wise thing to do
cit requires wisdom to do it,
In the afternoon Il mass meeting OF
all the Baptists of the city was held.
Short addresses We're made by Rev. DR.
J. W. Carter Mr.. r. H. Briggs, Mr.. j.
G. Maroon, Mr. John II. Pullen ana
Prof. John Il. Ray.
At 1890 yesterday morning there way
ladies' meeting conducted by Mrs.
Nelson, Mrs Hall and Mrs. Williams.
There will be during the week daily
services at $3.50 p. m. and 1880 p. IN.