The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-03

No man ever professed so much. The Jews
claimed one God and that Moses was the
to be the son of God. Mohammed also
claimed one God and that he was the great
prophet, but neither he nor any Of his fol.
David or of Abraham Jesus was bold in His
assertion that He was the divine Son of God
He claimed to be the spiritual King. We
ties were filled with anxiety while on the
day OF Pentecost they awaited the promise
of the Father. The founding of the church
was a new enterprise. 1t was the begin
ming OF new regime in the ecclesiastical
world. and with anxious hearts and bated
power OF the Holy Spirit. Endowed with
this new power they went forward to es-
tablish a new kingdom that would produce
new thoughts and lives in the history OF
men. AS the result Of the preaching of the
Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost 1900
souls were added. This was a great begin
nlng, and was the result of prepared and
poets little will receive little. We get out of
this life just what We put into it. He that
would be great must become the servant of
all Life should begin in sacrifice in order
that 1t may become full orbed in Christ
Jesus. The history of the church seems to
be history of beginnings and endi,.gs. of
successes and failures; and vet, like the
ieaven In the loaf. there has been no time
in which the power of the gospel has not
been able to tighten and uplift.
IN THE DARK AGES.
hre OF the primitive gospel had gone out,
but beneath the debris of ignorance end
superstition that fire still smoldered until,
In John Huss and Jerome Progue. IL begins
to glow and send out greater light. Then.
like a prairie fire, in the personalities of
Luther. Calvin, Knox and Others 1t leaps
from place to place until. apparently, the
whole ecclesiastical world Is aflame with
a of,
the results of the power of tae gospel of
Jesus Christ are marvellous in The extreme.
In this great history of the eginnings and
endings in the progress of the cause OF
Christ even in the memory of some OF our
own men began what is known IS the res
toration movement. The spirit of his move
ment Is the spirit Of the text, namely. to
go back to the beginning and rehearse ard
expound the whole matter by order unto
the children OF men. The results CT the
restoration movement cannot 3e measured
ecclesiastical world has been shaken within
the last fifty years through The simplicity Of
teaching the gospel of Christ by the advo-
Gates OF the restoration movement But
the beginning does not always determine
the ending for, while this movement orig
mated under most adverse circumstances,
walton OF world. To-day we are enlisted
In the great work 81 restoration and SAL
vation., Each day the responsibilities arc
handed down 10 us by new occasions which
race us with new duties.
But to be more personal this new occa-
sion. with all its oplgltioas. appeals 10
me and to you. AS / said in the beginning
this is not new life but . new epoch I'm u
life that has existed for years. I ann proud
to-day to have been chosen ~ YOU as ycur
leader In the great work for Christ AT he
sixth Christian Church. TO me no greater
honor can come than that which mas
already come. namely, 10 be the successCr
OF ID. X. Lucas who has no peer in the
Christian pulpit. /, as a young man. bear
my honors with humility, feeling in large
measure my inability and incompetency to
battle with many of the great problems OF
life which are so vital in the opposition to
the cause OF Christ. So In the beginning
of this new ministry. like the apostles OF
Old: my heart Is filled with great anxiety
and great expectancy, but with your CO.
your suggestions We will 60 forward hand
In hand TO do the Will Of God in building
up the o cause OF Christ In this place Let