The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-12
BISHOP HENDRIX AT WESLEY.
MS SERMON TO METHODIST CON-
cREGATIoN on FRIENDSHIP"


rhe bishop Was Here Couple of
NAYS to visit His Daughter, Mrs.
c.orce WarinG - Leaves This
,,oruing for Macon - Announce
mt That He Would Preach Here
sunday Probably Induced Many to
p.,ieve They Might Hear Him
r,cn- CONGREGATION Last Night
,,,gbt Otherwise Have Been Ldrg-
err.
pts,on E. r. Hendrix of the Methodist
,.,scopal Church, South, preached last
i-b+ at Wesley Monumental Church. The
ZION spent couple of days in the city,
t,yios come on a visit to Mrs. George
y,arinr his daughter. He leaves this
.,orning for Macon, where he will make
short stay, returning later to his home
IN Kansas City.
The service at Wesley was intended for
out be Methodist congregations of the city,
In, an unfortunate announcement that the
Pisbop was to be here next Sunday and
rrsaob at Wesley was considered as re-
l,orsiole for the attendance being less
,ban mad been expected. Rev. Ed F. Cook,
csstor said that there were probably
many who would be disappointed to learn
thar the announcement was an error and
mat there would be no opportunity afford
Cd to hear the Bishop on Sunday.
Those who heard Bishop Hendrix con-
graduated themselves upon their good
fortune. He is a very attractive speaker,
and is clear and forceful. His glowing
thoughts are clothed in fitting words, and
an audience is always impressed by the
grace and strength of his. delivery.
The sermon was on Friendship" the
text being taken from the Epistle of
James. second chapter and twenty-third
verse; And he was called the friend of
cod The reference was to Abraham,
whom the Bishop extolled as one of the
sublimest examples jim history of the be-
pedcent results that are effected by walk
ing with God. The Almighty called Abra-
ham His friend, and it is significant of
the great worth of the patriarch that the
Jews delight in calling themselves his
children. and that their paradise is a con-
cepuon of rest in his bosom.
Not only the Jews, but Christians as
we'll admire and honor the grand old
man. 1t is even so with the Mohamme-
dams who hold Abraham in estima ton
that is second only to that they have of
Mahomet himself. All unite in ignoring
the venerable patriarch, the man of IN
finite and unexcelled piety. He
was man taken into the
counsels and friendship of Je-
hovah, one who cast a shadow that will
lengtheus through the ages.
The Bishop said that the word friend Is
greatly abused before its\real meaning has
been learned Early in life one is apt to
believe friends may be numbered by the
thousand, but in later years it is known
that they may be counted on the fingers
Of a hand Even brothers may be es-
tranged, family ties may be broken, hus-
bands and wives may lose the sweet SYM
pathy that should bind them together, so
that the hottest of affections is grander
than them all, for history shows
nothing beautiful as the
lives of such as Damon and PythiaS and
David and Jonathan, who were joined to-
gether by a tie indissoluble.
True friendship appeals to the best that
IS in men, and so is II with Christianity.
Friendship with God is therefore the finest
type Of friendship, for it has the grandeur
and strength that Is loaned by relgions
which. itself, Is friendship with God,
friendship by which human lives are
Transformed. This friendship does not i'm
poverish, as some think, but enriches, for
it bestows knowledge of Gods purposes
and plans
answering faith in God was named as
ore of the conditions of friendship with
God and the wonderful faith of Abra-
ham was used as an illustration of what
perfect faith should be. In graphic words
the Bishop recounted the story of the
Interrupted sacrifice on the mountain,
when the Lord called upon Abraham as
ne was about TO offer up his son Isaac.
The hand of Abraham was stayed, but
that of the Lord descended when He Of
tered His only begotten son as atonement
Tor the sins of the world.
As a great privilege that comes from
friendship with God, Bishop Hendrix
named special answers to prayer, illus
Uating by that offered to God in behalf
OF Sodom by Abraham, when he plead for
lhe safety of the city, If but a few of
us people could be found righteous. The
Lord granted all that Abraham besought,
descending from fifty to ten righteous, and
so Is 1t ever with prayers that are offered
10 Him. Another great privilege men
uone1 as coming from friendship with God
Is friendship with men, for the best of
friends a man may have are those who
are friends with God, for it is this that
appeals to and brings forth what is pure
ana molly in men, making them Godlike.
Ailef the sermon many of the congrega-
uon gathered tbout the chancel rail and
were presented to the Bishop, whom they
enjoyed meeting.
N ~