The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-01
WATCHED OLD YEAR OUT
MIDNIGHT SERVICES HELD AT
FLETCHER-PLACE NJ. e. CHURCH.
Remarks by Rev. G. 8. Risley, a Ma
pletOn Pastor, and Rev. c.
w. Tinsley.

The watch-night service at Fletcher-place
NJ. E. Church was well attended. The
first hour of the meeting, which began at
o'clock, was devoted TO the Epworth
League. and those present had the pleasure
Of listening to short address by Rev. G.
S. Risley, pastor OF the NJ. e. Church at
Mapleton. Mr.. Risley said he believed the
most sensible thing young man could do
was to join the church and consecrate his
energies to the service OF the Lord. He
said he knew there was a general DISPOSE
ton among the young people of to-day to
put off joining the church for fear 1t would
curtail their liberties. but this was a mis-
taken idea, for the church enlarged instead
of curtailing their liberties. He said there
was nothing more beautiful than Chris
tian character, and he cited many instances
of the great men of the past and the pres
ent who owe their greatness to Christian
character. which they obtained In their
youth. He said that the time to give ones
self to the Lord was when he was enjoying
the strength Of his youth and he said the
man did not think much Of the Lord, who
waited until the eleventh hour to render
Him service.
At the close Of Mr.. Risley's remarks there
was short song service. followed by a
prayer service and a testimonial service.
Rev. c. w. Tinsley. pastor of the church,
preached a short sermon in which he
pointed out that the only way to be saved
was by faith in Jesus Christ. He said that
sin is a mire which will entrap and draw
down all unwary feet. He then pictured
Victor Hugo's description Of the death of
man in the quicksands, and said that
there were things which were more terri
bic than the slow and agonizing death of
the quicksands. The pastor spoke of the
young man who had become so addicted to
drink that IL was impossible for him TO give
IL UP. and as consequence he sank lower
and lower until he had completely lost him
self in the slums. Mr.. Tinsley said that
thousands OF giants had gone down in the
quicksands or sensuality, and as many
more had been lost sight of in the mire of
business, completely forgetting everything
else in their all-absorbing greed of gold.
He said the question TO DE decided at the
beginning OF the new year is whether we
are on the solid ground, or are we losing
ourselves in the quicksands?
IF We are in the Quicksands,' said he,
and feel that we cannot extricate our
selves, We should call on Jesus, for He is
the only one that can aid u.s." The pastor
asserted that IL took a most courageous
faitn to believe that but he wanted the
people to understand that no soul was ever
lost because IL was bad, nor was any soul
ever saved because ii was good. He said
that the only thing that would save the
man in the mire was the outstretched arms
of Jesus Christ. 1t was not question of
His saving the man for the good that he
had done, for If 1t was, Christ would have
no choice In the matter, but would have to
save him because he was good, when the
truth Of the matter is that He saved US
because He loved US, and to be redeemed
We must have faith in Him and His love.
Mr.. Tinsley closed his remarks before the
expiration of the old year, and the re-
mainder of the time was spent in a conse-
Grafton service.