Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-26

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The church was filled g never be-
fore, and his sermon was popularity
endorsed. The second sunday his text
was:
them out of the world. but that thou
shouldst keep them from ~evil."-John XVII:
In the course Of his discourse he
said:
Mrs. Thompson, the president Of, the
Missionary Society, opened her parlors to
the Epworth League for i social gathering,
Mrs. Allen, the wife OF one of your
trustees, Is the lessee of a box at the
theater.. Last week she chaperoned a
party OF young people from this congrega-
The theatre is owned by a stock COM
pany almost wholly composed 81 cnurcn
longs to the president of your board of
trustees.
"A play which has been suppressed in
ter was given here a short time since, to. a
crowded house. 1t was played on the night
Of yoSr church PRAYER meeting. More of lof
theater than were at the prayer meeting.
Mr.. Williams. one of you most popu-
lar sunday School teachers. g the presi-
dent of the local whist club. The club in
cludes in its membership a number of the
young people from this church and Sunday
"Amusements that are unmistakably i'm
moral should not be patronized by any
body. Those that are questionable should
not have the Endorsement of good people.
II tAey. are harmless, but are forbidden,
loyal Methodists should observe the law
of the church, but demand its repeal. A
sa Jer rule pI tb In AL easeS Of u ua6eraan fyom rs
all appearance of ev.l.'"
And so on. AT the conclusion of the
sermon a well-known man-about-town
stepped up to the editor and said:
This is the first time I nave attended a
church for a year. II | were you people !
preaching or lead different lives. ] at
tended the Epworth League dance; |
dropped in for a few moments at the
Sunday School game of whist. I do not
bel. eve in either instance l would nave
had the pleasure. of meeting your Saviour
ii He had been in town"
Rev. Hamilton went on to describe
the following sermons; how bulletins
were put up with the legend: This
is a wide-open church," and how the
church was crowded as it had never
been before. Concluding. he said, re-
peating the suppositious words of the
editor in his last sermon:
self-denylng, faithful men of holy lives.
They Illustrate IN their own personal ex-
p%erience the blessings. of the gospel when
they preach. The evil is one of method
rather than principle. The pastor is polite
ly termed the leader of the church. but he
is not permitted TO lead. He is nominally
the geheral-in-Cl lief, but ne is without au-
thority or power. -
You demand that your ministers shall
not declare the message OF COO, put sucn
an exposition or Interpretation Of i as as
does not unduly trouble your consclences
Were the church to refuse to listen to
anything but Thus sa:th the L9rd, you you
pointed preaching as the stranger has CIV
en- you. He will never address you again.
He is not dependent upon you for bread.
He is Indifferent to your approval or DIS
pleasure, it, cannot affect him in the least.
He has had before him the single purpose
of declaring the truth of the scriptures
in the light of ordinary common sense. If
you will make your ministr in fact as ne
is in theory the ambassador OF God 70
you, instead of your hired man, he will
message. His commission is like that
which was given to the prophet Ezekiel:
Il do send thee unto them (my people,
and thou shalt say unto them, mus satin
the Lord. And they, whether they Will
hear or forbear, yet shall know that there
hath been a great prophet among them.
And thou shalt speak my words unto them.
whether. they VIII hear or whether they
will forbear.
"If the church will make the Book of
God her law and guide and teacher she
will welcome any message which God may
send, whether it is bitter or sweet. II the
book is carefully studied and faithfully
obeyed there Will be little need of warning
from the pulpit. The sins that embarrass
the church are plainly revealed and sternly
denounced. If Gods word is needed the
minister will not nave the thankless task
of rebuking sin in believers. When the
Bible becomes a lamp to the feet and a
light to the path of every professed dis
ciple of Christ the world will not reject
the truth, but will gladly accept It.
II retire from the pulpit with a knowl-
edge of the difficulties encountered by the
minister which has been a revelation to me.
When your pastor returns | trust he Will
have profited just as much by his exper-
fence in editing a daily paper. | hope he
VIII be able to convince you, as | know he
has been convinced, that the press and
the pulpit are not enemies, nor rivals, but
allies. Each in its own place and in it's
own way Is a messenger from God to
men"
DR.. Eamilton's IN contains a
number Of lessons. They will be sug-
gested by this rapid review of a long
and pointed discourse.