The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-30
SUNDAY SCHOOL RALLY
4 SPECIAL SERVICE AT SEVENTH
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
a Memorial for Deceased Members of
the SchooI-Sermon by Rev.
X. v. Hunter.

IH0 80 EEACCA
byterian Church held its annual rally
day yesterday morning. Invitations were
sent out during the past week to old mem
bers of the school asking their attendance
at the meeting yesterday. AS a conse-
quence the rooms of the church were over
crowded a special song service was
given. A number of solos by the old MEM
bers were also rendered. At the conclu-
sion of the song service Mr.. Harness de-
| livered a memorial sermon for the de-
ceased members of the school.
During the annual roll call of the church
it developed that there were 400 members
in the congregation. This was followed
by the reception of six new members into
the church.
The Rev. r. V. Hunter, pastor, then de-
Iivered the following sermon. his text be-
ing Nehemiah viii, 8: And the ears of all
the people were attentive unto the book
of the law"
He said: 1T was rally day in Jerusalem.
The people had gathered in the street for
the purpose of expressing their gratitude
to almighty God for recent successes, and
TO hear the law for their future guidance.
Ezra, the scribe and priest. stood before
the people and read from Gods word from
morning until midday, after having re-
turned thanks to Jehovah. to which the
people answered Amen, amen, with llfted
hands and bowed heads, '~Worshiping the
Lord with their faces TO the ground. So
they read in the book, in the law OF God
distinctly, and gave the sense and caused
them TO understand the reading. In some
such sense this congregation, in a grand
rally, is assembled here for The purpose of
rendering thanks to almighty God for re-
cent successes, and for the purpose of COW
enanting with Him to render a more loyal
and efficient service in the future. To TINS
end we must know Gods word and will.
I'VE have reasons for gratitude to God
as a church. We have had material sue
cesses, for which we are thankful. During
the past year a cloud of debt has been re-
moved, and our house of worship has been
largely refurnished. Our congregations
have. upon the whole, increased in size.
bnG 5esEe Is iov 1n''y as 81 iRsrapei re s0H siet over aT
rebuilt walls about Jerusalem, a refur-
nished temple and a reorgan1zed common
dom from the bondage OF debt and rejoice
in a united congregation. For all these
things we praise our God, who has led us
and ~prospered us.
law and divine leadership i'm order to full
fill her mission, even so we need TO drink
deep draughts from Gods word and TO be
led by HIS masterful hand if we are TO
live upright lives and to do our full share
in making the world better. And this is
in line with the request OF the board of
1 QUIZ CIuICH. III "a Ao00 NAAl
rally day. 1t has been that
a sermon be preached to-day by all our
Presbyterian. pastors On The Study OF
Gods Word in the Closet, the Family and
the Church. The object OF this request is
to bring this deeply momentous subject
before our congregations at a time when
all the forces of the church are being
marsbaled for the work of the coming
year. 1t may be that this occasion Is a
call from God for deeper knowledge and
for a more 'spirit-filled life on the part OF
each church member. What is more close
ly connected with growth in Christian liv-
ing than a constant and prayerful study
word? To-day we may pray with more
than ordinary fervor for the baptism OF
the Holy Ghost and OF fire. We need tn
consecrated spirit, the active service and
the power which come with such a bap-
tism.
"A deeper knowledge of Gods word will
open the doors of our hearts for the en-
trance Of the spirit; il will make us more
faithful In business, more conscientious In
church attendance, and will enable US &c
seize each passing opportunity for doing
good to our fellow-men in the name of the
Master.
I'VE are told that the people stood and
confessed their sins And they did well
for they had grown cold and had been filled
with the spirit of the world. FOR tina
reason Israel had been Inundated with
defeat and captivity, from which they haC
only recently escaped. The prodigal con
fessed before his father gave him the kis:
of forgiveness. We must know that. IL
| common with Others, we nave Deen SulllN
OF sins of omission and commission, FOL
which we ought to make confession here
and now. The Lord forgive us for on
worldliness. for our want of faith, for oul
stupidity oftentimes, for our neglect o.
His word, for our want Of concern for Hi!
kingdom, for our unfaithfulness in thu
church, the Sabbath scnool, the praye1
meeting and in our closets. To-day w,
celebrate the atonement wrought by tn
Son OF God. This is an appropriate time
for such a service. 1t reminds US of tn
Lava tho sanrifPa and the frfpOdShfn n
God for us. 1t ought to be a day of GOV
chanting upon the part of each one. here
covenanting with our Lord and Savior
that we will strive, with the help of Hi
grace, 10 be more faithful, more conse
Grated and more efficient I'm the year which
is now coming than we have been in tn,
years which are past and gone. To thii
end let the ears of all the people be at
tentive unto the book of the law of God.