Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-01-09

Episcopal church opened last evening
with a prayer service at st. Andrews
mission, on the South Side, and the
Rev. Harris B. Thomas, Of Wellsburg,
delivered a sermon quite appropriate
to the occasion. The visiting clergy
men who were present and assisted in
the services were the Rev. James Fish,
of Grafton; the Rev. j. 7. Manley, OF
Morgantown; the Rev. W. Burkhardt,
of New Martinsville; the Rt. Rev. DR..
Penick, of Fairmont; and Dean Woods,
of Wheeling. Other ministers oficiat-
ing were the Rev. David Howard, OF
st, Matthew's church, and the Rev.
John T. Oliver Curran, of St An
drew's mission.
In the course of his remarks the Rev.
Mr.. Thomas called attention to the
desires of the world, with particular
reference to purer government and a
less selfish social life and more spir-
itual harmony, and the sermon was
keenly appreciated by the congregation.
The text was according to st. John 6;
67-sS, Then said Jesus unto the twelve,
Will we also go away? Then Simon Pc
ter answered Him. Lord, to whom shall
we go? Thou has the words of eternal
life"
Referring to the text, the clergyman
said:
mo sadder cry was ever wrung from
the human heart than this. No more i'm
portant question ives ever asked than
this: Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou
hast the words of eternal life The great
poet said: There is a tide in the affairs
of men. which taken at its flood, leads
on to fortune The same is true of ma
tons as we'll as of Individuals There
comes a time in the existence of each,
when the stand taken is to decide for
ever their destiny. There has come or
will come a time in the life of almost
every individual, when a few acts, as in
the case of Saul, two at most determined
and gave color and character to his
whole life. There has or will come a
time in the history of every organiza-
ton when it's future usefulness is to be
SCtCi " bAN
take at such
A Critical Time.
Oh, thrice happy shall it be for that or
ganization if its members can be brought
to see that great leader of men, their
Master, as he is, and above earth's dis
cordant sounds and the roaring of lifes
troubled waters to hear Him clearly and
distinctly giving the word of command,
which is to direct them safely through
all. Oh, it is then, and only then, that
they can brave the greatest dangers and
sail the most troubled seas without a
care, or without a fear. To believe with
Carlyle that there Is one far off divine
event toward which the whole world
tends to realize that we are now sail
ing on life's great sea and feel at the
same time that God IS as He is at the
helm of our little ship, plotting 1t over
these troubled waters, is to be possessed
of that peace and confidence which the
world can neither give or take away. Oh,
If we believe that, how ~unspeakable
would be our joy and confidence in the
ultimate triumph of the work before us.
And. oh, how willingly would we sink
our Individual difference, however great,
and how eagerly and earnestly would we
= each and every one long and labor,
watch and wait, for the coming of the
Son of God, who alone has the words of
eternal life.
What the World Desires.
1--WE take says the late Philip
Brooks, about the coming of higher stand
ards of living, of a new and more glor-
ious type of human life; the Bible talks
OF the coming of the Son of Man. We
sigh and cry for purer government, for
more spiritual harmony. for more unself-
ish social life. The New Testament with
its last verse sends out through the ages
its passionate appeals: Even so, come,
Lord Jesus A thousand things the poor
world wants, but it wants only one Per-
son. only one Saviour. All the world real
iy needs, all that this church needs, is
found in Him and must come from Him.
who alone, has the words of eternal life"
The Rev. Mr.. Thomas then dwelt upon
the fact that st. Peter realized this;
showed how he had come to his knowl-
edge so deep and so profound, by citing
the scenes which doomed up before him.
on the day when he gave expression to
truth so profound, and also referred to
the instance in which the Lord had healed
and fed thousands the day before these
words were spoken. A time came when
many Of his disciples went back and
walked no more with Him because, we
are told. that they came seeking earth
and had eaven thrust upon them. He
turned to the faithful ones and asked:
"Wfl We also go away?"
An Important Question.
1T seems to me, my hearers that
Christ Himself is here. asking you and
asking me that question: Wi ye also so
away?' oh, what shall your answer be?
Don't ask your neighbor, but ask your
self, what shall your answer be. The
crowd and many of the disciples. we are
told. went back and walked no more with
Him, but the Twelve did not, and why did
they not?
st. Peters answers shows us what it
was that bound the aithf few to Him.
They had learned that He and He alone
had the words of eternal life. His words
mad done more for them than for the
wandering crowd. or even those other
disciples: and this new life of the Spirit,
life eternal, was TO thor, far more than
all their other personal ambitions. They
all, perhaps. thought az times of the
sumptuous fare. the living home and
the family ties they had broken, and it
may be that they looked (as they did
forward to some compensation in this