The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-12-13
Closing Service,

Az luc MoJlOulSl CHURCH N6u-
nesday night, after the ushers had
packed the people in the pews
like sardines in box, and then
crowded the aisles and chancel
AVID organ loft with chairs. standing
room was still at a premium. The
singing was a treat of harmony of
sounds; the sermon was a spiritual
feast, and the service all around a
gracious one.
In his introductory remarks, Mr..
Stuart said that he liked to see mem
bers of the church useful useful to
their pastors; and they could be in SO
many little ways. This was the last
hours service, and he always dreaded
to come to the last service-dreaded
to draw the line where some men will
drop back into the black pit of eternal
death. Some men were convicted in
this meeting, but would not "give
n"-didn't feel like it. People are
silly when it comes to religion. If we
acted ON anything else like we did
about religion, we'd be put into the
asylum.
The speaker said he would preach a
sermon from text that we had never
heard preached from before. He called
it his ''Texas Rounder His subject
was Columbia, Tennessee. " l take
texts, he said. because other preachers
do, and go through my firstly, secondly,
thirdly, ETC. We follow after each
other. And that is right. | like to
see fellow follow any good purpose
I've been taking scripture for my texts
heretofore, and trying to fit you to the
scripture. l will take you for the
text tonight and fit the scripture to
you.\
My first point is Ministers of the
Gospel" I'm mighty careful about
discussing preacher. Their burdens
and responsibilities are so great. When
go away, don't begin to compare your
pastor with George Stuart. | don't
read and teach the scripture like a
pastor does. evangelize. You d soon
wear out on my preaching. Your pas.
tor s duty is to teach and visit you.
He ministers unto you in times OF
trouble and rejoices with you in sea.
sons of gladness. When am gone, anC
the focks all go back to their OWL
church and to each other, | beg you moi
to criticize your pastor but pray fol
him and work with him and help him
The pastor is what the congregation
makes him, anyhow. The ministers
of Columbia are faithful band, and
you must give them your love, your
sympathy, and your endorsement.
tell you what | want you to do: Stay
by your pastor as you never did before
| fn11
addressing the pastors come round
and tell 'em goodbye tonight, yor
will not see them again soon-not unit
the next revival. They will have cold
or rheumatic" and can't get tx
prayer meeting nor any nigh
services. They are like "wet weather
springs; they leap and plunge during
the seasons of grace, and when that il
over they are only dry hole in tn,
ground and not much of a hole at that
So many make the mistake of starving
their spiritual bodies. With all YOU
business cares to weight you down
and all the temptations of the world
the flesh and the devil to allure anC
tempt YOU, you need the mid-weel
meeting to revive and strengthen YOU
Stay by all the church services.
don t tell preachers what to do. The,
know what to do, and will do what i
best.
Ny second point is Church Off
cials. " The official members of tn,
church must be true. When they begiI
to wear the official robes they should
do so with honor to the church O
God. Wherever you go, remember yol
carry the church and the Lord Jesu
Christ Don't go where they ought no
to go. Your honor is the honor of tn,
church and of God. Officials. STAY b,
your church and keep it clean. How
we need business men who will con
secrate some of their time to tn,
church. Don't. go to questionabl,
places. and don t allow anything un
clean to enter your homes.
My third point is, Members. -
hold my church vows as sacred as
do my marriage vows. Oh, for al
estimate of the sacred vows we make
We perjuIe our souls sometimes b.
taking vows and breaking them.
Some horses are broke only ON on,
side. Attempt to mount them on the
wrong side. and they jump away from
you. They are like some church mem
bers. They will attend reviva
services. ana even be pretty regular OF
Sunday. But If You ask them {,
devote an hour or two from their bust