The Washington times., 1901-08-05
VESPERS At MT. ST. ALBANS
An Open Air Service at the Site of
the Episcopal Cathedral.
standing beside the Pence Cross
Chaplain Pierce. of the Eleventh
Cavalry. Tells of the Militant Ma
ture of the Chrfstinn,, Daily Life.


Chaplain Pierce. of the Eleventh
Cavalry. Tells of the Militant Ma
ture of the Christians Daily Life.
Under the blue vault OF heaven vespers
were said late yesterday afternoon on the
site of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and
Paul. Mount st. Adams, under conditions
inexpressibly picturesque and impress
sive. The slant rays OF the lowering sun
threw long cool shadows from the over
hanging ems and bathed in soft light
the Peace Cross. The city was discerni-
bic In the distance. where the National
Capitol was siihouetted against a back
ground of hill tops from which the light
had faded. and where could also be seen
the white needle of the Washington Mon
ument threading the sky. The Peace
Monument. commemoratiDg the cessation
of hostilities between two nations. seemed
also to characterize the holiness of the
evening calm The clear tones OF the
officiating clergyman, reading the prom
ises of peace eternal. contained in the
ritual the responses of the worshippers,
the notes OF the hymns. music softened
into rare melody in the open air. the
vestments OF the choir, all harmonized
beautifully with the spirit of the occa-
sion.
At the foot of the Peace Cross the pull
pit was erected. Before, seated on camp
stools. was a congregation of about 500
persons. Many of the worshippers had
driven to the services, and their vehicles
were standing in convenient grove
Each arriving car brought additions to
the attendance until the very moment of
the completion Of the services.
Tho Rrotenahi st.
Adams, conducted the first part of the
services, reading the usual form of even
song. \ vested choir, led by r. L. Cox
and assisted by one piece of music, a
trombone sang the hymns with the con-
gregation. The sermon, impressive and
eloquent was delivered by Chaplain
Pierce, Eleventh Cavalry. u s. A.. sta
toned at Fort Myer, formerly stationed
in the Philippines, and a well known lee
turer. After the sermon, the services
were concluded with the hymn, most ap-
propriate to the hour:
Abide with me- fast falls the eyentide;
The darkness deepens; Lord. with me abide
Chaplain Pierce chose for his text
Zachariah iii:1,2.4,5: And he showed
me Joshua. the high priest, standing be-
fore the angels of the Lord. and Satan
standing at his right hand. to resist him.
And the Lord said unto Satan. The Lord
rebuke thee, o Satan; even the Lord that
hath chosen Jerusalem. rebuke thee" He
said in part:
This vision of the prophet Zachariah
gives a goodly illustration of life that
aspires to be godly-the representative
life of Gods servants. And we note as
its first characteristic that 1t is a life
assailed That this should be our nrst
view of Satan at the right hand OF Coo
child is but fair; for recruits Who are
brought into his service without tuit
consideration of what 1t involves. and
with perhaps the mistaken idea that they
are to be free from unpleasant expert
ences. will brood over desertion when the
real nature of their undertaking has be-
come apparent. The recruiting officer
must be fair and honest, and endeayor 20
set before men survey OF the NE 70
which he invites them, with its shadows
as well as its lights, If he would nave
recruits that are worth the enlisting, and
who may be depended upon whei an
emergency arises.
I'm no part OF God book is there an at
tempt to crowd the kingdom with sub
jects under false pretences. Care Is taken
to promise each of US just such a life as
we really encounter. And lest any nearer
should think himself hidden to an
easy life, secure from temptation and at
tack, our Lord announces, i came not 70
send peace on the earth, nut sword
He emphasized the militant element OF
the Christian life. and frankly spake OF
the foes that men wouic md Inc ac-
ceptance of the Christ and the announce
ment that ones life is henceforth to De
Christian, so far from being like the en-
trance of ship into the calm and peace
full shelter of protecting haroor, is more
like the plunging of a craft out into the
pillows and the spray for contest Win
the forces of an angry sea- The sign OF
the cross is the signal for CONNECT Anu
= fhOuDh
forces arrayed against the Christ are IKE
the beasts of prey,-Guiet enough Wnen
they feel sure of their victims captivity,
but leaping quickly at the first sign OF
disposition to escape
! whatever may be the hopes that sweli
our hearts: however high the thoughts
we ponder; however strong ana piain .ne
promises of God on which we resi-. the
devil is our constant attendant. we
know this, not only because Gods book
reveals it,. but because 1t Is one OF the
most patent facts of human life IL Is
the story of the human heart. Standing
at his right hand to resist him. SO IT
was in Joshua's case, and so 1t Is IN mime
and yours. Mark you, this is picture OF
best What must be the case of those
who ignore Gods laws. who have no de-
sire for the Bible. the Church. the sacra-
ment or any of the means of grace; VINO
never even so much as struggle for good
ness, and yet imagine that everything
will come out right in the end?
unfolding of Satanic forms OF attack. He
was standing at Joshua's right hand, the
place of skill and power. As an enemy
the devil is no puny imbeciie. lie strlkes
MS where the result will be most disas-
trous He seems to care but little for the
minor sins of human life, save as they
enter into the fiber of character, and lead
us on toward greater transsression-
His delight is not to shatter the pinnacle
of our spiritual building. but to weaken
the foundation. Hence he meets us where
we think ourselves most skilled ana
strong
And this leads us to the thought that
this life assailed is also a life defended.
We have divine aid We saw the devil
standing at the prophets side, but did we
Think that all 9tker eyes were closed
against the sight? So some have con-
ceived of what it is to live godly lie: TO
stand before the power of evil and meet 1t
with ones own skill. But this is as faui-
ty conception as II you were to fancy
the earth to be bound in the frigid bands
of winter and robbed of its summer and
spring Was it a struggle for the man to
rivet his attention upon divine things!
Jehovah was not blind, nor had he closed
his eyes, those eyes of quick discerning,
upon the mans necessity Man may seem
20 be a pitiably small factor when com
pared to the personihed force OF eNl,
commonly called the devil, but by the
presence of God he is placed in Infinite
ma jority.
responsibility for human weakpess. How
did God first make man? With the marx
of Gods likeness, with the thought OF do
minion How does man stand in God
thoughts now: As born 10 conquer. COD
knows his life TO be assalied put ne
knows as well that it is defended by
force infinitely out of all proportions to
the attacking party. SO many of us cut
the picture of a Christian life in hail. or
in our folly fold il back so that we see
satan as the only attendant of the child
of Cod. Ard when we do, it is no wonder