The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-30
NEW PASTOR HEARD.
Rev. w. :. RAIDER breaches at Madison
Avenue Methodist Church.

The Rev. w. S. RAIDER, of Mount Vernon,
the new pastor of Madison-avenue NJ. l..
Church.. preached his first sermons to his
congregation yesterday morning and last
night. His text last night was from First
Corinthians: God hath chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the things
which are mighty He said in part:
"A small leak will sink the largest ship.
A single match will reduce TO ashes the
largest city. With one stroke of the pen
a whole nation Of people may be plunged
into the bloodiest conflict. The greatest
achievements are sometimes due to the
least propitious causes. There are certain
things that appear weak and trivial. yet by
them God points out different precepts.
From this we are to learn that everything
which God has created and made was for
a purpose, and that no matter how small
and insignificant ii may seem to us God
may use il for the accomplishment of some
great work. 1t Will not do, therefore, to
judge of the Importance of things by their
size and appearance. Some of the biggest
things in the world are the biggest fall
ures. The biggest ship that was ever built
was practically good for nothing. Some
of the greatest literary productions are
to a large extent concealed and unknown.
The author may be a great man, but his
books are read by only a few. Another
man writes a tract that can be carried IN
the vest pocket and read through in five
minutes, and millions of people read 1t.
Paul was not a voluminous author. Per
maps all Indl lie ever WIOle OOilNdlIS ~
more words than are used in a single issue
of some OF our large daily papers, but what
he did write will live through the ages
and go down to the end of time.
THE biggest sermons are sermons that
are never preached. There is more good
done sometimes in entering a sick chamber
with tears of sympathy and rellef Tor the
suffering than there is in a whole week 5
camp meeting. The sweetest music is music
that is never heard. y generous, unpreten-
tious Christian enters the rude and humble
~ Ahz .fA vfInu nnH q nNno food
for the hungry children and a few. dollars
to pay her doctor bill. That food and
money set every chord and fiber of that
poor widows heart to vibrating. and there
worker i'm the world are the least con-
spicuOus and exert silent and hidden forces
that result in the greatest good.
II have drawn illustrations to show you
that the faithful and conscientious en-
ployment of one talent. though it be the
smallest and weakest of all talents, may
lead to the greatest results. Some of the
mightiest workers in the church are per
sons of obscurity. with only one talent.
There are a great many men ana WOmen
not known beyond the circles of the neigh
bOrhood i'm which they live that are doing
as much real, earnest work for the Master,
according to their opportunities and ability,
as are many others with more prominence
and greater ability. One thing we all must
guard against-it is that of trying to do
something which we are wholly incapable
of doing and which was never intended to
be done by us.
What we want and what we pray for
is a willingness to do the thing we are
capable of doing and do it cheerfully. and
with all our might. To refuse to do a
small thing simply because il Is small
is unwise and '%unmanly. AND TO sit down
and do nothing on the ground that you
cannot do il like somebody else is virtually
a public confession of your unwillingness
TO do anything. My brother. If you can
not be a master mechanic. giving directions
to a large number of hands and superin-
tending large contracts. you can be a work
man under such mechanic. making an hon
est living for yourself and family. If you
cannot found a college or build a hospital
you may be a tract peddler. scattering
precious seed that will bring forth fruit to
the honor and glory of God.