The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-09
FINE SERMON BIZ THE BISHOP.
Ordination Of Elders and Deacons-. Love Feast
Memorial Service.

kSpCclal TO news ana tDDSorVeT.D
Wilmington, N. c., Dec. S.-The day
dawned bright and clear yesterday, the
air was bracng and such as generally
delights the church goer, but a pail
seemed to rest not only over every one
attending the conference. but the entire
city, for the word passed from house to
| Norman-perhaps the most beloved and
popular member of the conference had
passed away.
| He had spent four years Of his min
istry in this city and was loved and es-
| teemed by its people as few men who
have ever lived here. Feeling allusion
was made to his sudden demise at nearly
every service.
| At the conference room at $3.50 the
| love- feast began under the leadership of
| the venerable father, A. d. Belts, and
was a very precious service to all who
| were privileged to attend.
| At II o'clock Bishop A. Coke Smith
preached a sermon of great force and
| carnestness from ST. Matthew xvi:13-19.
His subject was The Church." and in
| part he said:
"a short time before this our Lord had
| reached the zenith of His popularity as a
public teacher. He preached the greatest
mssionary sermon ever preached to the
world when He fed the five thousand men,
| besides women and children, with the five
loaves and two fishes.
HE took His disciples away from the
crowd that would have made Him king
| and there in that quiet place, while there
He announced the establishment of His
church.
THE church, as He established it, was
determined by character alone. This be-
ing true. He gives us the points necessary
to this character. First, a correct con-
ception of Jesus Christ is necessary
Christianity is never larger than the con-
cepton of Christ.
There must also be the revelation of
Christ before there can be the right con-
ception of Him.
Man cannot come to the proper con-
ception Of Christ without time and oppor-
tunity. The conception we have of Christ
must be our own.
Reason reveals some things to us, but
there IS a revelation of Christ we can
get only through the heart.
Reason never looks forward, hence
we must have the faith revelation which
looks into the future and comes through
the heart alone.
you cannot know men until you love
them. You canlot save men by reason
but by love. You know God only rs you
love Him. Christ founded the church upon
the proper conception of Himself and not
upon members or organization.
christianity always prccedes the
| church. A church thus founded has
power.
when you love men, you will want to
save them and not until then
Finally the church thus founded will
stand forever. The foundation is sure
and it cannot be shaken by any earthly
power, and it will go forward to victory"
At the conclusion of the sermon the
Bishop ordained Revs. Joseph e. Holding,
George r. Rood, VIM. Henry Brown Eu
gene NJ. Snipes, and Charles A. Jones as
Geacons, being assisted in the solemn SER
vice by Revs. B. R. Hall and w. H.
Moore
The memorial service in the afternoon
was especially sad owing to the recent
death of Rev. w. c. Norman, whose me-
moir was read by Rev. ]. N. Cole. The
memoir of Rev r. j.. Moorman was read
by Rev. L. l.. Nash, D. D., and that of
Rev. G. o. Green by Rev. w. H. Moore,
D. D. The tributes to the departed
brethren were touching, and as one after
another spoke of the virtues and good
deeds of the fallen brethren and particu-
larly of Mr.. Norman, there were few dry
eyes in the large congregation.
The communion was administered at
the close of the memorial service.
At the evening hour there was most
excellent sermon by Rev. p H. Whisner,
D. D., Of Louisville.
Rev Dr. Jno. c. Kilgo spoke at p.
m. at the Y. NJ c. A. hall and at 1880 de-
livered a discourse at Fifth Street church
from 1st Cor Ill, which is considered
one of the strongest and most original
ever heard here.
At the close of the sermon the class
of elders were ordained by Bishop Smith,
who was assisted by Rev. Drs. Yates,
KiIgo and Rvs. w. l. Cunninggim, G. A.
Oglcsby and R. A. Willis.