The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-30
THEY WOULD CALL
HIM SENSATIONAL.
What Would Happen if John the
Baptist Came to Richmond.
A REPLY TO REV. DR.. EVANS.

fend Working People-Rev. Mr..
Leke Endorses Senator Mcllwane
| and Will Not Take the Oath
| At tho Grove Avenue Baptist Church
Sunday night DR.. J. B. Hawthorne
preached to crowded house on Johr
the Baptist as a Freemason."
Many Masons were present and Ill en-.
joyed the address, which was an e1cop-
tlonally fine ono Just before his
sermon Dr.. Hawthorne made announce
ment to the effect that on Sunday
lnorning next no would discuss the mis-
use of tho pulpit-a question which has
ceen more or less prominently before the
| lccai public for the past week or two.
! Some men and some newspapers in the
| community, DR.. Hawthorne said. seemed
to condemn the application Of gospel
| truths and great moral principles to cur
rent events. He begged leave, dcferen-
| TALLY and respectfully, but none the less
dec idedly. to differ with these gentlemen
snd these newspapers. AT the next sun
day-norning service at Grove-Avenue. ne
saio. he would discuss the aubject at
| length
The occasion was the annual ceiebra-
ton ST. Jolln's-Day by the asons Of
tho city. The service was held under the
| auspices Of st. Johns Lodge, the Oldest
in the State, but all the sister lodges IN
the city were invited. The church was
we'll filled. The exercises were most In
tc,esting. One Of the most attractive
fe. lures Of the occasion was the singing
by the fine quartette OF Grove-AVenue.
The sermon by DR.. hawthorne was
taken from Matthew xi, il: "Verlly
say unto you. among them that are born
Of woman, there hath not arisen
greater than John the Baptist. In en-
tering upon his subject Dr. hawthorne
gave some time TO a general discussion
OF freemasonry. which ne commended IN
the highest terms, declaring it to bs the
steadfast friend of Christianity and the
deadly foe of 1naterialism. It stands,
he said, for the intellectual and the
spiritual as opposed to the grossly ma
terial. It over has and ever will be the
advocate Of Christian Ideas and Chris
tIan sentiments, and as such the instl-
tuition is worthy OF the respect and the
commentator Of all mankind.
Proceeding, Dr.. Hawthorne went on to
point out the elements in the character
o. .OQn ING 6dpliSls SStctCiiSiiSu his
p: eminence in free-Masonry. And here
II was that he touched frequently upon
certain local matters. For one thing he
declared that John was fearless. He
spent twenty years fitting himself for
ministry extending through less than
eight months. With many of the pres
enl-day pulpit orators he believed in
n eraration and when he preached men
heard and Needed. He preached to high
and to low classes alike. The v!lest
coward, said Dr.. Hawthorne. can rehuke
the poor and the downtrodden for their
sins, but he is essentially q man VINO Is
LOT afraid to stand at the gateways OF
fashion and wealth and call to account
those who claim to have q monopoly OF
wealth and virtue ana sense and eEttJ-
thing else.
ssIf John the Baptist appeared IN Rich
raond to-day continued DR.. Hawthorne
in effect, sthalf the people in the city
would call him sensational. The moss
hacks IN the pulpit. the time servers ii
the editorial choir, who praise one day
and blame tie next, the davotees Of nam
mon and fashion. would cry out that ne
is disturbing the tranquility OF a au'et
and peaceful community. And he would
be sensational. He would be more SEN
So tional than anything Richmond has e1-
perenced up to this day.
The sermon was one of the finest ever
delivered by the distinguished pastor or
Grove-Avenue and 1t was much enjoyed
by all who heard it. At the conclusion
Of the services many went forward and
shook hands with DR.. Hawthorne and
congra tulated him.
In a sermon delivered Sunday night at
the Randolph Street Baptist Church. the
Rev. I. S. Boyles took stand In favor
Of labor organizations and made reply
to a sermon delivered here recently by
Dr. W. E. Evans. of Monumental Ep.s-
copal Church. Mr.. Boyles took his sub
ject from Genesis. xiii: s: eve Be Breth-
rem Ho said in part:
The working people have as much right
to organize as any class.
The lawyers. the merchants and all
the capitalists are organized. Organiza-
ton mutual conference. 1t means protec-
ton, it means all effort to mete out JUS
tice to all. Why oppose the organization
Of laboring men who are the backbhns
OF the world?
From the working classes come 80 per |
cont of all our college presidents and |
professors: 81 per cent. OF all our youns
men who are at college preparing for |
preaching the gospel; SO per cent OF all |
our young ministers now in the semina- |
rles. and two-thirds Of our city church |
are from among the working |
people. Why not study to improve their |
condition In every way possible?
A new era would dawn iron our nation |
If we could induce men to practice the
doctrine of universal brotherhood. eve
be brethren" cam my brothers keep.
err" Most positively no." ''I am not
my brothers keeper, but am my broth
er's brother"
1t is the imperative duty Of every min
Ister and every church to defend and be-
friend the working people: They are
very largely the hope Of the world.
Sixty per cent. Of the population OF
this country are working people. and
they get only 20 per cent. Of the wealth
Of the nation.
Nine per cent. OF the population are
capitalists and they get 20 per cent. of
the wealth Of this country. The re-
naming 6 per cent. goes for luxuries.
LIT l