Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-10-24
Church N ote S.


The pleasant little church in the park
contained an audience on Sunday morn
ing last that seemed ready to appreciate
the exercises, the weather conditions
being such as to make everyone happy.
The rector of st. Stephens, Rev. W.. II.
Forsvthe, gave as his text Ephesians
G:10,l1: "Finally, my brethren, be
strong in the Lord, and in the power of
His might Put on the whole armor of
God, that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil" Saint
Paul's words should be an inspiration to
every Christian in his battle with sin
The apostle drew thoughts and inspira-
tons, like his Master, from surrounding
circumstances. Imprisoned in a Roman
dungeon. he had with him Roman SOL
diers in full armor. Each part of
armor seemed to him to represent some
Christian virtue, Divine help. He
warns Christians of the difficulty of their
conflict; the powers of the world, OF
spiritual darkness, arrayed against them
to drag them down to sin. lie reminds
them of the need of the grace of moral
courage. "Be strong in the Lord" Yet
they need not fall. Sufficient strength
is given to all by Him who knows the
needs and weaknesses of each soul. The
which binds all else together. Great
need of truthfulness; sincerity in all
lives. The evils of this age, to lead the
Christian from the path of duty are
numerous, but none more dangerous
than the worship of appearances, both
in educational and social life. Fashion
drives the thoughtless into an attempt
to vie with the atlluent in keeping up a
course of living that surrounds them
with debts and the difficulties that fol-
! low. Even in religious life there is too
much of superfluous habit in personal
conduct; a desire to appear more like the
puhlicans of old. The true Christian
will be genuine in all the relations of
life; not DESTROYS of putting forward the
best side before the public while the
inner life is neglected. Be pure in
heart: be genuine with God. Any at
tempt TO deceive the searcher Of hearts
will fail, and end in ultimate ruin.
Christians should be genuine with them
selves. Self deception is prevailing
sin. Know myself. There is 10 greater
need than that of self-knowledge. The
Father has promised to lead all who are
deserving through life to blessed inheri-
lance in eternity. But he despises all
who simulate what they do not possess,
truthfulness in the heart, then Christian
thoughts. appearances and deeds will
follow. Be truthful; be just to your
selves and you will be Just to others, and
will merit and receive the blessing of
God
Services in st. Stephens church next
Sunday will be: 80 a. m, Holy Com
munion; 10 40 a. NJ. Morning Prayer
! n a he
rector will ofiiciate at All Saints chapel,
Cream Hill at 80 o'clock He will also
Ofllciate at st. Barnabas' chapel, East
Middlebury, at 3 10 in the afternoon.
There will be missionary meeting in
st. Stephens church on Tuesday even
ing, October IS, at 80 o'clock, when
the principal speaker will be Rev. l.. B
Rdgeley, for several years missionary
in Wu-Chang, China. All are cordially
invited.
Rev. Thomas Slmms, the pastor, will
preach at the Congregational church
next Sunday evening upon "The Ethics
of Amusements," the third in the series
of Sunday evening lectures on "Help;
and Hindrances to Manly Living.
Rev. f. j. Guernsey will preach at the
Methodist church Sunday morning OF
"The Human Conception of Cod. The
Epworth League meeting will hereafter
begin promptly at G 40 and con tinut
three quarters of an hour. The evening
/. public service will begin at 80 and viii
be also three quarters of an hour.
The pastor, Rev. f. j. Guernsey vii
introduce on Sunday night series O.
evening sermons on the following sub
iects: "Is Life Worth Living?" "Ar
Evening with Hymn Writers;" seconC
sermon :r'Is Life Worth Llving?' "Th'
Young Man and the Church.
Rev. f. o. Taylor, pastor of the Bap
, fist church will preach Sunday morning
on "A Business Letter to Philemon.
) In the evening a service of song will b,
held.