The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-17
GREAT OBSTACLES OVERCOME
BY THE CAUSE OF CHRIST
The Reverend Doctor Henderson Re-
lates the EARLY and Modern strug-
giles Of the Church.

The Reverend Doctor II. G. Henderson
preached at the First Methodist Church
yesterday morning on ''The Christening Of
Christianity" selecting for his text the
words: 1.-THE disciples were called Chris
tians first in Antioch" He said, in part:
AFTER the martyrdom Of Stephen the dis
ciples were scattered abroad. Some went to
Samaria, others to Damascus, Phoenicia,
Antioch. Cyprus and elsewhere.
These nameless evangelists started a re-
vival wave that swept far and wide. 1t
reached Antioch, the Greek capital Of the
East, 400 miles north Of Jerusalem.
''The gospel made marked progress in this
dissolute Oriental center and the church
dourished SO notably that its influence was
felt throughout the city. and In derision the
disciples were called Christians. Before
Of Christ e were called disciples and be.
LEVERS The Jews deridingly spoke OF
them as 'Galileans and 'Nazarenes.' But
It remained for the testing Antiochians, IN
the heather. converts was established, 70
give the followers Of Christ their historic
christening, Christians .. ,.u. n
terpreted this term Christianity that we
wish to trace the history Of the church
through the centuries. touching only the
spirit OF contempt has characterized the
attitude of the world against the church
from the beginning; yet, despite the hosttl,
gloriously onward.
Observe the opposition to Christianity.
From, the first relentless war has been
author was crucified. Never was a purer
character born into this world. yet blind
blgotry and invcterate hatred nailed him
opposed at every step. 1t has had to chal-
lenge It's right Of way on every foot Of this
In the case Of Cornelius, the nrst heathen
convert to Christianity. from the Gentle
world. God had to work with the Apostle
sne se Of hint the d
port OF the gospel before the prejudiced
apostle would undertake the new order of
first mission station in foreign field was
planted. the people, instead OF welcoming
the light and gladly embracing the gospel.
called the missionaries and their Followers
THE Jewish Church bitterly contested ev-
Saul, young leader. breathing out threat.
enings and slaughter against the disciples,
ssommlssi ;en by the high priests. played
hostilities against Christianity.
-. But But with varying fortunes the church
m mar ts on on. passing through the shadow
this era's ignorance and enginery emerging
into the epoch of modern history. to still
hnd her way opposed. See the barriers and
marvel at her advance. Luther was opposed
Zurich. Latimer and Ridley at Oxford Yves.
ley and Whitefield throughout England and
Sc4iand and Wales and America
Our religious forefathers, who sought an
asylum in this country, fed from oppres-
sions at home. Thus we find the church is
Well called the church militant for she
has had to fight her way from the begin.
ming. oee'n-
Notice the church's triumph. In the face
q the e, nneessins oppos;tons TO its advance
with resistless swing, that nothing could
check, to the conquest of the world. The
cross on which the Savior was crucified, in.
stead e OF remaining an tgnoble instrument
tian faith. - e''e Siii'-
Thus we see that while christ's cause
he has overcome all antagonsrns and w;th
unfurled banner moves forward to ultimate