The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-28

went to the Methodist Meeting
House at what is called Washington
Park yesterday morning. and enjoyed
real good service along with federation.
The church is one OF the most attract
i've I have ever visited. and when
stepped into the preaching room the or
ganist was playing a beautiful prelude,
which seemed TO cast spell over the
audience that put every one In touch with
the spirit OF the hour--a sort OF feeling
of heart shenkfulness. that you couldn't
help, for the blessings Of life that God
has given US.
Pretty soon the organ blended its tones
into a long metre, which gave everybody
an opportunity to stand UP and express
the exuberan nee OF their souls In the old
familiar DoNology, Praise God from.
Whom All Blessings Flow
The chorus choir, which was composed
OF young ladies and gentlemen, then
sang q beautiful anthem, which made me
think OF the time when I used 20 sing In
the choir years ago down at the West
minister Meeting House at Canterbury
Centre. Conn. And then after the min
lister. the Rev. II. A. Ridgway. who has
preached az this church for nigh on 20
four years, had offered prayer, and the
choir and congregation had sung one OF
DR. Watts hymns, he preached most
excellent Christmastide sermon from the
text that was found In the 18TH chapter
of John, 9Th and eth verses:
but because I have said these things
unto YOU. sorrow hath filled your hearts.
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: IL
y expedient for you that go away. for
II 7 go not away, the Comforter will not
come unto you, but IL | depart ! Will
send him unto you
Then he went on 10 say that Jesus
was I'm the upper room talking to the
disciples. and lie was admonishing them
10 not let their hearts he troubled. and
as they were suffering from great disap-
pointment because Christ failed 10 set up
q kingdom on earth. such as the Jews
were looking for. the words of the text
was the comforting portion that should
set them right In their hearts. and pre-
pare them for the drama that was TO
follow. which should cast a gloom over
the whole EARTH
The preacher then contrasted the kind
OF a king the Jews expected and the kind
OF king that stands before us today IN
the person OF the King OF Righteousness
and he made Il strikingy interesting.
Suppose Christ" said he. had moi
gone away? suppose lie had not suffered
agony I'm the garden. and the crucihxion? I?
What then? Would mere temporal power.
an earthly kingdom have availed any
thing? II would doubtless have fiourlshed
for time. and then pa ssed away like the
other temporal kindoms of that period
And as | listened TO his description.
u
right before my eyes the picture Of Ra-
meses n. who WAS the mighty monarch OF
Egypt more than a thousand years befors
the coming ~ our Saviour. But with all
OF the glory OF that country. and all OF
that monarch's temporal power. greater
by far than ever Christ ever dreamed of
possessing on this earth. what have We
now? Nothing left for US today but q
dried up mummy. Well. IL he had been
Al. a
Is forlorn one. We'd simply be lost
But tho minister went on to say that
"our Lord fulfilled all of the commands.
and while He was tempted lIc never
yielded or even fostered desire 10 cs-
tablish a temporal kingdom. and in dying
for our sins and rising for our justfca-
ton lie leaves something besides dry
bones for an inheritance something bet
better than an exhibit for the British Mu-
scum. which may serve very we'll as =
moldy relic OF departed power. satisfying
morbid curiousity. His kindom endures
forever. and there ls a chance for fallen
man. An opportunity for life that the
black pictures painted by AR. 1ngersoll
and Thomas Paine tried 10 destroy. but
couldn't. Such men as they are always
cropping around IN the dark while the
sun Is shining brightly.
Worldly power was not material for
lis rltHfrS-lNl Allt tOililllutb III OF llaH
II was the peace OF soul that understood
that round and about was the everlasting
arm OF the infinite one. While he was to
be placed I'm another mans tomb, hav-
ing nothing-yet a conaueror with greater
riches than all the monarchs OF the world
This saving grace can only come 90
human hearts by the presence and power
OF the Holy Ghost. 4 must send the Com
forter' N YOU would be saved from the
..sff. Of ~ fsuN
insist on splitting hairs on the question
OF whether there ls n God or not, pray
the Father TO opcn their eyes that they
may sec that Ills going away meant re.
demption.
God wants us 90 walk IN tho light
with an understanding that there IA
something more than q perhaps to live
hy. ne wants them 10 know that they are
In safe position. that the devil cannot