The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-05
HIS FIRST SERMON
Of NEW PAST0RA1E
Rev. John R. Brown Preached to a
Large Congregation at the Gen.
tral Baptist Church.

Rev. John r. Brown preached the first
sermon of his new pastorate. begun yes
terday. at the Central Baptist church, to
q large congregation. Rev. Mr.. Brown
was recently called to the parish from
the Olive Street ptist church of Kan
sas City. His candidacy was met With
approval on the part OF the church and
the committee representing the parish
toner's, and because OF the pleasing i'm
precision made by him there was a dis
position to give him a warm welcome.
The church was pleasingly decorated
for the occasion, the pulpit platform be-
ing decorated with potted plants and
ferns, while the pulpit itself was adorned
with a profuson of cut flowers. Mr..
Brown is young man whose address
was particularly pleasing and satisfying.
He referred first OF all TO the fact that
he had been somewhat familiar with
faces and names on his visit to this city.
but he had not much familiarity with the
members Of the parish. He hoped soon
to know them all and he hoped to be able
To announce some plan for visiting on
next Sunday.
He spoke with an earnestness and in a
manner that was more than ordinarily
interesting.
He announced his text as from John |.
13. Then he went on TO say that the
chief fault with many people was that
they had I'm their lives an athenuated
Christ. The lives OF the Christians We're
builded on Christ, but the Christ on which
these lives were builded was a Christ not
20 be admired but to he adored.
IL was generally imperfect Christ
that was received and accepted by the
people. Christ ls taken by these people
as an authority for some things. but not
.-te g. h
were those who claimed Christ as the
Saviour. who either forgot or ignored
some of the essential principles of Chris
tianity in Its full sufnciency. 1t was
not an attenuated Christ who saved the
world. who gave inspiration and who
filled mems hearts with love
Where there was no conscience and no
shelter for the teachings OF Christianity
the principles of Divine teaching could
not long endure. Unless men know by
experience there will be an attenuated
Christ. Being a suffcency OF Christ
there will exist a band Of admiration
that will accomplish the true purpose
of religion. Christ found IL difficult To
make men believe he was the son OF man,
and when he appeared to the disciples
walking on the waters of Galilee he ap-
peared more in the superna tural. Christ
WAS neither angel, spirit nor phantom
now. He was as real today as in the
days of old. There should be the break
ing down of criticism and the showing
20 men the Christ In his true form. He
sale that should he launch the ship OF
faith on the shelving beach of mems
criticism the ship would remain there
afd the timbers would bleach, but If the
ship be afioat on the sea OF life with a
certain haven I'm sight then the truth is
manifest.
Life comes with the sense OF reality. In
L. tha tHrftI fef Lau
on the reality of the experimental Christ.
John says that spiritual force binds
men together. Intimacy brings bare the
faults and shadows, the best things that
may be done. Carlyle found that intimacy
with the history OF Frederic the Great
shattered his ideals and the hero-worship
of this man was replaced with an esti-
mate OF the true character OF this man.
James Anthony Froude found the same
results from his intimacy with the char
acteristics of Queen Elizabeth. In inti-
macy the belief is shattered. John had
conviction OF the truth OF Christ. OF his
life his duty and martyrdom. and re-
ceived II. Men are bound together by the
ties of family. OF patriotism. of religion.
but stranger than all these Is faith i'm
common living In Christ Spiritually life
Is based in faith I'm a living Christ
JOY is condition to be won. IL is the
aftermath OF the harvest the satlsfac-
ton attained when work has been ac-
complshed. II is my purpose to be
helper for your Joy. and with you to fol-
low Christ The gospel 10 be followed IN
that OF the experimental Christ. to be re-
ceived with openness OF the heart. TO be
eeen with the clearness OF the eve. and
with a sufriciency OF welcome. He wanted
20 fnd the unity OF purpose that the full
belief In Christ would bring and 10 have
the results that would obtain on fun
Christian life
Holy Communion was celebrated and
following this letter Of greeting from
the Olive Street Baptist church 10 the
Central Baptist church was read. This
letter was I'm endorsement OF Rev Mr..
Brown and his wife and commended
them 10 the hearty support OF the new
pastor. which was due To them The
church voted unanimously 10 send a let
ter OF Acknowledgement OF the letter
INSTALLATION NOT PLANNED.
meeting Of the pulpit committee and
the deacons OF the church was held prior
TO the morning service. at which time the
plans for the Installation OF the new pas
tor wsre discussed. but owing TO tho fact
thai Mrs Brown is now I'm Kansas City,