The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-18

y very large congregation gathered
to hear DR.. w. W. Moore today,
crowding the church to It's fullest ca
pacity. There is no more eloquent
preacher ard no more admired and
beloved man in the South than ,nc
president of the Union Theological
Seminary.
Or. Moore's text was: Acts 26:19:
Il was not disobedient 10 the heaven
iy VISION The liTst part of the su-
perb discourse was a delineauon of
the life and character of saul of Tar
sus his fitness by birth, gifts aduca-
tion and character for his great work.
The second half was presentation of
the present decline III candidates for
the ministry and reasons for it; d
treatment If the state of things that
was most powerful. Such a sermon
must be heard to appreciate its great
beauty and power. Every sentence
was a pearl of truth in a golden set
ting. The first thought was the con-
gruity that exists between a man and
his work, in the calling of God.
Special men for SPECIAL service, and
obvious ntting fer a great task. A
hod-carrier from the brick yards of
Goshen might have been chosen as Is
raels deliverer from Egypt and to be
her great law giver ana ieader But
Moses is chosen instead, fitted by his
training and education at the Court of
the PharaohS. So the massive and
sturdy Luther, dauntless and iron-Wili-
ed is chosen rather than the gentle
and ret.ring scholar, Melanctnon, for
the reformation Of the 18th Century.
Andrew Lang, prince OF delettantes, has
been making sport of John Knox. If
there had been only such men as
Lang in the hour of Scotland's need
there would never have been a refor-
nation in Scotland. In time Of flood
the granite cliff is needed and not the
graceful beauty Of the WilloW-wand.
Seotland's need called for the power OF
the thunderbolt something stronger
winged than the butterfly.
'Where the ages call, the heroes
come" SO Saul of Tarsus was raised
up. a special force equal to and ready
for a special task.
PauTs zeal qualification for MS
work was not to be found, however,
n early environment, training and the
like but in his unwavering fidelity to
his convictions of duty. When his
mind was convinced, his Will at once
surrendered. In the Eighteenth
Century, Lord Littleton. an English
SkeDtic was converted by IL
candid study of the conversion of
Saul of Tarsus. He wrote a book
upon this event as the unanswerable
evidence of Christianity. DR.. Samuel
said of his work: 'Infidelity has never
been able to frame a Specious answer
to it." once converted, Paul follows
Dlindly to Damascus, ready to wait
fer further revelations and rurtner
duties Obedience is the organ OF
spiritual knowledge Coleredge, when
asked for sufficient evidence of the
gospel in one word. Snappily replied
TRY it," For unfruitful anG unhap-
ny lives try the divine prescription of
immediate and unquestoning obed-
ience to the heavenly vision.
Paurs obedience was shown by his
manner of responding to the call TO the
ministry Multitudes are called TO the
ministry who do not answer. An in
teiligent farmer does not plant lar
ger crop thar he can reap. 1t the
harvest is greater than the reapers,
then some laborers are not in the field.
If there are ten openings to every one
servant, then where are the nine.
Are they not disobedient to the heav-
emily vision. Ten years ago there We're
100 students for the ministry out Of
each million OF population. Today