Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-09-30

~ ~ N'sNN NY aPNtdA HIS O(tu
and under Gods blessing II has been
made enectual TO the salvation OF
soul Think how many times such an
effort might be multiplied and how
largely the facilities OF communication
might be utilized for the spread of the
gospel,
You must see that all these increased
advantages OF man can be made to
act and react nightly for good in the
coming campaign of the church OF
Christ against sin. Matthew Simpson,
the great bishop of the Methodist
church. once delivered lecture to
show how God is preparing the way
for the glory of his coming millennium
in the inventions and the social move
ments of everyday life. The other day
a book came into my hand entitled
The Romance of Invention" But no
romance of Inventions has ever been
written which can fully depict the
Christian romance of the uses TO which
these inventions can be applied in the
extension of Christ's kingdom as Bish-
op Simpson explained them. One item
alone of that lecture comes to my
mind. l speak it i'm my own language.
as 1 recall IL from n blurred memory.
The Methodist orator wanted to show
how every modern facility was appro-
priated and used in the late civil war.
The sewing machine had just been In
vented. 1t was employed to insure the
soldiers being properly clothed. The
steam engine was utilized TO carry the
armies quickly to the scene OF conflict
that tho 90 rrafuht
The modern improvements in arms
were adopted. and so the terrible de-
struction of life in single combats by
the old fashioned ak and spear was
avoided. And as man used modern in
ventions for carrying out his purposes,
so might God use the terrible curse of
slavery itself for the benefit of the
colored race. The negro torn from his
African home and sold as slave
might be ChristianiZed il the land of
his bondage and return as n missionary
to carry the tidings OF the gospel to
his people still on the backs OF the
kongo. Can we not believe, as did
Matthew Simpson, that in the iHven-
ton of the sewing machine, the type
writer. the telephone. the steamboat,
NhN NANNAAsN VAL IN AhN SAtdL
and factories. In improved fire arms
and the wonderful printing press, Civ
ing birth to newspaper and magazine,
the church of the Lord Jesus Christ
can have an increased power spirltu-
ally for the spreading of the gospel OF
Jesus in the coming years campaign
against sin?
Enemies From Within.
find the church OF the Lord Jesus
splendidly equipped materially and
temporarily for this winters campaign
against sin. But. more than that. find
that there never was a time when the
great evangelical churches were so
thoroughly in accord on the funda-
mental doctrines OF Christianity. In the
pulpit and in the pew those doctrines
are held firmly. intelligently and de-
voutly. and Christ as the Saviour OF
the world has the whole souled allie
glance of his people. Before general
goes forth to invade an enemy's coun-
try it is very important for him TO
know that his own soldiers are loyal
TO his country's standards and are Of
one heart, one mind and one purpose
When n Christian church goes forth
into winters campaign against sin II
IL just as important for its pastor to
know that his people are OF one
thought and one mind in reference to
the great cardinal doctrines OF the
church. \ thousand enemies outside of
n generals camp are not SO dangerous
n menace as one traitor inside of the
guarding sentinels' lines. A thousand
blatant inhdels attacking the church
OF Jesus Christ i'm infidel convention
hall or 10y saloon counter are not SO
formidable rs the so called freethlnk-
ing liberal who is attacking the church
OF God as member of that church or
as an ordained minister of that church
Some time ago before famous New
York club an ordained minister arose
and delivered an explosive, heretical
speech. This minister was afterward
expelled from his church for his out
rageous utterancc. He denind that
Jesus was divine except that ''he was
divine as we are divine" He denied
that the Inspiration OF the Bible was
any more infallible than was the in
spiratiOn Of Shakespeare's works. Aft
er he had finished and the applause of
those among his hearers who sympa-
thized with his remarks had subsidized
DIR. Gotthel arose. DIR. Gotthcil was n
Jew and ut that time was the leading
Jewish rabbi OF America. Amid DEATH
like silence he said: II know not how
others may feel; but. though am not
disciple OF the gentile's Christ, like
not this talk OF the preceding speaker.
III i had been in the place of my
brother and had entertained doubts
and suspicious similar TO his / would
have quietly slipped out OF the church
with which those doubts collided, keep
ing my lips tightly sealed. do not
mink ] could do such an injury to
the church which gave me my ordina-
ton vows as when n member OF that
church to attack it openly" All honor.
say i, to the answer or DIR. Gottheil,
the jew l believe that the most seri,
Gus damage which can be inflicted up
on the church of the Lord Jesus Christ
is done not by his avowed enemies
who are outside the church, but by
| traitorous foes within.
The Best Year For n New start.
But / take step further in this
1
full time in which we are 10 enter the
coming campaign for Christ. This il
the youngest OF the centuries. but into
1t are gathered the ripe fruits OF the
past. The thought apd experience OF
all the centuries that are gone have
In these years come 10 fruition. 1t is
| the mighty movements and trials and
struggles OF past generations which
have made the present time possible.
From the triumphs and failures OF the
past, from the wisdom and the mis-
takes OF our forefathers, we have learn
ed lessons which should make us mas
tiers in the art OF soul winning and sue
cessful leaders in the assault on the
intrenchments OF sin. This is the very
best year of all years to start In d
gospel campaign for Christ
But take another step further in tits
momentous subject. We have another
campaign blessing in addition TO these