The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-07-28

"The apostles believed their mis-
sion to he fulfilled when they might
triumph over the willy Scribes and
Pharisees and only Judea and Israel
should turn to Christ, but destiny
was not revealed till Peter and Paul
triumphed in the council at Jerusa-
lem and work for the Gentle world
began.
Later the reins of church govern
ment falling into the hands of a very
few, and finally one man becoming
supreme under the title of Pope,
Roman Catholicism was just becOm-
ing absolute while the Pope growing
immensely rich by offerings of earth
ly rulers, sat in the Vatican and
dreamed of perpetual power and in
huence, by keeping the lids of the
Bible closed to the eyes of the COM
mon people. But destiny was not
revealed till Martin Luther burned
the Papal Bull at the gates of Wit
tenburg and thrust the beams of
Scriptual light over the masses Of
humanity.
"Following the work of the Refor-
nation we see the interest in Bible
study steadily increased till Robert
Raikes realizing the value of intelli-
gent young people conceived the
idea of u Sunday-schoOl where the
children might be taugh the lessons
of the Bible Thus, less than 125
years ago, began the first Sunday
school organized in the slums of
/ Do Do
first superintendent. The various
denominations Immediately adopted
the plan and today there are but few
children in Christian lands who have
not the advantages of IL Sabbath
school. And vet there are heather
countries-people who have never
heard of Christ. And why is this?
Is Christianity failure? No, but it's
promul gators have been, to a GER
tain extent. Their mistakes have
long been apparent land attempts
have been made to correct it. The
mistake has been that we are fight
ing under too many commanders
each of whom is giving a different
order even to the detriment of
another. Each denomination obey
ing certain cardinal principles or
creed, works selfshly as if ali other
Christians are entirely wrong or so
much SO that it becomes them to
work in opposition. All efforts made
to unity the churches heretofore have
been but partially successful because
they were the results OF mistaken
ideas. Without a single exception,
practically speaking every adovate OF
church unification has appealed to
the older people; to men and women
whose ideas and opinions along
church matters have become fixed.
Such people are hard to convince
and change. Hence church strife and
hatred is not overcome. But today
we are inauguratin9 a new policy.
A better and more practical plan has
been conceived. If those who be-
lieve that the world will be taken for
Jesus only when all His forces join
under His supreme control, cannot
change old minds, they can instill
the idea into the minds of the com
ing generation, educate the children
to think as they think. Then and
not until then will church union be
effected So we have come together
today not as any one Sunday school,;
but as members of the Sabbath
School we are gathered today. Here
we will set aside sectional feeling and
pride and worship as one body.
Just SO with us today we may say
our name is no Sunday-school picnic
crowd. If have succeeded in making
it plain to YOU that we are here to-
day not as a Sunday school but as
members of the eSunday-schoOl move
ment in which we all hold stations
of equal rank, and that in thus com
ing together we are but paving the
way for great and grander move
ment which must surely come, |
feel that | have fulfilled the commits
sion with which ! have been honOred
today. 1t is gratifying to remember,
amid the conflicts of earthly opin-
ions, that all truth originally springs
from the same pure source. the in
finite mind. But as truth entered
this world its rays are separated,
cOlored and distorted, by the minds
through which they pass; by human
ignorance, prejudice, pride and pas
sion. 1t is the noble work commit
ted to us so to adjust the recitfying
glasses of reason and religion, that
they shall collect and rearrange these
scattered rays into n pure and un
colored beam, that shall spread the
light of heaven over the darkness OF
earth. O! as | look down the vista of
wears the sweet vision rises before
me. Methinks | am in a council hall
when church union is being discussed,
then suddenly the council is dissolv-
ed and the scene changes to plain
large and level across which | see
marching side by side soldiers who
had once opposed,each other, but now
Joined in holy love one for another
mashalled under the one great leader
The council, has been a success, church
union is effected. The storm of con-
ficting opinion has passed by and |
hear only the distant thunder, while
the spent tightening plays harmless
lv around the horizon. The same as
truth looks forth in glory behind the
retiring cloud, on whose face it has
painted a bow of harmonious cOlors
a sign of peace to the world as its
evening comes on. and a pledge OF
the cloudless and immortal day that
is to succeed.
"Visitors present, the Sunday
schools assembled extend to you Il
hearty welcome to the inaugural
services OF this new policy. Sunday
schools assembled, in behalf of the
members OF Liberty Christian Church,
l extend to you a hearty welcome to
use our building and grounds for the
purposes OF the picnic. To one and
all extend a most cOrdiafwelcOme.
THE SWEET GUM.