The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-03-18
THE BIBLE CONFERENCE.
A Series of Remarkable Relig-
iOus Meetings-Grand Ser
mOnS-InSpiring Music.


A large audience gathered in the
the new auditorium on Thursday
night last for the opening session of
the Southfield Bible Conference and
the room has been well filled at each
meeting thus far.
Rev. II. w. Pope of New Haven,
Conn, and Rev. l.. S. Chafer of
Mortified, Mass, are the speakers
for the opening week. Rev. A. g.
Gaebelein of New York will arrive
on the 18th and will preach next Sun
day. The music of the conference is
in care of Mr.. Geo. G.. Stebbins of
Brooklyn, N. Y, and is proving a
great spiritual uplift to all who att
tend. Rev. and Mrs. L. S. Chatter
are also assisting in the music.
The opening address on Thursday
night was given by Rev. L. S. CHATTER
from Eph. Finally brethren,
be strong in the Lord and in the pow
er of His might" He said in part:
1t is the aim of this conference to
aid christians to live consistent
christian life. The christian life is
as. every point impossible and hence
can only be what it should be by the
impaired strength from God. When
christians do not claim Gods provis-
ions for them they live like the world
and thus bring a reproach on the
teachings of Christ. There should
be no thought of comparison between
the lives OF unSaVed and saved. This
eXhortation to be ''strongin the Lord
is made because christian should
live as becomes child OF God,
and again because of his new coa-
fiict which is not against flesh and
blood' only, "but against principali-
ties and powers" and wicked spirits
in high places. God has provided
the indwelling Holy Spirit to give
perfect victory to the christian over
the POWER of sin just as He has pro-
vided Christ to give victory over the
PENALTY of sin. The secret in either
victory is to stop attempting to do it
ourselves and by depending on the
only One who is able.
Mr. Pope has spoken on the condi-
tions of entering the christian life.
Mr.. Pope is natural orator with a
style that is incisive, clear and catchy.
He holds the wrapt attention of his
hearers from beginning to end. His
points are clear; his audience under
stands and follows him. On Sunday
night he took the subject "What do 8
it cost not to be a christian" ana
spoke as follows:
People sometimes refuse Christ be-
cause of the sacrifice involved. 1t
costs too much, and they are not
willing to pay the price. Yes, it
does costs something to be "A chris
tian, but it costs far more not to be a
christian. Let us see what it costs
TO live and die without Christ.
/. Not to Re a christian costs the
sacrifice of peace. "Great peace
have they which love thy law
''Thou wilt keep him in perfect
peace whose mind is stayed on thee. "
This is the portion of the christion.
He has peace with God, and the
peace of God and God of peace be-
sides. The Christless soul knows
nothing of this, for "'rhere is no
peace, said my God, to the wicked"
He knows that he is disobeying God,
and he is all the time fearful. "Who
through fear of death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage"
Besides, he is conscious of an I'M
seen force which is continually
working against him. "The way OF
the transgressor is hard" we are
told. Yes, God makes it hard, in or
der that the sinner may weary of it,
and turn his feet into the path OF
righteousness. "Behold l will
hedge up thy way with thorns, and |
will make wall against thee.'
AS surely us "All things work to-
gether for good to them that love
God" so surely does God work
against the sinner. The same love
which prompts Him to send bles-
sings to the righteous, leads Him to
send hindrances and warnings to the
sinner. The sinner calls it bad luck,
but he suspects that it is something
more, oven the deliberate purpose oil
God.
A father once said to his son who
was determined to obtain more
liquor, my son, if you go out OF
this house tonight, you will have to
go over the dead body of your
father" Even so the sinner who is
lost, has to fight his way down tC
hell resisted at every step by his
Heavenly Father, and finally tC
trample under foot the Son of God
Can there be any peace in such a
life?
9. Not TO be a christian costs the
sacrifice of the highest joy. do moi
say that the Christless man will
The first political rally of the pres.