The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-24

the golden rule all the hard problems
of life would be solved, and we'd have
heaven, even on this earth. very much
like that to which we hope to go when
tn dark river is crossed.
A man said to me the other day that,
the golden rule was about all he thought
about. l felt, when he made that state-
ment, that I'd found saint on earth,
sure enough IN whose exalted presence
I was unfit to stand, and was about
turning to go when by way of eXplana
ton, he said: Eyes, I'm gold standard
man, and my rule is to pack away all
the gold can lay my hand upon. That's
the golden rule l am working by"
am afraid that too many OF us are of his
stripe; and because we think more OF
the gold, than we do of doing Justly by
our fellowmen, we shall finally lose all
the gold down here and up there too.
Come TO think about it seriously, there
are great many things contained In the
Sermon on the Mount that we hard
headed, self-richteous mortals pay TO at
tention to; still we are making our cal
culations to hold high positions in heaven,
by-and-by. Near tho closing up of that
sermon, the great Teacher, VINO is to be
our Judge said Many" (notice the
word he usedl MANY will say unto me in
that day: Lord, Lord, have we not proph-
esied in thy name, and in they name
cast out devils, and in they name done
many wonderful works. who are to be
| turned off into the place prepared for
the devil and his angels. for the reason
| that thew did not do the things taught
I in that discourse for he says: "Who-
| soever heareth these sayings OF mine and
doeth them not | will liken him unto
foolish man who built his house on the
sand"
That Sermon on the Mount is the
Christian platform, and unless he stands
| on it flat-footed, and does the things
therein enjoined. the Saviour says he
will not know him in the judgment. Fear
full thought
How simple that sermon and yet what
great things taught. was the Sen
of God preaching, and, unlike too many
preachers of these days, he tried to make
no display, but delivered the heaven
sent MESSAGE in the plainest, simplest
style. OF course W. want fine preaching
in these days, because we have itching
ears; but. the most effectual preaching
is the simple story of the Gospel, as Pc
! ter, Stephen and au- told 1t. Educated
people want educated ministers, and the
educated ministers feel that they are
expected TO show off their learning; even
| if they have to discuss the sciences anc
the events OF tae day. By-the-way, y
story will illustrate point, and point
neral at the same time.
1t is said that the pastor of the Meth
odist church, in Lexington Va, years
ago, was thinking of commencing pro"
tracted meeting in his church, and in
yited the celebrated Nat. Thomas, d man
of ordinary ability, but a good practical
preacher to assist him, but told him
that he must be careful how he preached,
as the Lexington people were very high
ly cultured; and. besides. there were two
COLLEGES in the town. Thomas, who was
.<Jo,. 1Y3G hut T.
Ito attneticn to dress, grammar or rhelo-
rio promised the Lexington divine that
he would do the best he could and be.
/ have as well as he knew how. The even
/ ing came for the onenin", of the meet
ing and a great crowd filed the church
Thomas had not arrived when the first
/ hymn was sung: but Just as it was I'm
sued and the people were wondering
It the pastor was waiting for, in he
came just as he had come off his Cir
cult. rough and dusty; and, walking rap
idly, he entered the pulpit, and, withou,
| speaking to the pastor, dropped on his
knees and prayed. The people seemed
announced a hymn they were shocked
at the idea OF havinr to listen to such
an ordinary looking preacher. After the
hymn, he prayed short but very earn
est prayer. While the congregation was
singing another hymn, the pastor again
rc1nlDued Dlnl what Il cultured duileUCe
he was about to stand before, and begged
him to be very particular as to what he
said and how he said it. When Thomas
arose he stood looking as if he did not
know what to say. He tip-toed and look
!! ed; squatted down and looked; put on
his spectacles and looked; Sooked in
| both amen corners. on each side of the
! aisle, up in the golery. out in the vestl-
bule, and kept on looking until every
| body in the house seemed to be almost
crazy to know what the blockhead was
! looking at. All which time the pastol
was in agony, for he knew there was IA
meaning in Thomas drollery.
! At length. after he had seemingly sat
isfied himself, he said in his drollest
manner: Brother r. told me / must be
mighty particular here; that you all are
mighty stuck-up sort OF folks but, after
looking at you all the best I can, I've
come to the conclusion HAT I'VE
/ PREACHED TO JUST SUCH CATTLE
AS YOU ARE A THOUSAND TIMES"
| The pastor thought he had ruined every
thin and tried to hide himself from the
audience behind the preacher Without
opening the Bible. Thomas announced his
text: Except We repent ye shall all like
wise perish" and just waded right in
after the manner of old Stephen, giving
1t to both church members and sinners,
as he went on. Soon, what little merri-
menu tnere was III the Deglnnlng, SUD-
sided and every eye was fixed intently
upon the preacher and the pastor who
! had been trying to hide. began to show
! himself, and soon heads began to droop
and handkerchiefs were seen wiping tears
from eyes; and then sops were heard in
! various portions of the church. and when
the preacher extended an invitation to
penitent sinners to come to the altar, for
prayer it looked like the whole house
was coming They had great meeting.
and all because Nat Thomas by hit
drollery, took the starch out of the pas
tor and the congregation, and then preach
ed plain, simple, yet, earnest gospel
| sermon.
Wiley Holmes, at Louisburg. tells a
good story that is in point, right here
He says he was walking to church one day
| when Young man. and an old man. rid
! ing on horseback. overlook him, saving
as he rode up: Going to preaching !
SUPPOSE" Eyes, sir" answered Wiley
"That's right my son; and we arc going
! to have n good me- ing today, my som
| feel just like 1t. l am going soon and
We'll have meeting before the preacher
| gets there. | am gong to talk some my
self. These preachers preach well