The Beaumont enterprise. [volume] (Beaumont, Tex.) 1904-current, 1904-09-19
SAMSON WAS LIKE
PEOPLE OF TODAY
a SERMON ON SPIRITUAL AND
PHYSICAL STRENGTH AT THE
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
.BlEKER BACK FROM VACATION
breaches At Forenoon and Evening
Services at ST. Marks Church TO
Fair.sized congre-
cations.

/. ", Rlckcr and family returned
from their "trip to tho 81. Louis expo
is,iun Saturday. and yesterday DIR,
Hlckor occupied his accustomed place
In The pulpit at ST. Marks Episcopal
church. after an absence from the city
Of two weeks. Dr. iilckcr preached
yesterday morning ana last evening Ia
f"ir,silcd congregation. n large mum,
her Of members Of st. Marks still he
Ing out OF the city. Music was fur.
nishcd by the regular choir under the
leadership of the new choir master and
urganist, Professor Fitzpatrick, OF
" ushington, ID. &. MIR. Kirkpatrick
ig charging the choir and rapidly get.
ting II into fine musical trim, Later
however, il will be much improved,
owing Ia the addition Oi members now
Talk on Samson.
DR.. Becker talked yesterday morning
Oh Samson, comparing his life. his
strength. his SHINING, his repentance
and his final reward 10 the same quail
tiles to be found in man Of today. rae
rector began his discussion by telling
OF Samson's great strength, physically
and spiritually. This, he said, was
the gift of God. inc physical strength
was given him to permit him 70 DO
Gods work. As long as he retained
his spiritual strength he retained his
physical strength. but when he lost
the former he also lost the latter.
The Same TYdy.
Thus il is, the rector. said, with man
os today. As long as he remains true
Ia the doctrines of the church and God,
he will have strength with which TO
fight evil. When he wiiliuliy departs
from his Christian life he will be shorn
of his strength and will not be able to
resist temptation and sin. In discuss
ing this phase Of the question, Or
Blckcr said Samson was like tn"
church member Of today in that he did
evil without absolutely turning his |
back on God. He did not deny God
and his teachings, but simply departed |
from the Christian life, like many |
church members. who violate their |
vows TO God and the church without
leaving the church or cutting thcm- |
selves eff from an apparent utilization !
with Christianity.
Unconscious Loss.
This, the rector said, is frequently
done without the actual knowledge o!
The man. As was the case with Sam
son, the churchman frequently does |
not know that he has lost his strength |
until time comes when he needs it 10
lClp him resist temptation and sin.
Thcn he discovers his strength has
5Cnc from him, Just az Samson found
lis strength had departed when he
riod to rise mp and free himself from
lis captors, after the long locks had
pCcn cut off
Dr. Blckcr took up the phase of Sam
cons life dealing with his captivity
md punishment when ne was placed
i the treadmill and compelled to d
he work of a horse. He tOilcd at this
II solitude. and had an opportunity to
hnk of his sins. his past life and his
uturc. During the process the EnOwl-
dye of his rcmissncss came to him.
nd he rcpcnt2d. He asked God $ for
lNcnrSS ana y edged hlmSeH To him
or the future. The result was that
With the return of his spiritual .
tlcngth came his old physical !
trcnGth, which he finally used to ,
rcak The columns of the temple and
ring the structure umbling down on ;
he heads of his enemies.
Power nf Evil.
Nh. ,,,.t.,,, ,,r.,.l tb,, yb, pbpr,b
zen always retain their spiritual a
trcngth by remaining true to the !
hurch and to God. i'm order mat they !
idy have strength with which Ia re
list evil. No temptation is too great I
nd no evil too strong in its influence l
yer man but that they may be con
Tered by him it he has in his heart an
hiding fail in God U