Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-02-09
STATE SABBATH
SCHOUL WORKERS

The mass meeting under the auspices
of the Pennsylvania State Sabbath
School Tour Party, at the Pine Street
Lutheran church Sunday afternoon,
was one Of the most interesting ser.
vices that has been held in this city
in long time There was large con.
eregation in attendance. Every seat
was occupied, and many were unable
to get into the church.
The Tour Party consists Of six peo-
pie, four of whom constitute q quar-.
tette of fine singers They are: Irwin
20. Van Dyke, first tenor; Hugh Cork,
second tenor; W. F. Landes, first bass
George +. Sawle, second bass W. !.
Erdman, D. D., Bible instructor and
Miss Ermina @. Lincoln, primary
worker. There itinerary will cover
torty-five counties of Pennsylvania.
with an institute of four sessions Ia
each county.
The exercises Sunday afternoon,
consisted OF singing by the quartetts,
interspersed with selections from the
=" Tour Party Songs of Praise" by the
church choir, consisting of twenty
we'll cultivated voices. Following sew.
eral selections by the choir, and con-
gregation, Secretary Laumaster led In
prayer. Rev. Mr.. Sherman. Eastor OF
the First Baptist chlrch, read the les
son. Before the quartette rendered ito
first song, Mr.. Landes said:
Il trust that you will not expect too
much of US. You Will get nothing
classical; nothing but plain gospel
songs. Two weeks ago some of the
members of this quartette were stlang.
ers. We had never met, much less sang
together. Consequently our inter
course has been brief. Then we are
handicapped in another manner. We
are all suffering with severe colds.
DuliDg the early stages of the present
cold snap, our voices became frozen.
Three of US have become pretty near.
ly thawed out, but the vocal chords Of
the fourth are rather too frigidly in
olined for good singing"
Notwithstanding his statement and
the fact that tie members of the quar-.
tet,e were in the condition he repre-
sented them to be, they sang with
much sweetness, range and power.
Hugh Cork, the second tenor singer.
gave an interesting talk on Sunday
Schools and the duties involving upon
Sunday School teachers Of the vast
number of Sunday School scholars in
Pennsylvania. less than one third of
them were not within the pale Of the
church. What great thing it would
be could every Sunday School scholar
in the State be started out to work for
Christ There should be more in the
church, and that there are not shows
something radically wrong somewhere.
One reason is that we do not hate
enough. A Christian 5 duty is to hate.
have until recently always prayed
that hate would BE- driven from my
heart and only love be allowed to re-
main. | have quit that, and am now
praying for power to hate something's.
Why do | say this? Let me tell you:
During tie dark days of slavery,
young man visited Kentucky. While
there he saw slave tied to post and
his master cruelty beating him. The
scene so enrsRed the young man and
filled him with such a hatred toward
slavery that he said: If | ever ges
the opportunity / will strike
harder blow at slavery than that mast.
er is striking that poor oolored man
and revenge him When Abraham
Lincoln signed the emancipation pro.
clsmation that young man had his re.
venga. Sin is tying Us up tighter
than ever that black man was tied,
and the cords are cutting into our
souls deeper than the lash did into
his flesh. As Abraham Lincoln
hated slavery so should every Chris
tisn hate sin. Let no opportun-
ity go by to strike blow at il. p"
The speaker then urged the neces.
sity of personal work. Speak to your
friends of Christianity. Ask them TO
come out for Christ. There are too
many people in all congregations
no have no personal knowledge of
Christ. They are on the church roll.
but for another purpose than that Of
working for the Master.