Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-11-06
THE METHODIST BRIIISAERS.
w0RSHIPPED AT THE FIRST
M E. CHURCH.
Pastors Sermon Was On "And
There Was No
Sea-"
THE SEA THE SUBLIMEST OF
ALL SEPULCHRES.

Like nature, one touch OF religion
makes the whole world Kin Ii wns
magnificent sight that presented it,
self ta the worshipper at the First M.
| T.. Church yesterday morning where
| two hundred seamen of the British
| ships were gathered to worship the
| (4od of the Universe.
The bluejackets and marines of the
British fleet occupied the entire middle
aisle on both sides of the church.
All were devout aud attentive listen
ers aud the sermon on the theme THE
| Symbolism of The Sea" was a strong
and foroeful discourse that went homo
TO the hearts of many. Governor
/ Warfield was present and at tho close
of the sermon congratulated DIR. Geo.
w. Miller. the pastor, on his splendid
discourse.
Learning that there were about 300
men of the British feet who are Moth
odists, and desiring TO extend 20 them
an invitation TO worship in the church
OF their adoption DR.. Miller wrote TO
this effect to the Prince. The reply
was very gracious. and it was stated
could the hour of service be so ar
ranged as TO permit the seamen 20 DO
aboard ship at l2 o'clock, noon, they
would be enabled to attend. The
church service, therefore, was put
forward an hour, and began yoster-
day morning at 10 O'Clock instead of
II O'Clock. The choir sang several
beautiful hymns.
Preceding his sermon DIR. Miller
welcomed the British sea men as rep-
resentatives of the mother country
and as representatives of the mother
church. The text of the sermon was
Revelation, 2lst chapter, lst verso
And there was no more sea- - DR..
Miller said in part
The sea is the symbol of mystery.
In its depths nature holds the secrets
Of her three great kingdoms mineral,
vegetable and animal. Life is an
ocean full Of mystery. Here they stand
mystery on mystery, making dim
and sad circumference about our
lives. But there will be no more mys-
terry in heaven-one of the highest
joys of heaven will be the JOY of n
perfect explanation. The sea is also
the symbol of unrest and change.
Human life will always be full of IN
rest and Ivicissitude. The apooolyptio
allegory does not convey tho idea of
the annihilation OF seas, but OF tho
obliteration of the sorrows and
troubles of life and the gathering of
Gods people in haven of eternal
repose.
The sea was also to st. John tho
symbol of separation. IL came between
him and his loveu ones. There arc
no separations in heaven. The separa-
tiops of friends, of creeds, of denomi-
nations, of nationality, which are so
marked here will have no existence
there. 1t is the eternal home, tho
very solar centre of the moral uni
verse. The eternal companionship.
ours given back TO us and we given
back TO them, and both they aud we
forever with Ire Lord. The eternal
presence, the wonder and mystery and
beauty and glory and blessedness OF
God. Voyagers on the ocean after long
wandering sometimes think they see
on the distant horizon the longed for
tand But the night comes on and they
must fall asleep uncertain whether
what they saw was coast or cloud. In
sleep they are carried fifty miles for
ward and 10, in the morning there
are the hills and valleys of the land
they longed for. SO the sleep of deatI,
will carry as forward into the light
of the eternal morning and the land
which il very far off, where the wave
never beats and the storm never
comes -