The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-06
CUMBERLAND REVIVAL


TWO STRONG SERMONS by REV. ".
M. CRAWFORD.
Protracted Needing ct hts Chsrch De-
gins VIII LarUs Congregations
IN Atten1anee--Mue1c ~
Processes NeGlathery.
A revival meeting commenced at the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church yes
terday morning at II o'clock with =
strong sermon by the pastor. Rev.
Walter M. Crawford and excsllent
music under the direction Of Professor
McGlathery Of Brewton.
Much interest was shown at the be-
ginning and Mr.. Crawford and his MEM
bers are confidently expecting great re-
suits.
Professor McGlathery is singer Of
some note and will augment the choir
very materially. He sang solo at the
morning service. Il Surrender ALL"
which was very much enjoyed by the
large congregation.
There will be services each day dur
ing the week at 10 .. m and 1880 p.
Mr.. Crawford's subject for the morn
ing sermon was Religion" His text
was from Revelations iii, IS. II counsel
thee to buy Of me gold tried in the
fre. that thou mayest be rich,"
Mr. Crawford said that gold Is con-
sidered to be the purest OF all metals
symbolizing the purity, beauty and pre-
ciousness Of our Christian religion. His
nrst question was What Is religion?
He first treated 1t negatively by say
ing religion was not church member
ship, reformation. morality. honesty nor
love. These are merely evidences OF
religion.
He then discussed 1t positively. First
raj fxxtA IL ~.~.
OF God upon the heart by the Holy
Ghost. Man was created In the
image OF God. BY sin this image was
defaced. Sin tore man loose from
God severed his union with his maker
and separated his soul from the source
of spiritual life. The word religion
comes from two Latin words, which
literally mean bound back and re-
bound The very etymology of the
word indicates that man was once
bound on to God.
Mr.. Crawford proceeded to prove that
religion removes the defacing infiuen-
ces of sin and restores dissolved rela.
tionships--binds back to God-in which
process the image OF God is found.
His second proposition was that the
image of God Is found upon the heart.
Mr.. Crawford said the image of God
was not found upon the head. mind nor
body, but he emphasized the fact that
II was found upon the heart.
Third Mr.. Crawford asked by what
agent is the image found? BY the
Holy Spirit This is pre-eminently an
age of God the Holy Spirit. He is
bound on the one side by the day of
second coming of Christ which will be
the end of the world.
Mr. Crawford said that they were
absolutely depending upon the Spirit
for the success OF the revival meeting.
Without the aid of a minister or church.
the Holy Spirit has worked. and today
he Is not restrained. Mr.. Crawford
said there may be some living In Mont
gomery right under the shadow OF the
churches, great In infidelity, staunch in
opposition to the cross of Christ, but,
without asking their consent, the Holy
Spirit can pull down the strong man,
and make the mighty man bow him
self. For when we talk of the omni-
potent God. there ID nothing too great
for Him to do.
But, my friends" continued Mr..
Crawford. God has been pleased TO put
a great honor upon human instrument
tality; he could work without 1t IL he
pleased, but he does not do so. How
ever. want to impress this Bible truth
on your hearts IL you would have the
Holy Spirit exert Himself In our midst.
mot to instrumentality. instrument
tality is to be used, but the spirit~is
to have the honor Of IL. Honor the
Spirit and He will reward you"
MIR. Crawford concluded his remarks
by drawing some logical deductions.
He said that the religion of the Bible
was:
Frist--A Spiritual Religion. 1t is
spiritual because 1t Is the operation of
spirit upon spirit, In which process the
soul is born again. That which liz
born of the Spirit is Spirit"
second--An Experimental Religion.
Being spiritual there Is no other
medium by which we can arrive at
knowledge Of IT,
Third--A Holy Ghost Religion---It is |
a Holy Ghost religion because the agent |
in the commission of every sinner Is
the Ily Ghost The Holy Spirit and |
the Spirit alone convicts sinners and |
brings them to Christ,
Fourth--A Heartfelt Religion. 1t Is
a beautiful religion because the sin
ner seeks, believes, repents and loves |
with his heart and because the Spirit |
operates on the sinners heart In con- |
version.
Mr.. Crawford read forty-hve passages |
of scripture to prove his assertions.
Before the benediction Mr.. Crawford |
extended a cordial invitation to all |
denominations TO aLteHu fHS HcStutS i
and assured the sinner that he would |
meet with a cordial welcome.
The Evening" Service.
'The Gospel supper" was the sub |
iect of Mr.. Crawford's evening sermon. |
He took as a foundation for his re-
marks, Then said be unto them. GER
tain man made a supper and pc Dade /
MANY" etc. st. Luke xiv. 1874.
From this rich, beautiful and fnstruc-
tive parabIe Mr.. Crawford said:
we learn, first. that God has made |
ample provision In the gospel FOR all
our Spiritual wants He referred TO
a number of passages OF scripture to |
prove his assertion.
second, that Invitations. of the most |
kind. are given US to /
come and partake of what God has
graciously provided.
Mr. Crawford discussed the character
of those invited, the manner IN whicn
they were invited and the motives by
which they should be enforced.
Third, That the Divine provisions. OF |
which we are invited to partake, are |
nv many sighted and despised."
The excuses he said. given In this |
M rable are to show that the excuses |
given by the sinner are frivolous In the |
extreme. -.
.Fourth, That tlfese who despise the |
nrovisions of the gospel cannot DO so |
without mourning the greatest guilt. |
and without exposing themselves 10 the |
most awful danger"
s"rhe master of the house. we are toid
.aId Mr. Crawford, was angry and |