The news & observer., 1905-12-01
SWELLING CHORUS o. PRAISE.
Singing In the Methodist Conference
Sermon by DR.. Kilgo

weather, with threatening clouds,
passed away in the night, and the
morning dawned clear and crisp, MAX
ing men thankful FOR the mere joy OF
living. The preachers fresh from the
years labors and successes, We're in
fine spirit to greet the day. The peo>
pie Of this prosperous town. thankful
for the plenty that had blessed them
had the added cause of having in their
midst 60 many men Of Cod as their
guests The air is charged with every
thing that makes for happiness. And
there S n the hearts of the people
gratitude to the giver of ali good for
His mercies and blessings that have
crowned the year.
AT the beauUful Methodist church
here the throng proved greater than
the limits of the church, and the con-
gregation overf1oYed. The singing
was attuned 10 the spirit of the day.
The grand organ seemed to have gath
cred into is denth the thankfulness of
the thousand people present and as the
music rose L seemed TO send up in q
mighty chorus the highest note of
thanksgiving to the Most Hi@h-the
singing was with the spirit and the
understanding, and led by a splendid
choir the whole congregation joined
in the melody Of song
If YOU never heard a whole Metho-
dist conference sing. you have missed
the most inspiring church music.
There are few among the preachers
who cannot sing. and when the whole
two hundred pour out their heart in
song il is a mighty note of praise that
is AKIN 70 the music of tho skies.
And this was the swelling melody that
DISTINGUISHED this Thanksgiving day
Conference. 1t felt that it had much
for which to give thanks--for large
additions To membership, for new
churches. for uplift in every depart
ment of church work. but today the
special object of thanks was centered
in the Methodist Orphanage that has
come To be the most popular inStitu-
ton of the church. A few years ago.
at a time of life when most men are
letting go of the great enterprises of
life, and looking to the next world
Rev John w. jenkins had revealed to
him that the croWning work of his
useful life was the establishment of
.an Orphanage. He knew 70 discour-
agement and pressed on until today a
500, 900 orphanage has been built and
it is caring now for II orphans and
viii next year care for more than 100.
The preachers all say that the people
gladly pay the assessment for the or
phanage-that is IS The easiest money
to collect of all the money that is con-
tributed 20 the CAUSE of the church.
Tho hearts of all men are turned
toward tho orphans as TO no
other object of benevolence. This
is ever living proof of the no.
bility ana great heart of mankind.
They wish every child in the world to
have a fair chance in the race of life,
and when a.. child is denied the guild
ance of parents the parent-heart of the
world goes out to such children with
the tenderness and yearning which
n.anifests Itself IN the-charitv toward
orphanages Many of the great men
of the world have risen by overcoming
the disadvantages of no home and no
help of parents. 1t sometimes seems
that i requires obstacles and difficult
ties to develop the greatness in man.
Sermon BY DIR. KilgO.
A Thanksgiving service was held
at the Baptist church at 1l:30 O'CLOCK
Dr John G. kigo preaching magnl-
ficent sermon. i he services began
with singing after which DR.. Kilgo
read the 93rd Psalm. and the Lords
Sermon on the Mount.
After another beautiful song DR..
Kilgo prayed fervently. asking God TO
forgive the people OF North Carolina
for their pessimism, doubling when
the commonwealth was enjoying
splendid prosperity. when the flowers
OF the field were clothed in majestic
glory, while the birds We're being fed,
with Gods clothing hand held out to
the flowers, ana His feeding hand
to the birds He thanked the Lord
for the prosperity of the Southland
and the nation, and prayed its contin~
uance.,
= DR. Kflgo selected as his text
Psalm 81: J. The Lord Reigneth:
Let the Earth Rejoice: Let the Mul-
titude of Isles Rejoice Therefor"
THE future ages" he said will re-
veal a personal God, identified with
His work. Ours is a great working
God In the beginning He created
heaven and earth. There has
been no hour from that hour to
this that God has not come to us IS
guide of the patriarch Abra
ham He. guided his men Of the fields
TO greater prosperity. He stood By
all night. He protected the shepherd
lad. and wrestled with him
feeding his flocks He worked out the
freedom of bondsmen and bOndsWo-
men and bore on His own eternal
heart the issues of their salvation and
the destinies of the people of the
earth He reached a great reSt-day,
and sent His Son. and the Lord has
taken a long vacation, and the Son
will return as Gods heir. His hand
will have upon it the mark of work
man, and His brow will have upon IT
the infanible sign of the sun burned
man who has worked at the bench of ,
a carpenter. And He viii continue
to work, and out-pour every power
He possesses. When John with
his propnet eyes looked through
the centuries he saw Christ
still a working man, bringing into eX-
istence a new era here and there. and
at last, building a New City where
His chosen shall dwell.
Being a workingman. there must
be periods when He shall rest. When
He was on earth His energy was eN-
hausted and it had to be replenished.
The Sabbath stands as perpetual
reminder of a weary God. God rested.
There we have our God. identified with
every force, every issue, personally
for every energy on earth
and in Heaven He Identifies Himself
absolutely here If infidelity should
strike a vital blow at this fundamental
doctrine of our faith, would destroy
His identity with the world, leaying
the world q senseless helpless mass.
What a damnable world that would
be- A world that cannot bear the inn