The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-05
HELPF ILLNESS
WAS HIS THEME
DIR. Witllcrspoon Delivers Power
full Sermon on One of Great
Christian Duties,
BIZ HELPERS TOWARD TRUTH
Need OF Sympathetic Warmth
and l<indlincss in the
Church.

Rev Iete Withcrspoon, pastor OF Grace
Street Presbyterian Church, last night
preached Il most powerful and forceful
sermon ON tile duty of Christians In help
ing others toward the truth The subject
was presented IN coutradistinction to tho
ono on the previous Sunday. which was
delivered on Numbering" in opposition
10 ''helning."
Or Wlthcrspoon's text was taken from
the Third Epistlc of john, fifth verse.
lie introduced his subject by reference
10 two frequently mentioned words in
lilo Bible hinder and help. Hindering a
hllndly struggling soul, he said, is more
than a mistake: ii is Il punishable sin.
One should never stand between man and
his God or make hindrance to the soul
that is seeking for the divine truth. He
said that he believed in preaching so that
tho truth might be shown: so that he
might be q helper towards Its admittance
into the soul. 1t is well to preach elo-
quently and powerfully, but the greater
glory Is in bringing down the truth so
that none might be without the CLEAN
that brings eternal comfort and hope and
shows the way to final salvation. He re-
lated an incident of a young man VINO
had come to his church simply because
he liked the music and had personal IN
terest in the pastor.
FINALLY, after two months, when he had
not once entered the church doors nc
had had an interview with him and
Wrought him TO sec the light and the
truth And where L. the fault in this!
Who is responsible? The church and the
people. the speaker answered, because
of tho lack OF warmth, of sympathy and
Iindliness. And so the lesson he would
nreach is the one contained in the text:
.,Be We helpers towards the truth.
Need Kindness.
In speaking of the need of the SYM
pathy and flndnness that Ehould be
shown by man for man. of the need for
Christian counsel and endeavor among
those in the fold for those whose steps
arc going astray from the path of light,
tile speaker showed the reaction of one
soul on another; low each life bears its
Influence on another. and that every man
IS either helping or hindering. AS the
speaker grew warm and eloquent with
lis subject. lie pleaded for that influence
which every life exerts on some other
for good or for bad, TO be so exerted that
1t might help some struggling soul to-
wards the divine truth of eternal life.
As announced by the psalmist, as merci-
fulness has been shown man. so let him
in turn show mercy. and as he has been
filled with righteousness. let him stand
for tile right Each Christian must be
a co-worker with the great Helper in
helping others toward realization of the
truth.
Two things vitality necessary FOR thus
helping said DIR. Witherspoon are ability
and kindness, as shown in the life of the
great Helper, of whom Browning said:
His completeness flows around our In
completeness. with whom II is possible
-
and from all the depths of woe and TO
wipe away all sin. Another important
element is proximity. Christ is always
near always within reach, always within
call of the dying soul. So must be the
owly helpers toward the truth, il they
would be coworlers in the vineyard of
life.
Lift Up the Fallen.
What is the church doing? What is the
Christian doing? he asked II should
help the lowly and lift up the fallen. but
are tho followers of Christ heping as
they should? What are we here for?"
he asked, and replying, said that we
are here to save souls for noble pur-
poses. for Christ. to help others attain
that blissfui heaven which will at last
inclose us all
With rare note of eloquenee and pow
erful pleading, DR.. Witherspoon threw
hiIaseIf Into his address, praying for
helpers toward the truth. for the church
10 be as lamp towards stumbling keet
that know not where they go in the
darkness of the soul. and not to act as a
stumbling block to those who seek, but
cannot find. the light. Let this blessed
word, helpfulness,' he prayed ,be em-
blazoned on our crowns. The lost and
dying are all around us. and the Lord
calls men TO go and save