The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-14
'DR. LYONS BREACHES
PASTOR WHO IS CONSIDERING CALL TO MONTGOMERY CHURCH.
Earnest Sermon At First Presby- terian Church Preparatory To Sacrament of the Lords sup-
 per on Sunday,

l Preparatory to the communion ser l vice which he will conduct Sunday morning at Il o'clock at the First Presbyterian Church. Dr. J. s. Lyons of | Louisville. ky. preached last night an l eloauents and impressive sermon to a l large and appreciative congregation at the church to which he has been unanimously called as postor. Two weeks ago. by unanimous vote of the congregation of the First Pres byteriau Church. Dr Lyons, who Is pas Louisville. was extended call to the lastorate ofetba church Tn the early spring Dr.. Lyons came to Montgomery and conducted a ten days service at the First Presbyterian Church. and so impressed was the congregation with the man and his work, that when Dv. c W. Patterson died, as unit. their hearts went cut to the Kentucky minister as the one to successfully carry on the work of the church. In response to the call Dr.. Lyons came to Montgomery Thursday. and it is believed that his answer to tho call will be that he will accept tho pastorate of the church and make Montgomery his home
 A large congregation greeted him
 last night and accorded to him the closest attention when he preached a
 sermon in preparation for the sacra-
 msnt which wi.l be observed at that church Sunday morning. From the first chapter of the First Epistle of Paul to Timothy. he found the theme of his sermon. In that chapter is con taiiied the Christian experIence of Paul.
 the Apostle and under three heads Dr. Lyons treated his subject. First, Paul,s estimate of sin--his own sin: econd, why was he saved? Not for |. v.ie but for service and, third, his song of profound and uplifting thanks for his salvation. These are the three ele- ments that enter In the salvation of every man.
 In his text Dr. Lyons said that Paul gave a sane. safe and God-fearinE statement of what he found in his ex-
 perience as a Christian. In Paufs es- tImation there was no variable esti-
 mate or standard of what was right or wrong in the sight nf God. To Paul sin was offensive; the whole subject of sin was oddious. Paul made no attempt to conceal the sins Of his
 past life but of himself he said, Who
 was before b1asphemer, and per secutor and injurious" He was not
 satisfied with being a sinner himself,
 but forced others to sin and took in- solent and vicious delight In his sin. Sin was his joy. his ride and his pleas ure. tM& %
 Paul made no excuse for his sins" said Dr. Lyons. He did not say that he was a victim of circumstances; he did not say, some one led him to do sin, but of his being a sinner and of Christ's saving sinners he said or which am chiefest'
 "The only excuse offered by Paul was his Ignorance. Ignorance does
 mitigate guilt but indifferences new er." M
 According to this scripture he said "the sin of the heather Is mitigated, but people living In country of civ- ilization and enlightenment. can offer no such excuse and the sin of indif- ference is a crime of the darkest sort strong thought he suggested was
 that a safe test of Christian charac- ter is the sense of ones own sin, though with people there is a differ ent estimate of sin and a different ate titude toward sin and toward Christ In their sins.
 Under the second head of his sub ject pr. Lyons gave Paurs explana- tion of why he was saved at all. 1t
 was not simply to make him hap DIV or to prepare him to go to heav- en--but for the purpose of service-- to accomplish something. To be ap- pointed to the service of Christ Jesus does not always mean to the ministry or the NfOSQeI put tuC OA
 Christian service. which is just as nee essary.
 The last thought on which he dwelt was the spirit of gratefulness, of thanksgiving and of praise with which Paul devoted himself to the ministry of Christ after he received his call.
 pr. Lyons closed his sermon with an eloquent appeal to the congregation that they lift their voices to God in thanksgiving for His mercies and that they come to the Lords table Sun day in a spirit of profoundest grati- tude to God for His mercy and His love. 3-
 There will be a special meeting of the session of the church Sunday morning at 10:30 o'clock, directly after the Sunday School
 There will be a union meeting of
 the Presbyterian congregations of the city at the Central Presbyterian
 Church Sunday night at 8 o'clock