The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-06-27
1906
NAMOZINE CHURCH.
Richard McIlwaine, d. d.

reat their views OF doctrine discipline rreverent-
" | am however, now inclined to think that in
NV earlier ministry l had an nordinate apprecia-
ton of some points in the Presbyterian system
not involved inthe gospel of salvation and assign
ed them place of too great Importance in min
isteral instruction. The following incident will
illustrate what mean
One Monday morning | was RETURNING H.
from Namozine and on the road met one % ~
regular hearers at that place, a Methodist h.
church connection, who believed in IMMERSED
and had been immersed. He was plain. uncul-
tured man, an earnest Christian, a Bible-reader
and an intelligent nearer, who enioved n1air ,
pei preaching. He lived a mile or two So, ~
borne Iallys and was anxious to get hin, 70 90
over ana READ the Bible to him and his sister Co
after our salutation L asked him if he woud not
visit the old people on Sunday afternoons
Will tiis Gnu Ill view lie said he would do ~,
gladly AS was about to bid him good-bve he
said feelingly: - ~
brother Mcllwaine, like your preaching and
SO Tar as have heard you, go with you in every
thing you say. But there is one point on which
we differ and there is text in the Bible on
which you cannot preach"
To my inquiry as to what that one +ex+ o. h.
replied, One Lord, one faith one baDtisn
told him that did not know but vvould tbinI
about it, and we parted fraternally
AS drove on my way that text fixed itself on
my MIND, furnished the theme for careful thouobt
de and
When reached home had the syllabus of a ser
mon wrought out in exposition of its truths A.
me mst opportunity L examined all the authori-
ueS OH the text III my possession and having OBJ
dlhed thelr concurrence in the correctness of NV
eAeseSis, went to work to put my thoughts into
manuscript AT the next appointment at Namo
1"e gave notice that by request L would preach
TWO weeks from that day on the Mode of Ran+;en,
and announced the text
ne day came, and on my arrival at church 7
found 1t tull on the floor and in the gallery and
nue later people standing in the aisles and
uoor-Ways and peering in through the windows
mere were representatives of all the Christian
denominations. A prominent figure on the front
N"' was d lat old gentleman, man Of excellent
SANDING and leader of the Baptsts in the neigh
oo'"ood. 1t was a ticklish position L occupied
lot young fellow of about six months exneri
'Oe IN the ministry, but | was in for it, and moth
"'s daunted, went ahead, receiving close aHen-
Wv" rom the whole congregation. l am glad 20
say there was not a syllable in the discourse
auapted to give offence wound the feelings of
~ 0 most sensitive. 1t was simply an exposition
u blDle truth as | understood it,
when the service was over and the conprepa-
uoh dismissed, | remained in the pulpit until the
s"u' en- was empty contrary to custom, when on
.o'OHlhg the door l saw many people standing in
groups engaged in conversation AS | passed
"' group nearest the door, | noticed among sew
N" others, Colonel Gregory at whose home I
expected to spend the following night the fat old
1T"pSt gentleman and my friend, Moore the
~''nodist immersionist; the two latter engaged
IL tenement discussion, to which the others were
r ''"ng went on unObserved, got into my
u'Ey and drove off quickly towards Colonel Greg
81 Before | reached my destination my host
'"u caught up with me and we landed before his
Sac at the same time To my inquiry, What
"Ge Mr. Moore and Mr. talking about so earn
guy as l passed you gentlemen in coming OUT
Kun church," he replied: Moore was telling
5'" mat II he had been on his way to be miners
w and had gotten his foot in the edge of the water
a"u mad heard that sermon, he would not have
s9Ie step further, but would have turned around
'"g been baptized by pouring or sprinkling"