The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-05-04
ForcefuI Sermon Of Dr.. H. w.
Slough Last Evening.
QUESTION OF THE AGES.
It's Time to Turn Away From Ordin.
airy Duties and Give Way
to Lords Business.

DIR. Slough preached last night on
THE Question of the Ages" text, Matt.
27:22 what shall l do then with Jesus
which is called Christ" 1t was
solemn and searching sermon. 1t was
driven home to everyone with telling
illustrations and thought -arresting ut
terances. The preacher showed that the
question asked by Plate is universal
question; that it is question confront
ing believer and unbeliever, saint and
skeptic; that Ingersoll with his fowery
rhetoric and impassioned oratory failed
to solve it-after every lecture of the
noted infdel the universal Christ doomed
larger and more inevitable. Ingersoll
did not know what to do with Jesus
any more than did Plate The pleas
ure- seeker does not know what to do
with Jesus, nor does the crafty politi-
cian nor does the cruel oppressor of his
fellow men. After men have made ev-
cry provision for their earthly comfort
or wealth or power or prestige or pleas
ure or ambition, they still have to come
back to Pilates question: "What shall
L do then with Jesus called Christi"
Abraham Lincoln said: mo question
is settled until it is SETTLED right" So
| it is with this question. You may de-
| eide to ignore the Savior, but you can
not. He is a growing force and factor
in all civilization. You may decide to
put off the solution of the problem for a
| while, but that is foolish. Every time
you defer the question it becomes more
difficult to answer. For you cannot
| think thought or do a deed without
being compelled to measure it by the
standard of Christ. Suppose you pro-
coed along the lines of carnal desires
and personal preferences. what then will
you do with Jesus, called Christ?
And so at last it comes to be a
question of judgment. You have had
your chance, you have lived your
life, you have prepared your pleas.
ures, you have exerted your infu-
ence, you have gained certain ends, you
have met up at last with death, and
then the Judgment. The question is no
longer warning but test. Here is
the standard that was presented to you
to guage your life by. What did you
do with Jesus, called Christ?
Since you cannot evade this question,
since you do settle it one way or the
other by the way yoa live and by the
one you serve, settle it right and set
tie it right now ere it is too late.
The congregation was deeply moved.
At the close of the sermon there was an
exceedingly impressive and solemn mo-
ment, when in response to the evan
gelist's invitation the whole audience
moved into the aisles and down to the
front, standing closely packed together
in the front of the platform, in the
front seats and in the aisles and when,
amid broken sobs, men and women,
fathers and mothers, relatives and
friends, asked prayers for their loved
ones, their son or daughter or friend or
stranger within their gates. And then
Mr.. Slough led in an microscopy pray
er of wonderful power and sweetness.
Many unconverted young people raised
their hands for prayer. 1t was time
when the people got close together lit
orally and fguratively, and when the
realities of time and eternity were
brought wildly and vitality near to all.
The sermon was preceded as usual with
a service of song. Mr.. Bcmus has en-
deared himself to the hearts of all by
his magnificent solos, by his inspiring
leadership of the large and effective
chorus, by the spring and eclat which
he puts into the congregational singing,
by his evident spirituality and deep
feeling. The platform seats are filled
every night by earnest young people
who sing as unto the Lord. Come early
in order that you may have your heart
attuned by the singing to the inspiring
gospel message which always follows.
1t is time when you ought to turn
away from ordinary duties and give the
right of way to the Lords business.
1t is to your business, too. 1t is the
salvation of the city.