The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-04-15

cuses Rev. ROurke declared that
not one reflected upon the religi-
Gus character Of the church. All
the excuse makers were evidentially
| in sympathy with the church work
but not sufficiently interested to
lend a helping hand. "It is be-
cause of Indifference" wrote sew
eral excuse makers. Others said:
"I must read the Sunday newspa-
pers and get some extra sleep. I"
Many OF the very frank people ac-
knowlcdged that pure laziness was
the cause for not attending church.
Other excuses were lack of stylish
clothes, lack of religion, and many
wrote that there are no excuses
whatever for any persosn not at
tending church.
Rev. Rourke found his text in
the Seventeenth verse of the
Fourth Chapter of James--"There-
fore to him that knoweth to. do
good, and doeth it not, to him it
is sin. +" The pastor declared that
every civilized person knows that
it is right and their duty to at
tend church and that there is no
plausible excuse for anybody not TO
attend church, providing that they
hae their SSundays to themselves
! so that it is possible. ;"
| Rev. Henry Rodgers, of Gram
vile, missionary of many years
experience among the Indian ma
tions of the west, addressed two
large congregations at the First
Baptist church yesterday. Re-. Mr..
Rodgers spoke in the absence of
Rev. George rhillips of Granville,
who was scheduled to fill the pull
pit in the absence Of the regular
pastor.
The pastor of the Reformed church
lsroke from the text John 21-16,
Simon, son of Jonas lowest thou
me" to very large congregation.
Ia part he spoke as follows:
"1n an after breakfast inerview
with Peter, the Lord asked him the
question: Simon. son of Jonas,
lowest hou me?' Peter had disowned
the Lord, and in instating him again,
the Lord teaches a lesson in incon-
sistency. To confess Christ one day
and deny Hin the next is wrong.
Notice how admirably the Lord deals
with him. He does not even ask
him: Peter seest thou now the prud-
ence Of my warning? Art thou still
SO self-conrdent? DO you believe my
doctrines? Are you pleased with my
precepts? Do you confess me to be
the Son of the Highest? Do you re-
pent?
"All this Is implied In the concen.
tpated question, Lowest thou me?
A personal attachment to a personal
Savior. Never mind Thomas, or Judas
o: anybody else. the question now is
Lowest thou me?, Dost thou Simon
son OF Jonas, really love me? Tht
Lord calls him by his old name which
he had before his conversion in ordel
that he might more fully realize wha
ne had obtained through grace.
Dear friends, you are privileged tc
have the benefit OF this question b,
applying 1t to your own heart. Wha
II you We're to meet your Lord Jesus
race to face in a private interview
and He lifting up His head, fixini
his clear, large. dark-blue sinless
sunlike eyes in yours, and you know
Ing Him as you do. then asking yo,
the question: Lowest thou meT Low
est thou me" Lowest thou me-? Oh
sinner. what answer might you,
qulvering lips make?
Outward Righteousness, orthodo,
doctrines, high church offices, grea
Christian privileges, yea even warmth
and zeal and self-denial do not nee
essarily prove love to Christ wlthou
love to Christ the Christian religion
mockery.
Love to Christ Is the inspirin,
and Transforming force. The adhes
I've and perfecting element. Loves
thou me| Could any ones heart b.
so stone and steel like as to answe
his very best friend. no? Loves
thou me" If so, then put love-
fingers. loves trains. loves eyes
loves hands to work. Lowest thol
me? Then wilt thou not think will
love. speak with love, pray with lov'
and live with love? Love is the full
hIling OF the law. And In this way
you will be a power for good ant
God will bless you."
AT the Epworth M. Il. Church
last evening, before a large congrega
tion OF people, Rev. d. H. Bailey de
iivered forceful sermon from tht
text. "The carnal mind is enmity
against Cod"
Rev. Bailey introduced his discourse
by the statement that several decade,
ago, the startling news was published
lover our country that "A world is OF
fre." The astronomers had discov
cred by the Flashes Of light that q
. lplanet was burning up, which aftes