The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-04-17
DIR. MOFFATT IN ABBEVILLE.
His Conduct OF Religious Services in
the Methodist Church Last Sua-


the Methodist Church Last Sua'
day.
Last Sunday morning DR.. ]. s., Mnffstt
iigious services in the Methodist Church a,
this place. he did 30 at request. The pastor
wsR absent. The Doctor carried his audience
captive. No assembly Of people was evel
duct Of the service throughout was mos,
admirable and 1t was thoroughly acceptable
The preacher had something to say. and be
said II; and when he had said 1t, he quit.
The service con forme ed to the usage or cuB
tom OF the Methodist congregation.
Music on the organ.
Singing by the choir. nd music on the
The preacher announcing the hymns.
The reading of the Psalms. Responses by
the people.
The reading OF the scriptures.
The PRAYER, which closed with the Lo rd g
prayer, the people repeating 1t with the
The choir sang most delightfully."-. Better
music is seldom heard.
In the exclusion Of the Lords prayer, and
10 the refusal TO sing "Hosanua TO the Son OF
David" }" Ia II not possible to hnd Gauss for the
slow growth OF the Associate Reformed
church?
"Our glad hozannas. Prince Of peace.
Thy welcome shall proclaim"
In lh, opening prayer D. Moffatt impress
ed his audience with tbs earnestness OF the
petitioner. He kuows hnw TO pray. aod the
Hts petition was In behalf OF the members OF
this congregation who was present aud OF
those who,were absent. and II the families OF
all. He was especially mindful OF the pastor
who was absent on business connected with
the church; blessing WAS asked for him and
for hia labor. he remembered the sick ano
the afflicted. He prayed for the righteous
ho N nhi1dFQn
kept In the paths that lead to peace aud 10
righteousness, and he % ide an earn ast invo-
cation that their feet might never lead them
into evil ways.
Just then hearer thought the preacher
m,gat have said = Word for those ot US mis-
erable sinu ers whose feet had led us 20 far
into devious ways, aud whose sins, as we LOOK
back, are piled up 80 high as to almost hide
even the sight o. the CrosI. Toe fallen. the
weak. the outcast, and all those OF US who are
out OF the narrow path need the prayers OF
them. prayers In their benalf are always
grateful TO the hunRerlng and lonely heart.
The preacher read the twelfth chapter Of
the book of Ecclesiastes, taking these words
OF the first verse as his text: "Remember nov
thy Creator In the days Of thy youth"
Dr.. Moffatt said that his remarks would be
addressed chiefly to the children of the audi
ence, whose hearts should now he given TO
their Creator. Childhood aud youth is the
time for the forming Of character and the
contracting Of habits Every care should be
taken To keep the feet Of children in the
straight and narrow path The preacher
thought that youth and childhood was the
most effective time TO insti into their hearts
the necessity and the value To themselves OF
obedience TO the W II Of their CREATOR who
knew them best and who loved them even AS
bis own children. Before the cares and the
anx,eties OF manhood aud womanbood were
on them, was the time TO Impress upon the
mind and the heart The duty of obedience to
the will OF q loving Father. II young hearts
would do their whole duly, and would do Il
full service. love for the good. tho beautiful.
and the true should be instilled al the begin
ming Of life. And they should not be made
acquainted with sin. Children should be
shielded from evil In mind as we'll as IN act
and they should be taught to love purity and
to shun even the semb lance OF evil.
would teach that wisdom which would de-
veiop and establish In our hearts ana minds
the highest moral excellence, which moral
excellence includes love to the Father and
obedience to his WILL and the rendering OF q
full service in duty 10 Him
II children formed evil habits, and become
neglectful Of their whole duty, there waa no
assurance that they would pent in sitter
.dnrinG their remsiping years. Their happi.
ness and their prosperity In this world would
: be better promoted 10 yielding full obed ence
70 the will o. the loving Father who cares ior
us all, even as our Creator.
J Itwould be better for each of us. and better
for all the world, II we could preserve our
childish purity and our child Ike faith from
CHILDHOOD 10 old age. This IL the ouIy way 10
render foil service in the discharge Of our
whole duty.
. Itis NOT safe to wander out OF the right
s course, trusting for future repentance. II is
not im possible for men to repent OF their evil
ways, aud to live better lives for The remain.
Ing years. but such course precludes the
possibility OF rendering full service to the
Creator, who expects q full service as the
whole duty OF man. To spend the best part
N
then offer the remainder OF a wrecked life to
the Creator was hardly fair.
The Christian religion was not. as some
thought q religion OF gloom. Tue happiet O I
all life is the life which most closely follows
In the footsteps OF the Crestor-all Of WHOSE
ways are peace and all Of whose paths are
plaasantneas.
The preacher concluded with: LET US hear
the conclusion OF the Whole matte: Fear
God. q d Keep his comm Audnents: for this
is the whole duty OF man"
In ringing the changes on the text and the
lesson which the chapter taught, the preacher
sometimes said g ri" instead of"Creator." !"
which act detracted something from the
enphony OF the otherwise most acceptable
We note, too. that the preacher attribute
the authorship Of Ecclesiastes to Solomon
In Difference 10 the sens,billties OF ears
: polite. he avoided saying devil by saying the
One OF his bearers said: If the Mathodlst
preacher is absent again. ! hope that they
may send for DR.. Moffatt to take bis place"
Another said: III they hear much OF suoh
preaching. It is no wonder the people OF Due
s West are so good"
Ofthe sermon we would say that the ideas
of the preacher we're forciby expressed In
good English, and that the delivery was In.
Btructive and entertaining throughout
8 Ifyou think this very short aud imper-
feet report let the reader not forget that IT IL
impossible to print 10 seven minute all tina,
the preacher may say and do in an hour and
o quarter.