Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-20
Meek Brethren Hear
Urgent Plea
Three Sermons Delivered to Dunkards
in Temple Auditorium and Vast
Congregation Takes Part
in Services

DunkardS, or Brethren DIS lISy plOASi
to be called, met between services IN
the corridors of the great building and
in the park. Thousands of the Dunk
ards attended the services yesterday
and at the morning hour of service
three sermons were delivered IN the
main auditorium, Berean and Choral
halls, all of which were largely at
tended. The members of the denom-
nation who have come from all parts
of the United States, attend all the
services and with but few outsiders
filed the auditorium and other nails,
morning and evening, while in the
afternoon the main auditorium was
filled with a large congregation.
With a background of greenery, as of
the primevial forest, the stage settings
suggested the great outdoors rather
than a stage. There is no pulpit, but
just a plain small table, and the stage
is occupied by those who lead in the
singing. The great organ is silent. there
being no instrumental music as an ac-
compartment to the hymns.
The hymns are sung with hearty
good will by the vast congregation who
fill the great building with peals of
music.
Take No Collections
Each service is preceded by a half
hour song service, and at the appointed
time the service opens with prayer
after which the preacher delivers the
sermon. There are but few announce
ments made at these services, and
there are no collections taken. The
preacher repeats the Lords prayer as
the closing prayer, but is not Joined by
the congregation as is usually the Gus
tom Women all over the auditorium
take off their plain bonnets, disclosing
no dapifu 11pa which make a
pretty appearance. During the prayers
the people bow forward as one large
mass and probably never before his this
world-famed building seen so many
heads devoutly bowed in prayer.
Occupying the boxes and loges that
but few days ago held the fashion
able beauties of the city witnessing
operas, the Quaker-like people take
part in the services.
The vast assemblage takes on the air
of family reunion and the term
"brotherhood" seems not misplaced.
Followers of the strict sect that was
established almost 200 years ago in
Germany, these sturdy people carry
out the same ideas and hold the same
faith that resisted the prosecutions.
Many conveniences have been ar
ranged at the headquarters in the
building, including a bureau of infor-
The branch postoffice was established
yesterday through the kindness of.
Postmaster Flint. 1t is in charge of
F. T. Purdy, night superintendent at
the main office This is the third oc-
casion in succession that this branch
has been established, the other two be-
ing at the headquarters of the Shrin- |
ers and the Odd Fellows. The next |
will be when the National Educational |
harn in T111
Yesterday morning Elder 1. B. Trout |
of Lanark, Ill, preached in the main
auditorium, while T. H. Crompacker |
preached in Choral hall in place of FL
der l.. T. Holsinger. In Berean hall |
Elder j. w. Lear of Cerro Gordo, ILL.,,
preached the sermon. The three SER
vices were held simultaneously and |
were all largely attended.
breaches Missionary Sermon
Yesterday afternoon Elder Galen |
Roger preached a strong missionary |
sermon in the main auditorium. Elder
]. T. Myers opened the service with
prayer following the song service. Ell |
der Roger made a strong plea for be-
lief in Christ and for the mission work.
He said in part:
81 would make my address this after
noon particularly to our brethren and
sisters The question of unbelief is
Gods sensitive line of action between
himself and us. 1t would almost look
as though we could be guilty of every
sin-God's judgment does not fall Sc
Verely until we come to that sin of ut
ter unbelief in God. When a man sins
wilfully he expresses to God his un-
belief for he who believes in God will
not sin and st. John goes farther and
says, cannot sin.
Christ is surOriSa6
belief and when we stop to think of it,
it is a surprise that every one oes not
believe fully. Not to believe is the
most irreverentonal things Of which
man is guilty
"It is possible for us to be guilty Of
the sin of unbelief by ignorance. Paul,
when in ignorance and unbelief, perse-
cuted the church, but when the light
came into his life he believed with such
abandon that he was made the hero
of heroes of all Christianity. Unbelief
begets confusion. The very fact that
you question loses your resources and
power.
knowing God, yet not acknowledge
ing him by actions, in saying that His
doctrines are not practical, is unbelief
There is not a saying in this old book
that has not at some time been said to
be impracticable. Beware lest you come
to the sin of unbelief.
Sensitive Line
1.-THE sensitive line of God is our in
different line, Anything that we can
say is not for us to obey, small as it
is, is against God. The real difficulty
is that we are not willing to remove all
selfishness. Do you think, humanity
speaking, that God would go to all the
expense of redeeming us and then with
draw?
my heart aches as 1 see a people,
jealous otherwise, Indifferent to the
mission work of the church. The mis-
sionary committee comes this year
without one to go to the foreign lands,
simply because we are living for our
selves. There are between thirty and
forty thousand young people in this
brotherhood. If you go to the parents
they say they can't spare their chill
dren. The parent that can't give up
the CHILDHOOD forgive me if misin-
terpret-that parent is not worthy.
"Jesus says that unbelief is sin.
Here is a remedy, sure cure; and you
have the disease. Unbelief is sin be-
cause it makes God out a liar. Jesus
says that the kingdom Of God should be
first. You say it isn't practical and
there you say that Christ is liar, for
he saws it is to be done.