Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-05-05
TWO MEMORABLE SERMONS.
Or. J. o. Vests Parting Words 10 Con.
gregatlon and Bryan People.

| DFeHduon ana bryan People.
Both the services at the Presbyte.
rian church Sunday were of peculiar
interest because they concluded the
PASTORAL service OF DR.. J. d. West
than whom no minister who ever
served n church IN Bryan was ever
more highly esteemed or more uni.
yersally beloved
The text for both morning and even.
Ing sermons was Thess v 81:
Prove all things, hold fast the good :"
DR.. West began the morning dis.
course with the question: what is
proof2' A scientist does not stop
with Il think" or II believe" he de.
mands n scientific demonstration He
goes 10 Nature for his answer and
finds IN her operations, all regulated
by law the canon Of science The "all
things of the text imply more than
physical facts: they include spiritual
truth. Faith Is reason roctined and
enlightened by the spirit OF God n
is the organ by which we apprehend
spiritual truth: therefore the proof OF
spiritual things implies the possesslo
OF faith. After the gift Of faith rs re
ceived the process Of proof ~ precisely
az I'm natural things. The scientist
develops tho knowledge OF natural
law from observation Of facts. New.
ton saw the apple fall and he
thought OF the law OF grayitation, but
not content with therolzing he rested
not TN the truth was demonstrated
by mathematical calculation A chris
tian who Is content with ~ think"
amounts 10 nothing. As does the
scientist he must verify by the canon.
The life Of Jesus Is the christians can.
on.
At the evening services DR.. West
discussed the last clause OF the text
Hold fast the good" The good II
composite. including the true, the
beautiful and the right The christian
must be not only alert TO seize but
tenacious TO held the good. II Is like
propelling a boat up stream; as long
as wo ply the oars vigorously we
make progress but when we relax our
efforts we drift with the tide. by hold.
ing fast the good we form the habit,
and the habit when developed Is
nucleus around which character crys.
talizes aud thus fixes the course of
life.
After the sermon DR.. West babe
an affectionate farewell 10 his con.
gregation. lie spoke feellngly OF the
uniform Kindness and even generos.
ity which he has received from all
the people Of Bryan. They have min.
istered 10 him In aflllction and his
heart IS full OF gratitude. He men.
toned especially the Eagle and the
Pilot and prayed that Gods blessing
may be upon both. He paid feeling
tribute TO the medical men OF the city
especially to his own family physician
Then he addressed himself 10 the
members of camp, J. B. Robertson. y,
C.. ", many of whom occupied the
front seats. In rendering his resigna
ton of the chaplaincy Of the camp,
which ne has held for thirteen years,
burying the dead and participating In
the social meetings and public cele.
brations, Or. West was so overcome
with emotion that his voice at times
was choked with sobs. and tears
flowed freely down the checks of the
grizzled veterans and wened fun In
the eyes OF many sympathetic hearts
IN the audience. Extending his uplift
ed hands he concluded: May Gods
richest blessings rest upon you, and
when the roll Is called up yonder may
we all answer: Here
Lastly the venerable man Of God
addressed a few parting words TO the
members OF his church, expressing his
appreciation and grateful remem-
brance OF their charity love and faith.
fulness