The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-03
"A VISION |oF HOPE" Bishop Elson Breaches Magnificent Sermon. } CALL TO DUTY SOUNDED Marvellous 4vanees of Christianity
 b Be Seen. .kingdsm ofGed at Present strength- ening sht Expanding on Earth.
 Large efCopgregation Present
 At st. Jehn's.

At St. bhn's Episcopal Church last night, ths hsfRfght--Reverend c. K Nel- son. Bishtp of the Diocese of Atlanta. preached magnificent sermon to
 "A Vison1 of Hope" was the subject chosen. ind was as follows:
 II. Kiigs vi: IT. And the Lord open cd the. Ves of the young man; and he saw: akd behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round bout Elisha.
 It wis an era of great depression In Israel. Jehoram's reign Of wickedness succeeding one of the same character, citiztns of his capital. samaria. an eff feet Ialways produced by sin in high plaos! and with loss of trust in God thee went courage to resist the foes nor menace.
 As the army of the Syrians held the capital in siege many viewed annihil- stpn as immeh m ths pronhat aha 'Fs E,ssa shared the common approximations: and as he gszed upon the army of fleet horses and death dealing ehartots. cried out with alarm: Alas! Master. how snail
 Now the prophet had before him the Identical prospect which melted Tear in the others. and yet showed 9 com. may gather . lesson of confidence in the Supreme Ruler of human affairs. There was in him a sight of the invis- in spirit of supreme hopefulness- they that be with them."
 It may besthat this incident IS the fearffilness and trembling when the powers of evil seem to be overwhelm- ing in number and strength. and the numerical minority Is with us/ that -A nvAr mi Q nnat0rftV."
 TO afford to hts attendant comfort and peace, ,"Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes that the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of Ire round
 Here. as elsewhere in emergencies. God had not left Himself swithout 2 ProphetLa visible repre,sSenta.lys ,Sa aar of of as nsee unsn tis real l t1Ssh t1Sa o ss and to convince another soul that the odds in favor of the ascendency of evil were merely apparent. And a vision was vouchsafed which set the matter lt rest in an exhibition of-a favoring force that left no doubt as to the re- sults, .,.s .. Eelf in the mental attitude of Elishas servant. That there are occasions and apparent reasons for anxiety cannot be denied, and never perhaps more or more dreadful than when 6 condition of prosperity deceives men into self. reliance and induces lives of ease. of careiessness. and of sin.
 It is just then when spiritual ro- of faith and virtue make greatest dis play of strength and their manoeuvers are calculated to dishearten all but the few who are able to comand Q vision of love and providence.
 And the shock, when 1t comes, is al- ways greatest to those who are at ease or who in supreme indifference ex- claim: .'The Lord will not do good. neither will He do evil."--Zeph. 1; 12.
 In our own time there Is boas, fulness of worldly power. which saw ors greatly of tho pagan conception of strength as being the physical quality of mere brute force. or superior num- bers and armament, and leaves out of view that righteousness and rever- ence for the Most High are alone the