The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-06-08
SUNDAY NIGT ADDRESS.
Rev. Jno. G. Seegers Delivers Strong
Discourse Giving the Essentials
For the Soul.

The address on Sunday night was
TO the Younng Mems Christian asso-
citation and was delivered by the Rev.
J. C. Seegers, Of Easton, Penn, to a
large and appreciative audience.
Since the return of the college to
Newberry thirty-tWo years ago all
denominations in the city have closed
their churches on these commence
ment Sundays and joined with the col
lege in the Sunday services.
The Rev. Mr.. Seegers is no stranger
in Newberry, having spent several
years here as a college student and
having visited here on many occasions
since graduation. Mr.. Seegers was a
members Of the class Of 1888 and at
ter graduation spent year IN the
seminary which was at that time To-
Gated in Newberry. He afterwards
attended the seminary in Philadelphia
from which Institution he graduated.
He filed several important pastorates
in the south, but several years ago ae-
cepted work in the north where he
has labored most successfully. He IS
a native Of Columbia and son of the
Hon. John G. Seegers, member OF
the board Of trustees Of the college.
DR.. Seegers spoke as follows:
Text: John 6. IS: "And Simon Pet
er answered him, Lord, to whom shall
we go? Thou hast the words OF eter-
nal life"
It was a critical moment. Ration
alism had infected some of%the fol-
lowers of Christ. Faith had gone
down before reason. The very words
Of Christ had produced problems
which, with all Of their rationallzlng,
thew could not solve. The more they
thought and the more they reasoned,
the greater the difficulty. And the
consequence was that there were
many defections from the cause OF
Christ. John says, "Many left Him
and followed Him no more" And
Christ lets them go. He does not at
tempt to placate them by modifying
his discourse, nor by even attempt
inc to tell them now he could give
them his flesh. to eat and his blood
to drink, which would have solved
the problem for them. On the contra
ry, he turns his eye upon the twelve,
and with a straightforward, heart
searching, penetrating look, asks the
question: "Will ye also go away?"
It is not the question Of one weeping
over irremediable losses, nor the pa
thetic lamentation of possible losses
vet to come; it is not prompted by
weak sentimentalism, but it is rather
"a sitting question. It is a straight
forward, manly, direct question, de-
manding a straightforward answer,
and the answer is forthcoming. Peter
Immediately replied: "Lord, to whom
shall we 60? Thou hast the words OF
eternal life
Though but beginne 5 in faith, and
children in understanding, the words
of Christ did not cause them to waver.
They staggered not at his saying. To
them life without Christ would be
barren and empty. They found no
substitute for him. He was absolute
" indispensable to them. And a tur-
tber ANALYSIS Of the answer will reveal
the thought that there are some
things absolutely indispensable for the
welfare and peace of the soul. There
are some things for which a satlsfac-
tory substitute can not be found.
Some things essential for the soul.
And it is to this subject which l
wish to direct your attention this
evening: Essentials for the Soul.
First, Religion.
Secondly, The Church.
Thirdly, Jesus Christ. >.
First, Religion. A definition OF the
term and a statement Of the purpose
will be necessary. When We say re-
Icion we do not mean a system OF
proof which requires a mental or IN
>fellectual assent, nor a correct state
ment Of objective principles. nor the
mental apprehension Of historical and
well-authenticated facts. For a mai
may accept every principle, and every
fact growing out of and emanatlne
from the teaching and life Of Christ: