The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-06
REV. BELLF|LLS
 CENTRAL PULPIT First Sermon Makes Strong
 Impression NEW PASTOR HOPEFUL Memory of Dr. Handley Eulogized. Congregation Is Asked to Co., operate in the Work of
 the Church

The Rev. Robert Lee Bell, formerly pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Union Springs, preached his initiative sermon yesterday before large congre-
 gation at the Central Presbyterian
 church, where he is successor to the late
 Dr. Luman s. Handley.
 The first message of the young minister was a strong appeal to his members for cooperation In the work of the church.
 His words were spoken with an earnest- ness which commanded a deep interest from his hearers. Before taking up the subject of the sermon the Rev Bell first acknowledged his sense of appreciation at having been called to his present station.
 q want to express my appreciation Of being with you today" he said. T be- gin my work among you with great deal Of solicitude When I contemplate that stand in the pulpit made sanctified by that noble man, Dr. Handley, l pray that double portion of his spirit. may fall over me. The devotion. the loyalty with which you served your former pastor
 have made your name a proverb for f1dei- ity, and this is surely enough for me. I have the most sanguine expectations of the great things there will be for us to accomplish"
 The text for his sermon was taken from
 Proverbs, xxix, IS. "Where there is no vision the people perish" The idea con tained in the word ''vision' was devolped in three-fold aspect, as follows: The vision of God and service to the King;
 the identity of Jesus Christ with His peo- nle and the vision of a great responsi- biijty and personal obligation
 q believe there has never been day. said the Rev. MT. Bell when men did not stand with uncovered heads before the presence of Jehovah. I want you to see a vision of the power of God In the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ. If God
 has ever used men, he can use them
 today. If there ever was day when
 men could stand under an open sky and
 invoke fire to be sent from heaven to
 confirm the divine power of God, men
 can do it today if men ever were used 'We have been given an exempification
 of Jesus Christs identity with men in the words He spoke to Paul going to Da- mascus, after his persecution of the peo- ple. This is Jesus Whom thou perse- cutest.' The humble man of God is a king. and the humble woman a queen. Whenever we shall understand this truth,
 society will be revolutionized and tho universal brotherhood of man will be es- tablished Then We will welcome the stranger and the visitor in our midst and give him of our bread to eat.
 I've can meet the personal responsi- hilty and the personal obligation to God by following the example of Jesus Christ, Who lifted up fallen humanity from the besetting influences of evil and wrong. T want you to see not merely this church which is an agency of God in your efforts for good, nor the city with it's growing industries, nor the county with it's rich resources, nor the state nor the government, but the whole world,
 and the world wide vision of the glory of Jesus Christ, and the accomplishment of
 His ends. I believe the world is coming
 closer to acknowledge and understand this
 relation of God to man in the higher con ception of patriotic and civic ideals. The world is deepening down to manhood and the righteous principles of God''