The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-03
WITNESSES that
ENCOMPA Ass men
ANOTHER STRAIGHT FROM THE
SHOULDER SERMON PREACHED
LAST NIGHT BY REV. J. M. WAL
TIERS AT THE FIRST PREs5Y-
TERRAIN CHURCH.


The union evangelistic services at
the First Presbyterian church last
evening brought out a large attend
ance, the main part OF the house and
part of the lecture room being well
filled with people who paid close at
tention to great sermon by Reverend
Walters.
Mr.. Walters preached from Hebrew
Will, the main thought Of his address
being the witnesses that encompass
men about. He began by stating that
this is materialistic age, one in
which everything is subordinated to
material progress; the men of today
being intensely devoted to the further
ance Of business; things which meas
ured by the greater things Of Gods
kingdom seem small and petty indeed.
The conditions which surround hui
manity are opposed to the idealistic
conception of things that are good.
Men could not today, il in full accord
with the spirit of modern business
and social life look up with the vision
Of the psalmist and see the glorious
things that God represented to him.
He referred to Talmage's famous mag
azine article describing his idea of
heaven and how quickly writer's of a
materialistic turn jumped into the
arena to prove that no one had ever
seen heaven, none knew what heaven
was or lis and one could therefore
describe 1t with authority, overlook
ing the fact that the individual is en-
titled to his own Interpretation Of what
heaven may be.
The cloud of witnesses that surround
us are divided into three classes. The
Indifferent, the unfriendIy and the
friendly. The Indifferent man or wo-
man cares nothing about the moral,
spiritual of material welfare of neigh
Dor; to them it is a matter of su-
preme Indifference whether a man may
be headed toward heaven or hell;
whether men are crushed to death
when a car jumps the switch and
crashes into another; it is all a matter
of course with the Indifferent witness.
The unfriendly witness chuckIes with
glee over the rare morsel of
news that records the fall of
some minister or protesting
christian. The superior air Of II told
you so" pervades the atmosphere as
this witness tells of some poor sinner
who has made a profession Of religion
and, buffeted by temptation, steps
backward. The unfriendly witness
would tear down and be be pleased at
the destruction of christian character,
because of a calibre so small that he
cannot comprehend the greatness of a
spiritual life
Tho rIp1tH nF PVT A..
encompass about us are those who
have passed over to the other shore.
1t is beautiful thought and a beau
tiful vision said the speaker which
prompts us to think of and see the
loved ones who, safe on the other side
Of the river Of life, still look back upon
us with loving interest and breathe
| inarticulate invitations to us to follow
| in the way that will make reunion DOS
sible. A mother; a father; sister; a
brother; son; a daughter; a friend;
whoever it might be that composed
this great cloud of witnesses they were
friendly witnesses who long to see
us lead lives Of nobility and purity
Of unseltishness and christian forti-
tude
Mr.. Walters closed with one Of the
most affecting appeals he has made to
those who were out Of the christian
life to begin now. Mr.. Bingaman fol-
lowed and in his earnest, sincere and
forceful manner presented the claim
Of religion, citing his own experience
and the joy 1T had brought to him.
The services were aided materially
last evening by the sweet voice and
gracious manner Of Miss Beckman who
sang very beautiful solo. The chorus
as usual, under Mr.. Dodsley's direc-
ton, was a great help in the service.
Tonight will be the last of this
weeks services and there will be spec
ial music consisting of a solo by Mr.
Babcock and duet by Mrs. DodsIey
and Mrs. Babcock. An extra chorus
will he present and Rev. F. b. Sapr
will make the address. With the In
tense interest that is apparent on al
sides there will probably be record
breaking attendance this evening.