The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-14
OPENING SERMON
BY REV. |. A. SM00T
ELooIExrLy woRDED DISCOURSE
At METHODIST CONFERENCE
nv NORFOLK PASTOR.
IS BEYOND PHILOSOPHY
SCIENCE Gould Not CONCEIVE
OF THE ETERNAL s0UsHEP,
SAYS MINISTER.
BY REV. GRAHAM ii. LAMBETH.

LYNCHBURG. VA. Nov. i3.--Not-
shower fell just at church time there
was "a large congregation at Court
Street church tonight to hear the
opening sermon of the conference. de-
liyered by Rev. r. a. Smoot, ID. H.,
passar of Epworth church, Norfolk.
DR. Smoot Is a newcomer TO the
conference, having been transferred
to virginia from North Carolina two
years ago. Since his coming he has
served Epworth church with great
acceptability both In the pulpit and
passionate and by his fraternal spirit
and unostentations demcanor he has
made many friends among the min
listers.
Promptly at O'Clock the magnifi-
cent organ, with Professor w. d.
Adams at the keys, sounded and
shortly thereafter Dr. Smou~ enter
ed the pulpit. With him and assist
ing in the service were Rev. J. n.
Latham. d. D., the pastor of the
church; Rev. e. X. Qdel, of South
Boston. and ]. r. Stergis, of Brook
neal.
The Sermon.
After the preliminary exercises DIR.
Smoot preached, taking as his text
from the passage of Scripture con-
tanned I'm l Peter /, viii-xxi. ~ G we're
not redeemed with corruptiple
/ things" etc.
4, Said DR. Smoot:
This text contains the three es-
seutial facts of the gospel, the eter-
nal sonship of Christ. His redemp-
ton power and his resurrection are
all beyond the reach of science and
philosophy. as no philosopher coGlo
| ever conceive the fact of the eternal
sonship; no social movement could
match the plan OF salvation as reveal
ed in the dedemptive scheme of the
gospel. and no science could reach
down TO the resurrection and analytic
its meaning and explain its mystery.
| DIR. Snoot strilingly defined and de.
I scrihed the superiority OF Christiauf-
| ty over all merely human religions.
4 The cross of Jesus Christ was the ful-
tiliment of the eternal purpose of hui
man redemption, 1t was not mere
accident or incident. 1t was not the
result of a map. Thousands of men
had hid ora the Roman cross but
there liz an essential eternal equality
about tine CROSS Of christ that inn
niteiy separates 1t from such cruciflx-
ions. There is a quality of profound
depth ana an iuHiite jedSu dUoat sHe
I love Of jesus that passes far beyond
/ the noblest examples Of human broth
erhood and opens for all the centuries
partnership and participation In the
divine love in this Christ-like broth
| erhood. .-,-..
The speaker made an eloquent plea
for, the cross AS the central figure IN
any gospel of divine authority and
saving power. No system is true and
no system of saving Value that do not
group all its doctrines around the
cross upon which Jesus suffered anc
died for the redemption Of man.
Manifested Upon the Cross.
Upon the. cross is the eternal son
ship manifested. He is, the Liant
Slain since the foundation of the
world" and thus does he become thu
Captain of our salvation. Linhet
with the cross the resurrection la an
other credential Of Christ's eternal
sonship. 1t is an eternal and essen
tiai fact II had To be. Ged mus
have annihilated himself had not Jesu
risen from the dead, so we are link
ed up with the God of yesterday, an'
God viii care for the God of toda.
and he viii care for US today.
DR. Smoot fully sustained his repu
tatson as profound and eloduen
preacher, and i'll the whole discours
manifested sincere desire to glofii!
the Christ who has become in hi
thinking and living the dominatInt
/ figure.