The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-25

Dr. Henry NJ. Edmonds, in the be- ginning of the first sermon preached to the congregation of the Independent Presbyterian church. insisted yesterday morning that his followers look not un- merly were members. And he added whimsically:
 For the sunshine is too white today"
 The pastor, Continuing his remarks, de- clared that there had occurred no di- vision. and that the movement of which his hearers were entities was simply a "going on of the old work and system D
 The services were held in Temple Emanu-El, in the house of Gods ancient people, the pastor declared. All avail able space was occupied, and the walls. aisles and entrances were lined and crowded with those who, unable to ob- tain seats, stood during the hour, and more, through which the mornings pro- gramme was extended. And still there was surplus which could not be accom- modated, and which perforce wandered to other places of worship
 Four Hundred On Rolls
 Attending Sunday school there were 1S2 children, considered by the deacons a remarkable record for the first day of a new organization. Before services were begun, the church rolls numb cred the names of 263 men and women. Fol lowing the services, the names numbered approximated 400
 Dr. Edmonds. the storm center of a church sensation, was patiently moved by the compliment which the people of Bir- mingham were paying him. He spoke and prayed feelingly-prayed for those who wore black on their persons or in their hearts. He delivered with force and eloquence poetic rhapsody on subject as old as Adam-and as new as the current day--"Sin and Love" In attempting to describe the love of God he thrilled with the recitation of homely illustrations. the "unreasoning and unrea- sonable love of a parent for his child, the devotion of wife to a husband, from whom all other decent people had turned their backs in scorn. With re- markable dramatic power, Dr. Edmonds, in picturesque language, told these sim pie stories. And yet his church sat or stood without moving, though moved oftimes to tears and at the conclusion there was discernible an abiding regret that the words had been spoken, the mes sage delivered.
 0ICSScu LOfC Ol uou
 As to whether or not pr. Edmonds in- directly referred to the differences which existed between him and the presbytery of north Alabama, is problematical He certainly stressed the fact that love is God and God is love, and based his appeal on this as the essential to the higher or sublime life, whether the quips and techniealities of theologians and doe trinaries be to the contrary or not
 
 of John, the sixteenth verse of the third chapter
 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that who- soever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life"
 And in the text itself might have been contained reference to that which caused the severance of former ties. For John declared that whosoeyer believed would have everlasting life, and said in effect that mannerisms in belief were inconse- quential. And this was the text of the first sermon delivered to the new congre- gation which has taken its place in the history of Birmingham.
 Touches Upon Sin
 Before entering upon the greater theme of his sermon-love-Dr. Edmonds. per haps leading up to a dramatic contrast and denouement. spoke of sin. He ex- pressed his conviction that the man of toCay was not responsible because his father committed theft or his grand father took life. Because ol his fam fly history. the man would contain that which would make him prone to sin. the pastor added. but he. himself, would be neither thief nor 8 murderer. He spoke then of the scope of sin. the common mal- ady of the world. from which neither the king in his palace nor the beggar in his hovel were exempt.
 "The man who claims to be without sin," Dr. Edmonds declared, Ifs as the Pharisee. He is man without vision. He is a little man. He is a man who crawls."
 And he concluded these references with
 (COntiuued n p.~e S~ve,N