The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-01-28
STRONG SERMON ON
CRY OF DISTRESS
DR.. Mccrea Spoke EIoquently Before
Large Audience in Methodist Church
- Solos by MIR. Pagdin.

Another congregation that taxed the
capacity Of the Methodist church was
present last night to hear Rev. DR.. A. 9
AlcCrea, who preached the second in his
series OF special sermons, and to hear the
singing by William FL Pagdin, tenor. and
the large chorus choir.
The subject the first night was 4 Re
lentless Foe, or sin, and last nights SER
mon logically followed the first, the theme
being Cly of Distress The sequence vii
be carried out still further tonight. when
DIR. AlcCrea viii speak on Way OF Escape
Mr.. Pagdln again heard with great
satisfaction, rendering two solos, The Per
feet Day and There's a Beautiful Land on
High. Mr.. Pagdin is a widely known ora
torio singer, and his coming here affords 4
rare opportunity to those who appreciate
and enjoy first-class singing.
DIR. AIcCrea became eloquent last night
and his sermon was delivered with great
fervor and impressiveness.
The cry of distress, the speaker said. Is
natural to all men when need becomes
great, burdens become unbearable, suffer
ings become acute, conditions of life in
tolerable. 1t ia natural and reasonable
for man III trouble to cry to God for
help as it is for a child to turn to its
parents for comfort and assistance.
Prayer, therefore, may be regarded as
the exercise of the right of petition to the
divine government The right or petition
III its simplest form Is the request of tht.
child in the home. No true parent but
recognizes and respects it. In the bess
governments among the nations the right
of petition IS recognized and held sacred.
The Magma Charta embodied it and
gave it to the English people in the reign
of King John When the constitution OF
the United States was written this same
right Of petition was made one of its
articles. We live under another and
higher government, the divine, and funda-
mental among its principles is the right
of petition. MEN ought always to pray
and not faint" Men ought to petition
the divine ruler for what they need and
rightfully desire God never fails to hon
or such a petition.
Our petitions should be specific in stat
ing the things desired. Petitions pre-
sented should be persstently pressed. Ii
a man wants Il thing enough to petition
God for it he should press that petition
until he gets what he asks for or until hc
Is satisfied that It Is best he should no,
have it. Petitions further imply, OF
should imply, faithful and absolute ant
Hnquesuoned willingness in the power o.
the government to grant the desired. -
faith in God must be perfect if he is tx
honor our petitions Nothing is too grea-
Tor God Almighty to do.
Men live on the low levels of life be
cause they do not strongly enough desir,
better things. Ask largely that your iol
may be fun is the instruction of the Mas
ter. Hitherto ye have asked nothing
When the united prayers of Gods peopl
come TO the throne Of grace then Will Tia,
Father open the windows of heaven an,
pour out blessings that there shall not b.
room to receive them. In the divine GOV
ernment the right Of petition IS extendet
to all men. women and children.
The petition to the divine governmen
should be definite and specific We shoul
petition for larger things and press ou
claims. God wants to give perfect gov
ernment