The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-05-26
The Afternoon Service.
"Oh, Happy Day That Stayed m,
Choico

ON, Happy Day That Stayed my
choice"
On Thee my Savior and My God"
Yesterday afternoon at the taber
nacle happy gathering of old folk.
and shut-ins listened while the choi,
sang that old. yet ever new song
that brought back sweet memories OF
that day that was felt "The Touch OF
His Hand on Mine' Then, wher
those who We're able to do so stood
and lifted their voices to heaven IN
that old familiar hymn Sweet Bye
and Bye" there were tear dimmed
eyes, but withal exalted spirits as tn,
realization went home that soon there
would indeed be Joyful meeting "or
that beautiful shore"
The service yesterday was an inspir-
alton alike to old and young. to the
old because it was their pleasure to
testify to the guiding spirit of Christ
In their lives, and to the young be.
cause 1t strengthened their spirits to
hear Of what Christ had done for
these old folks who after strenuous
battles on the broad plain Of lifes
kinetoscopic happenings were now
near ~g the shores of eternal happi-
ness to be safe forever in the arms
Jesus.
At the beginning Of the service the
testimony of those of SO years of age
and over was listened to and it was an
inspiration to see the readiness of the
old folks to tell of the Lords goodness
to them.
Mr.. Jones took for his theme the re-
wards to be given by Jesus, and
showed how there are five distinct
crowns which can be won by every
Christian. The sermon was laid about
the facts set down in the 26th chapter
OF Revelations. Jesus Christ, said Mr..
Jones has all the wealth Of the uni
verse at his command, and the natur-
al thing to expect is that when He
does reward the faithful it will he
with a reward that is not only worth
having but that cannot be duplicated
by any man on earth. And if Christ
has given us SO many, blessings on this
earth, how much more can we expect
In heaven II we arc of'the faithful. -
one reward hat can be won is the
/ 'incOr.uptable Gown" spoken Of in
9th chapter OF First Corinthians. The
work 10 be done for this reward is, in
brief, to put your foot on the old ma
ture and keep it under the new nature
given you by Christ when you are
born for a second time.
Then there is the "crOwn of fidel-
ity." Christ said "Be thou faithful
until death. and I will give thee a
crown Of life." BY until death here
he meant: "If needs be. die for me-"
In other words the man who will
stand up for Jesus whenever the
chance offers is going to get this
crown Of fidelity.
There is the "crown of rejoicing"
which will bring happines and which
is told about in the second chapter of
Thessolians (1st epistle). This crown
Is the crown awarded the soul winner,
and doubtless was the inspiration for
that appealing song will there be
any stars In my crown" perhaps the
writer having in mind "a star for ev-
cry SOUL"
1.-THE crown of the faithful pas
tor" is another crown to be sought
after by every Christian. BY pastor
is not only meant the preacher but
every man who works for the Master.
To win this crown you must Feed the
flock Of God" AS an example, make
it a point to visit the old and infirm,
and read Gods work to them.
Strengthen their hearts for the wait
that must be endured until their Sa-
vior sees fit to take them into the
heavenly kingdom.
Again, there is the Grown of
Righteousness (Timothy, 1st epistle
4:3), for everybody that loves the
coming of Christ. Jesus. when he
went away. left the command that we
should watch" and it gives him JOY
to know that we are awaiting his sec
Ond coming, and the crown Of righ-
teousness will be his reward to us for
so doing.
God wants you to have all Of these
crowns" Mr.. Jones said, "and you car
get them all If you will be alert al.
ways to do things for the Lord Jesus
Christ"