The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-18
AIS WORLD REFUSES
TO see The MESSAGE
evangelist Serns Pictures Elijah In
Modern Pulpit-Exploitatio of
Vanity.

The Bible Institute tent on West
aain Street was filed last night as
Serns pictured Elijah. the
ishofte. in the modern pulpit. The
Evangelist opened his lectuye by using
ne words of Malachi: Behold, will
end you Elijah the prophet before
ne coming of the great and terrible
lay OF the Lord
We have reached that great and
errible day" continued Mr.. Serns,
out where is Elijah? Just as Israel
allied TO see the message of the fear
ess rebuker of the vacillating Ahab b.
o the children OF God failed to see
ne message of the fearless rebuker OF
nc derelict Herod, John, the
nightiest prophet born of woman.
preaching in the spirit and power or
Elijah. announced the coming of the
.amb OF God. His command to clear
ne deck and prepare for action suf-
cred an unwelcome reception. Just
- surely as the children of Ahra- =
lam refused to see in John voice the
eincarnated message of the Tishbite.
10 today, in those who announce the
econd coming of Christ. the world
VIII refuse to see the message due
10 this generation.
III Elijah. the fearless. relentless,
persistent rebuker of individual. social
Ind national evils. were to accept the
tall to the modern pulpit, what mes
Fage would he be likely to sound :?
Would he eulogize the meritorious en-
1eavors of great social workers?
Would he sermonize on moral gener-
Mites and pound with the hammer of
higher criticism the iron of modern
theology? To answer these questions
ntelligently one must acquaint HIM
Eelf with the prophets message to
Judah.
THE people whom Jehovah had
chosen the head and not the tail to
be the initjators of truth and spirit
tai~ light. fell to iusting after the
manners of their neighhoring king
doms. Being contemplated with the
popular idolatry. they were rehuked
pm repeated occasions for mingling
With the irrelieious heather To
separate them. God gave them the
fsRn OF circumcisu. and exhort d
hem to remember His command
menis
~~ru'ar ST. - ferae' ia 49,"
lime of Elijah was Baal worship. on
fss., tf% = ~ sn4sA 4 p. sem NCU"t
he seen in their temples and grows
worshipping toward the rising sun.
|lcing homage to their sun god BaaL
cr~t~0t "-'tA hi: dfscOcdicncr.
kheir sisters and daughters paraded
These sanc'ua:. with iHcsr mtncing
steps and Il hreviated Costumes.
'overiu., themselves with tnkhng
ornaments. rlnFs bracelets thin wells.
tsonnets. chanEcaIlE suits ot apparel
md snantl"s. 'sr9riia. the temples
with She perfumes o. thely aneiy
''raS incorporate living invited tho
saszi on and lust ~ TIL s.Hs ~ VI dian
'lag. "A, aad uif matelE spelle J
ia a1-irN". the bla"kes' spot IN the
" N cwtsn tFu.oN. Tia
h. assd bro ht's OF &tiom We're
:@..t.:lo compared 80 thc sn
o.. N'7iarel EVanfN-
Srn7, has always heen rcSar-'s ]
me 4tcatesl aNom'"a
"a away fr7tH JehoNa =.
n" creation with more
+-'0 = I.0%tN
appreciation for his
~ X. l., Ih svas carca;lle cd. -A~ e
- < r10r.c asa y ?
'1 Wa have not
.V5sHl - lal, bat thou aud ~
'1 thai - Naye for
- r"'0 9ndWent4 % me
q. anA hon hast f'ilove1
1'aatirl.'
Should - AZ cnt'" HE modern
ulpt hav.n~ @sT-F'ed himself 81 his
hrarfle aad altered r. fea3 dress h"
would not nc recognized Toy ire
r-:l:asity OF i@intstCrinl r0 Saha ~
The eyes OF that ma" would run
hrougS she congregation. he would
krc many using Go'}'.s sstn"'sary aF
he lace for exploitation of vanity.
PM got for the worship az he Lowry
Iesns. am confident tina; E|ijah
would he embarrassed ss his vision
s.eho,ds such livery ard millinery. ard
his eyes blinded by the brilliant "
res i csconcc of diamonds Vanity,
"reminiscences and gossip have nov
Invaded the church of God. polluiinE
khe SANITARY with tho poison Of their
venom
''ra. charge 81 Elijah, the preach
pr like that of Elijah. the prophet,
would be that the children OF God
ksrA abandoned the commandments
nf he Lord. have forsakcn the Sab
bath OF the Lord. and followed Baal-
a wcrship-~respecting sunday, the
wild solar holiday OF all pagan times
E:ndav sacreginess is as unscriptural
As Ranl sacredneSs Worshipping on
Regarding the sabbath of the ten coma