The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-06
Street Services at III A. M. The sub
ject will be, Adam and Fallen Man."
NATURES FINGER BOARDS
POINTING ONE TO DUTY

The Bible Institute, 1904 East
Broad street--Nature keeps US con-
tinualiy surrounded by finger boards
pointing US to our duty. But alas how
few of us follow the direction indi-
Gated. II we would learn the lessona
of nature. we would find less dificulty
in believing revelation.
Nature, no Tess than revelation.
points us to the indelible marks Of
evil. One need walk but q short dis.
lance in any of our forests before
discovering marks of evil environ.
ments on some deformed, misshape1
tree. The influences that caused the
deformity may have been removed
long since, but the marks remain.
These trees could only be 80 dc.
formed by influences acting on them
when young and easily impressed, else
the tree would have been broken and
destroyed. But now the marks are
there, and must remain during the
life of the tree. This IL a law Of
nature, and applies to all living things,
whether animal or vegetable.
Natural law 10 not an ancient
phrase, but the latest and most Inn
portant discovery of science. Before
this men studied phenomena separate
ly and. alone, with no thought OF their
mutual relations or causes. When
Newton discovered the law OF CRAWL
tation, men saw less in gravitation
than In the revelation that law La q
fact.
This law OF environment liz busiIy
engaged In moulding the character Of
each child and each adult. We are
all, to a certain extent. creatures OF
environment. Shall we continue to
extend no helping hand to the thou
sands OF our brothers and sisters who
are becoming mentally, morally and
deformed by evil influences.
Shall we behold the effects. so sadly
manifested in the lives OF both old
and young. and never think of remov-
ing the causee
Do you ask what can be done 70
improve the conditions that confront
us? As far as possible remove the
environments, and then remove the
children from evil influences. into a
pure Christian atm osphere during that
stage OF life in which the character
is being developed. But We must take
care that In our anxiety for the chill
dren, we forget not the needs Of those
of mature years who need some kind.
Christian hand to reach down, like
Peter did TO the impotent man. and
lt them up. They have come to
feet, and not without reason, that
they are not wanted in our fine
churches And they are left to drift,
with no hand to reach out and save
them
This institute has opened it's doors,
with the invitation to all: "If any
man thirst. let him come unto Me
and drink Not only this. II Ia car
ing for young children. feeding both
their bodies and souls with those
things which tend to make the best
citizenship: remcying them from the
evil environments into good infiu-
ences In MOST cases this is done
without any remuneration to pay the
expense.
We have regular religious services
every Sunday at 3 p, NJ and r.
and every Thursday evening at =
o'clock. The institute offers instruc-
ton IN Bible study. music. etc, free
OF charge.
Do the people Of Richmond and
the state believe that such an insti-
tuition is worthy of support II so.
| need only remind you that 1t ia
maintained entirely by voluntary con-
trihutions. r. r. McIntyer, Sec