The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-11-11
Dr. Hobbs Warns Congrega- ton Against Epidemics
 That Nation Will Face
JONESBORO PASTOR
 MAKES IMPRESSION
''This Know, Also, That in the Last Days Perilous Times Shall Come" Was Text of
 Sermon

'eThis know, also that in the last days perilous times shall come, was the sub feet of a very interesting and forceful sermon delivered by Dr. J. R. Hobbs of Jonesboro, Ark. at the First Baptist church yesterday morning.
 q am neither a prophet nor q pessim- ist." said pr. Hobbs, but had l not been told in the Scriptures that not even the angels know the time of Christ's second coming to earth l should be tempt ed to predict that it will be in the near future.
 Paul. in writing these words to Timo- 1 thy, did not refer to perilous financial times, though the original Greek transla- | tion of the word perilous' is hard It means that Christians must suffer perse cution and affliction. God chasteneth whom He loveth. There is to be much l trouble before Christ shall come to earth again.
 1 "As for myself should be glad to know l that he would come while I am yet alive. | I have long hoped for this that 1 might escape the bangs of death that l might ' be translated and conveyed directly from l earth to heaven.
 "Without at all assuming the guise of prophet I wish to call your attention to four conditions which, though they are not conclusive evidence that the millen- ium is near at hand, lend strength to the belief that it is and are in direct har- 1 mony with the teachings of my text They are, first, the epidemic of spanish | influenza which recently visited every city, town and village in the united States, as well as sections of other coun- tries. We have had influenza before, but never has it been so general and so fatal. lIjndertakers did a years business in five weeks. The last type had no respect of persons; in fact, if it were at all in-
 clined that way it seemed to single out our fairest and our best citizens for it's victims We have been visited by other epidemics, such as the yellow fever cpl
 demic of 1S7S but their ravages were con
 fined to certain localities
 Secondly l would call your attention
 to the epidemic of irreverance for God S
 name that is so rapidly and so thorough Ily infesting our land. It is a sad fact
 that this gross sin is excused. if not ad-
 mired, in our soldiers. You can hardly pick up periodical of any kind and read anything from the men at the front
 without observing some profane expres-
 sions
 Men go into battle praying and swear ling; parents at home pray for their boys
 over there,' and swear about the war
 These two attitudes are opposite anc | can never ue arCCOnClIsu. aLHeItiOTt,
 the nation sanctions this disrespect fol
 God how can 1t expect it's prayers tc be answered? When the newspapers O the country have taken cognizance O
 this practice I think 1t is time for thu , pulpit to wake up.
 "The third thing I shall mention | . the propaganda for the union of churche
 of all denominations, which is being cir ' culated. I heard man one day villify |, Ting the man who has creed and stand up for it, and I heard an audience o evangelical people cheer him as he did , q do not wish my remarks to be con e strued as those of a critic, but the gov ] ernment also seems to be in favor o ] the elimination of church lines.
 "The fourth and last menace l shal
 refer to is the immigration to the Unite
 States after the war People from a parts of the world will flock here 500 J after peace is declared Especially wi
 they come in great numbers from tn if war-stricken lands of Europe to our Ian
 of plenty and freedom if Congress doesn'
 take some stringent steps to prevent i y Even Germans have said they are com n ing to America after the war This wi 'e not only endanger our politics, but ou IS religion as well. Many Catholics an T. pagans will come. The way for us {
 prevent them from dominating in the rt le ligious affairs of the country is to pr le missionaries to work both at home an r. in those countries from which they wi p come Asia and Europe are both field in for this kind of labor. Let's save ou
 country, first for God and then for ou 20 girls and boys"
 es At the conclusion of the services si
 persons were admitted to the church | at letter