Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-08-20
PREACHING OF DR.. VINES

PREACHING OF Or. VINES
The revival services at the flrst
Baptist church Of Yorkvillc, conduct
ed by Dr. William ii. Vines. pastor oi
the First Baptist church OF Augusta
Ga, came TO u close Sunday niShl
after being in progress during the
previous week. DIR. Fincs's discours,
Sunday evening was listened to by inc
largest congregation OF the week, ana
was based on the following text: De
spisc yc the church OF God?" ii Cor
ll:22, the subject being THE Church
The preacher explained that there
were two churches-the local church,
the church organization to be found
IN every community. and the spiritual
rhurch-the church universal, estab-
Iisned by Jesus Christ, and pointed out
the greatness OF the church-the
churcn OF the living God. He pointed
out tnat the churches here stand lor
righteousness, Tor molTllty anu ioI
ruth. The church was established b!
Jesus Christ. 1t is OF Divine origin.
In contrast were the secret orders
that are common in every community.
These stood. or many OF them did, Tor
brothcrly love, morality, better citizen
ship, charity, ETC., and many OIL them
diu many good things, but they uiu
not and could not take the place oI
the church Of God, although some mch
tried to make themselves, think that
the secret order was substitute Tor
tho church. God established the
church, il Is Il sacred institution, anu
great because of its Divine origin.
10 illustrate the substantial char;lc-
ter of the church OF God. Dr. Vines
related story Of u missionary IN Il
foreign land, who was notified that his
source of support at home was cut
off. The missionary was very much
troubled because OF this information.
He had O dream that was In effect,
that he had wandered out into q for
est and while there he saw great
tree cut in twain by an axman, but
the tree didn't fall. The missionary
wondered ut this, but finally inter-
preted the dream as applying to him.
He saw that the tree was rooted in
the skies and couldn't fall. His work
being OF u Divine origin his support
was In the heavens and that while
the income from home necessary for
his support was cut off, his support
would not fail him. The preacher ap-
piled this to the church In that 1t was
rooted in the heavens and no matter
what might happen so far as man was
concerned, II would not fail and would
not fall. II cannot be dcstroyed-it
caIne from heaven.
DR.. Vines said that the foundation
of the church on earth was humanity
and the destiny Of the church on earth
10, faI hn Ie, nd I..
church goes forward as humanity
pushes it forward.
The speaker said that the dignity
OF human nature Is never properly
emphasized. Many men are meancr
than We believe. Few OF us would
have believed a few years ago that Il
people who were noted for their cul-
ture, learning, progress, ETC., could be
guilty Of the atrociousncSs OF which
Germany has been guilty in this world
war. But we do not appreciate the
dignity Of man. WHO is man." asked
the speaker. THE highest creature
in the universe, next to God-madr in
Gods own image. IL not Christian
Is the son Of God, but many Of them
are lost"
DIR. Vines told of the life of Andrew
Johnson. and said he was one OF the
most remarkable men who ever lived
IN America His wife taught him to
read and write. He opened Il tailor
shop in Greenvillc. Tenn. and in time
he was elected an alderman OF the
town. then mayor. then to the state
legislature, to the senate, then to con-
gress. and the United States senate,
then to the vice presidency and final
ly became president and died n MEM
ber OF the senate. On monument
erected to Andrew Johnson was this
epitaph: He never lost faith in the
people" MY father, God. has never
lost faith In his people. He sent his
own Son to earth to be his witness.
God believes in you and me-"
Communities, said DR.. Vines, are
what the churches make them, Lhe
world is what the church makes jit.
The church Is the biggest, busiest and
grandest institution on earth, and it Is
strange that men have to be pleaded
with and begged to come into the
church. Wisdom would tell you to
rush to the church and ask II to give
you a chance. Isn't it ridiculous that
such Is the fact that men must be
urged to be Christians?
The church, said the speaker, is Of
universal influence. and that influence
case Of a Wisconsin town, founded in
the early days Of that state by gam
blers. thieves. etc., and in the towns
charter 1t was provided that there
were to be no churches there. The
place became so bad that finally de-
cent people couldn't live there and aft
er while the towns charter was
changed and missionaries were invited
to the town, churches were established
and II became a decent place to live.
You can't have civilization without
the church Of the living God. The
man who Is opposed to the church Is a
criminal toward God, and stands for
everything that the church opposes
the barroom. the gambling Joints, the
houses Of ill-fame. etc. The church
Of God has uplifted womanhood. Those
Of the Mohammedan countries look
upon women as chattels In the hands
Of men-brutal men. Depressing lit
tie, DR.. Vines said that-the high place
held by women in Christian countries
today Is due to the church, and like II
or not as we may. the time is not far
distant when women Will have the
right of suffrage, and she ought to
have it. They have the brains, the
moral character, as much so or more
than men.
Christianity is responsible for every
thing worth having, said DR.. Vines.
When Germany repudiated Christian
ity she repudiated everything that
Christianity stands for-Justice, right,
morality. The church is responsible
for the home, for government, for ed
ucation. for moral character. Illus
trating the influence Of Christianity
the speaker told the story Of q great
French engineer who copied the model