The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-12-09
Sermon Based on Peter and John Healing Lame Man
 at the Temple Gate
ALL BENEVOLENCE IS DUE TO CHRISTIANITY
"Silver and Gold Have I None, But Such as I Have, Give Thee" Beloved Bishops
 Text

Bishop James H. Mccoy delivered an eloquent sermon at the First Methodist church last night in the absence of the pastor, sDr. George R. Stuart.
 In explaining Dr. Stuart's absence Bish- op Mccoy said: "Dr. Stuart belongs to the church at large, and there is no one congregation that will ever be able to monopolize him. He is away today in great work-he is taking collection for negro school owned by the Meth odist denomination, and as we are ever ready to aid the negro, am sure that you are glad that he is away on this mission"
 Bishop Mccoy took as basis for his sermon the story of the lame man-lame from his birth-who sat at the temple gate asking aims of all who entered and when he asked Peter and John who passed by as they entered the temple for aims, Peter said: "silver and gold have none, but such as I have give I thee, and in the name of Jesus of Naza- reth stand up and walk
 ''The early acts of the apostles are in- tensely interesting, for they bring us immediately into the things typical and prophetic of those influences of Chris tianity upon the world to come" said Bishop Mccoy
 Tt is first interesting to observe the wonderful blessings that come to and through the church. The healing of this lame man occurred at the regular old fashioned prayer meeting hour-asg they went into the temple-and it was at this time that God came to Peter and John with this marvellous power as t0 what He could and w0II11 do for.
 FALL AWAY FROM GOD
 What an unendurable world this would be if God did not bring into it the things that He does to break the mental stag nation of life. A man in this life never attains that period where he can afford to get beyond the sessions of daily Bible reading and prayer meetings, and I be- ieve the records will bear me out in the statement that people who do get away from these things fall away from God and become indifferent to religion. Wor- ship feeds the fountains of charity and benevolence, and as you will note the temple was the center of things in Jeru- salem. In modern days it would have been termed the busy corner-a good stand
 The kind of folks who hear the cries of beggar went that way and conse- Quently it was the best stand for a beg
 
 took him there every day and sit him down. The best stand for any began IS the road upon which fall the feet of tha tnptitnaes cominp and enin9 to the house of God The heart of the heathen world is flint towards the mute appeal of charity.
 T have often noticed the wonderful work that is done every Christmas by the Elks of this city. As I go to my home on the car I pass the Elks home and l have seen those little fellows-a long procession of them with their ex- press wagons full of toys and fruits and nuts, the expression of joy on their faces-and said God bless those men who did such things for the poor children who would not otherwise have had such joys and pleasures. But I dare say that there are many of those Elks who do not profess Christianity, and if you would close the churches it would not be long before the fountains of charity which prompt such actions as cause these men to make this Christmas offer- ing to the po9r children. would dry up.
 BEGGARSS MARROW RANGE
 This poor beggar asked within a nar- row range for gifts-he only wanted a coin, with perhaps a meal or a nights lodging in view, but he got the strength of being on his feet and being a man. standing among men in the temple, for Peter took him by the right hand and led him into the temple.
 Many people only see in God com missary general. and then they pray for bread. or their daily wants but surely God intended that we pray for feed for our souls instead of our body. These representatives fixed their eyes on the poor man who lay at the door of the tenn pie and administered unto him-they did not pick rich man, someone in power that they might create sensation.
 ''One of the best things in life today is the worlds clear vision in looking through the appeals of the world for it's pitiful needs. There are some good folks in the world who have a pro- gramme of salvation which relates to environments and states that all man needs is the proper surroundings. But this is only one of the incidental things, ments.
 GREAT CHASMS YAWN
 Great chasns are yawning and will continue to yawn until the hands which cross it are clasped together in co-op- eration and sympathy. Three-fourths of the people I have aided in coming to Christ I have not reached from the pull pit, but I have touched them in some way personally.
 T have never known many people who i suffered much from lack of money but many have known who suffered from too much money. I have never heard of a nation suffering much for lack of bread, but many which. have suffered Hx