The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-12-10
PREACHERS URGE
CONTINUED ACTIVITY

At the meeting Of the Ministerial
union Monday, Rev Or. r, A. Srnoot,
pastor Of Centenary Methodist church.
was chosen president Tor the com
ing year. succeeding Rev. DIR. John !.
Gravatt, of Holy Trinity Episcopal
church Vice Puesidents-W ~.
Burkhardt. j. O. Helsa beck, F. 7. Nc
Faden. T. c. Skinner; treasurer, 0. f..
/ Bucholz: secretary, Roscoe M White.
These ofticers, together with j. j
Gravatt, the retiring president. CON
stitute the executive committee Of the
union.
An address TO the Christian people
of the city, prepared by a commit
tee headed by, Rev. Russell Cecil
urging continuance of activities of
| the past few years in church. state
and home, was adopted, This paper
reads:
The Protestant ministers of the
Ministerial Union of Richmond have
been earnestly considering how best
! 10 conserve and promote the cause
of Christ and the usefulness of the
churches in the troublesome times
through which we are now passing,
! and in the future which lies before
us. Our manifest result Of the great
war @s& the calling into active exs
ercise the energies of Christian PEG
/ PIG ~ "a dtStGE NOT hipWU bSl1l T. ~
was demonstrated in a marvellous
way that there vas an immense re
serve power IN the churches which
! had not been used in the propaga-
ton Of the Christian religion. as It.
should have been. What can be done
To transfer the energies Of the people
thus aroused to the work If the
church, which should have hesn the
support of all OF it's members?
rs1E
need to have Impressed upon their
minds and hearts the supreme I'M
portance of the church in the life Of
the world The fact that the church
is divine institution should ne EN-
phasized more and more. The tirle
never was when il should receive
more attention and better support
! than at present All Christian peo-
pie should thoroughly understand
that there is nothing of such vital
/ interest u the welfare OF mankind
| to the progress of civilization and TO
the moral and religious Development
of the future as the prosperity and
practical power of the church in it's
operations among men. II WAS
Henry Watterson, the veteran news
paper man, who has said in effect
, that the hope of the future of this
country and of the world is the prop
agation of the gospel of Christ in
IT'S purity and simplicity by the
church Of God. II our Christian PEG
pie, members of the Chrssta n
churches, can only como TO realize
that the church Is of infinitely more
value and Importance than any other
organization. or all others combined
it would b. great blessing to the
world. The energies of Christian
people, which should be concentrated
upon the church. have for years pas.
often been dissipated and enlisted in
variety of movements, all of which.
though commendatory in their OBJ
1ects- are not to be classed with the
church of God as the supreme and
vital interest of mankind If men
car he induced by the preaching nf
the gospel and the work Of tie
church TO accept the Lord Jesus
: ChFsst as the prince of peace, and
consecrate their lives TO doing His
will, the industrial and labor storms
that now disturb society would be
Gained into peace.
Every Member should Work
As practical xnatter. every men,
her should be engaged in the active
work of the church. why is it th>t
50 many people are willing to have
, their names upon the church roll
and vet are willing at the same time
| to do virtually roth,ng for the sup
- is Il.
- 60 Ia - ,'.cn. go ~ .t,
c>-,,,,,r,i,t ~ With, 80, 1t,,<s -
-. n.,n,,,s', 49,, 49, -
r. h,,-,'t' =; 49, any rs.. w..
! - aa.,. -. - -,
rasr,,. 5ai,n an,.,h;,,r s.rr.,,,
~ i.,e,,n,, -. - =, -, p 49,
,,'s|'ilsx NJ ~ ,, -. -,
-. -, -, jt -,
',;,c - L,,.,, az w az - :.
n,.cr rn.,v, -. -, ,9,,,ix ~
fesrso ~ n w-hst a nonr f,rura a
, fa' p'i
himself when he ~ either aftaid az
ashamed to defend che great causc
of Christ in the word renrexenied bv
the church, We are ,oiI II, ri
Christ loved thu church. and gave
Himself for il" and ,ct sam. church
members are not Willing Ia give II .
kind word or a porern,ts decd The
member of fhe rburcb who cr,tiei~,.s
the church il sir1,t,Iv shls ming himself
for not doing. his own duty Tn
church has no existence spart from
! The members thar compose It. and
they arc responsible for its influence
IN the world II
In every church there should he
committees or thu heneyo,enc.s