The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1920-11-12
DAILY MEETINGS
AT PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH CONTINUE
DR.. John Royal Harris Attracts Large
Audiences; Conducting New
Life Meetings.
NOON SHORT SERVICE AT
RAILROAD SHOPS EVERY DAY
Sunday Address Precedent For Re-
ligious Activity That Has Fol-
lowed During Week.

The 46th Psalm was taken as text
by DIR. John Royal Harris 'or his first
sermon, which opened the Special
Service Meetings at the Presbyterian
church, Sunday morning. He pre-
faced his address with few intro
ductory remarks explaining that the
purpose of the meeting was to bring
"new life" to the church and with
new life comes God, that great re-
vival brings better business and bet
ter homes.
God, the refuge in the world Of
troubles-was the subject of this in
itial sermon, which was heard by a
large audience.
"More than ever, today is the
time when the forty-sixth Psalm is
most needed" declared DR.. Harric,
Gin these days of unrest when all
other refugees are being swept away,
this psalm brings to our minds the
true and tried dependence upon high
er things, and in calling God ref
uge, which means fortress, safe
place, we are acknowledging the pro-
tectiveness of the Almighty.
''It is remarkable, in spite of 9TH
er important changes that high places
retain their prominence as places of
refuge In time of heat or flood or
disease men seek mountain refuge,
go to high places. In war, the high
places are the hardest fought for
Cemetery Ridge, Gibraltar, a hill in
Flanders-what blood the possession
of them has cost! How significant
then that, 4 will lift up my eyes to
the hills, whence cometh my help
The high places and God! The two
of the same direction, the two like
refuge.
The psalm means that altho 9TH
er things are taken away, God is ref
uge enough, and the crying need of
the American public today is more
religion, more of God"
DIR. Harris then showed how God
was sufficient refuge, how in Him
self, He was enough; how it was in
His power to still commotion and un-
rest. He spoke of the supreme hap
piness that spiritual conception of
God brings and told of how Stephen
and Paul and other Christian mar
tyrs met death happily, because to
them God was all-sufficient, was ref
uge enough.
"The world, today" he said, "is
rushing around after thrills, there is
a general nervous state of mental
and physical unrest that needs the
blessing of Gods comforting words
to quiet it. Prayer is the best men,
tai nerve tonic. Prayer brings re-
lief from disturbed sleep and depres-
sed spirits. Prayer, the realization
of God as a refuge and strength, is
the greatest .calmer of mind and
nerves."
Dr. Harris is a scholar. His SER
mGa was interspersed with appealing
literary and historical illusions. His
knowledge Of the Book is also large,
and was demonstrated in this initial
sermon.
He closed with beautiful and op-
timistic viewpoint of the happy work
ing out of Christianity, saying that
if we sit patient and trust God, the
final outcome will always be right,
that the wonderful power of God is
increasingly at work; that the God
who makes the sun and moon stand
still, who stands river on end as the
mighty Niagra, will stand the turmoil
within the breast of man. In fl
nal statement. he plead for Individual
soul contemplation of God as the
supreme refuge and strength.
At noon each day, DR. Harris de-
livers a short talk at the L. & N.
shops. He is not professional e.
vangelist. but has charge of the
Southern headquarters of the Nation
al Reform Association, and his views
and experiences, combined with a
splendid intellect and we'll trained
mind are extracting large audiences
to the Presbyterian church twice
daily.