The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-04-26
DOESN'T BELIEVE IN !
A SISSY CHURCH,

Rev. Robert p. Lumpkin at StscJames
Methodist church yesterday morning
was emphatically in his "fghting
clothes"-not literally "overalls," but
very definitely "overhauls,' for ne
launched a terrific broadside against
social and Industrial evils, from the
card party to harmful picture SHOWS
and profiteering. Loose law ENFORCE
Irnent received a resounding wahop ana
the remedy for social and economic
evils was put squarely up TO the CHRIS
Itian citizenship. .
81 do not believe in a sissy church,
H. yocjferously exclaimed The church
should be actively ggress|e-actualiy
militant. and. courageously fight the
wnes of the devil. who is not merely
an influence. as some folks mistakenly
suppose, but a distinct personality OF
the malignest and subtiest influence.
Just here the earnest preacher ex-
pressed his belief that much of the
Christian passivefess is due to swerv-
/ ing from the old faith in persona /
devil and in eternal punishment and
quoted an eminent divine as favoring
an addition to the Apostles Creed en-
bracinE. Il believe in the devil"
/ The church has acquiesced in the
Ipicture show and now il is up to the
church to demand that indecent and
! immoraliy suggestive films be Kept
from the screen, II civic officials shy
/ at enforcing laws, depose them and put
| in officials who win be responsive to
duty. Mental condemnation of wrongs
| is of no avail unless it is put int"
practical effort.
The text was Resist the Devil ana
He VIII Flee. From You" and resist
means fight. stand up against. strive
with Discriminate purpose. The Chris
tian should personally resist him by
lcasting out impure thoughts and con-
versations. by walking circumspectly
and constant communings with God.
| That the Christian and moral hosts
lean enectually overthrow entrepched
social evil is demonstrated by the out
.lawing of the liquor traffic. II took
/ half a century. il is true, but the brave.
patient aud faithful firing liners did
/ not let UP. but kept eternally at II until!
Victory was secured.
/ They didn't simply pine and repine,
scontenting themselves with lamenta
ton dirge Its too bad. but there Is
no hope fer remedy--no use trying
mo use" No they went for the devil
with gloves OF, and his satanic ma
jestv and all his minions can be as
Eeffectualty squelched by determine
purpose and prayerfui, practical &
gressiVeness
The young folks were warned Of
the ihStdlbl9 WA4SS OL we bSNii ohO
texhorted to read only the best OF lat
erature and not to be enamored Of the
devils tinsei aliurements.
i The local sugar shortage was ID
vert ed to with 40 sugar coating III
fact. the 4aail+tant- preacher did not need
any sugar for his unadulterated pei
let's As il Was his sentiments were
endorsed heartily b. his hearers vic
thoroughly enjoyed the very strong and
logical discourse.
Eight persons were received into tht
church at the morning service. The
choir singing was of high order anc
the pastor took the liberty of readins
to the congregation letter he hat
received from "A sister church express.
Istve Of high appreciation for the
ehoirs singing for them on n specta
occasion recently. The choir is com
posed Of Mrs J. r. Proctor soprano
" a watkins tenor; r, II. Baker
bass. and Miss Florence Neisler. or
gAnist