Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1922-03-09
GREAT ADDRESS AT MEMS
BIBLE CLASS BANQUET

While many attractions were on
here Tuesday night, the biggest and
best attended of them all was the
union Mems Bible class banquet,
in the Presbyterian church. This
was the third such banquet which
has been given this winter. The in
effect on the attendance, since the
crowd was fully up to those Of the
previous similar occasions.
The entire audience assembled of
almost 200 men, was seated at the
banquet tables, and served at one
time, by the young ladies of the
church and Sunday school, which
was done without confusion, and
with dispatch. The roast pork.
creamed potatoes, brown gravy,
dressing and coffee were served pi-
ping hot. Then there were home
made rolls, jelly, pickle, beets,
plums; and lemon pie and dough-
nuts for desert, all elegantly pre-
pared by the ladies of the church
who have the culinary art almost
to perfection.
During the supper hour music was
furnished by the Epworth League
orchestra-Misses Augusta Button
and Eleanor Erwin violins; Edgar
Northrup, saxophone; Edward
Perkins, cornet; Wayne Jackson,
bells, and Margaret Durbin, piano.
Their playing was one of the very
enjoyable features of the evening
Other musical numbers included an
organ solo by Mrs. George w. Low
ell, and two vocal solos by Mr. Ray
Blackburn. All were highly ap-
preciated and well received
Prayer was offered by Rev. R. O..
McRae; Rev. Frank Gillian read
the scripture lesson, and Rev. WH M.
Mackay introduced the speaker of
the evening-Newton n. Riddell,
of Chicago. Just what sort of pow
er the ministerial association had
in order to get such a man as Mr..
Riddell to cancel an engagement
in the west and come here we do
not know Perhaps it was a case of
where the speaker felt that he was
called to go to the place where he
could do the most good. While his
hearers expected much. we venture
the assertion that few if any dream
Q scholar and author, and of such
power and eloquence. His subject
was Science and Vital Christiani-
ty"-a subject some might feel was
q dry and uninteresting one, and it
would be with many speakers, but
not with Mr.. Riddell. He is a rapid,
intense, magnetic speaker bril-
liant word painter, clear thinker
and man with! definite message
In which he puts all his wonderful
power and learning. He is a. verit-
able machine gun nest of words, yet
utters them with almost the
smoothness and eloquence of Bryan
or Geo. W. vending. To print his
lecture of almost two hours would
fill good sized book; mere. re-
view would fill this paper
His subject as he handled it
shows that vital christianity is the
science of Christ in man and man
in Christ. 1t includes vicarious
atonement, regeneration, the in
dwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
1t is the Divine way of attaining
ones highest and best phyically,
mentally and spiritually. He show
ed that vital Christianity is not, as
so many thing, creed, but it is a
person. 1t was Christ on the cross
that accomplishes our redemption
and Justification; Christ indwelling
in us is our eternal life, our health,
strength, purity, righteousness, il
Elimination and Kingly power. The
Kingdom of Heaven being a mani
festation of God, is an everlasting
Kingdom It's life and substance
are pure, holy and incorruptible.
The Kingdom of nature is crea-
tion. It's life and substance are
corruptible. The former Kingdom
is everlasting; the latter temporal
or age-long. The unregenerate has
not Divine life, and is therefore no
part of the Heavenly Kingdom, but
through regeneration he enters into
the Kingdom and partakes of it's
perfect life. The Kingdom life is
made manifest to man in and
through Christ. Other points touch
ed on by the speaker, some of which
he dwelt upon at length were Christ
as the light, the life, the teacher,
the king, the overcomer, the lover,
the healer, the peacemaker. With
his lecture he works in a certain
amount of humor, and through his
wonderful eloquence he combines
the facts of science and religion in
a way that is educative and inspir-
ing, and commands the closest at
tention of his hearers.
So impressed with the speaker
and his message were the ministers
that is was put by them to the aud
ience for vote if they desired Mr..
Riddell to return and give a series
of lectures, of which he has many,
and the audience voted almost
unanimously for his return. The
speaker promised he would en-
deavor to comply with the request.
The exercises closed with prayer
by Rev. A. C.. Mattern.
Mrs. John Whitaker Very Low
Mrs John Whitaker who suffered