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SERMON PREACHED AT
BAPTiST CHURCH
Sunday January 17th, By Rev. E. R.
Pendleton. Reproduced By Our
Solicitation.
Jesus of Nazareth Who Went About
Doing Good.—Acts 10:38.
No loftier ecomium, no richer epi¬
taph could be written about the de¬
parted than the words, He went about
doing good.
It is this quality in human life, and
this alone, that will ever impress an
observant humanity. It is this, and
this alone, which speaks of him whose
aim and business it was to do good.
Jesus did not measure out his good¬
ness by creed nor in proportion to the
deserts of the recipient, but, with
healing in his very presence and balm
in his every word, he sought to do
only good to each one within his
reach.
His good, like all other, was some¬
times evil-spoken-of, his pearls fell
before swine, he was called Beelze¬
bub, and finally he was crucified as
an impostor; but after his departure,
an eye-w'itness who had followed him
for three years could recall nothing,
and those to whom he spoke could
think of no circumstance that they
could challenge, that would even
throw any doubt upon the motive of
his life, but as they looked into the
Holy of holies of his heart they found
it guarded by the Vestal Virgins of
an honest purpose, and the Jews to¬
day, belonging to the race that slew
him, will admit that he was a good
man. And the crowning glory of his
life was shown in his magnamity on
the cross for, while their hatred was
causing him to suffer the pains of an
horrible death, he cried out in prayer
for them, Father forgive them, for
they know not what they do.
Contrast with the simple and help¬
ful life of our Lord the lives of some
of his professed disciples,—those who
claim to be regenerated with his
motives, and yet who go about back
biting, and criticising, and envying
one another. One good Christian said
recently, “It is a pity that people
have any feelings, for it takes a third
of one’s time to heal up imaginary
wounds and nurse mashed toes.”
Paul complains in the long ago of
the babies in the church, and after
1900 years there are babies still.
Think of babies 1900 years old!—spir¬
itual babies who take up the time of
the church—nursing when it ought to
be evangelizing. I never did think
the church was any place for babies,
and babies that wear long trousers and
women’s skirts are particularly in¬
convenient.
There are those in the churches who
will do good in their way to their kind,
but outside of their little patch you
really must excuse them. Now 7 Jesus
says, “If you do good to your friends,
what thanks have you? And w r herein
is that different from any one else?”
Such people are sectarian and Phari¬
saical. They have learned of Christ
with the head but they are not
Christ-ians down in the heart, the
only place where it counts.
What a gain it w'ould be, by the
way, if we would always say Christ
ian, and CHRiST-ianity, and mean it
when we say it? There is far too much
churchanity and too little Christianity
in the world. Really there is a mass
of Christianity that has no Christ
in it. One has often to dig
back thru the traditions and errors of
the church to find Christ just as Jesus
had to dig down thru Jewish tradi¬
tions to find the lost law of Moses,
and, with the woman at the sepulchre,
we are forced to exclaim, “They have
taken away my Lord and I know not
where they have laid him.” There
are many altars erected in Christian
homes to an unknow T n god.
Christianity is nothing if it is not
the finest system of goodness with the
finest motive, for his sake. Creeds
and doctrines that do not produce
that kind of fruit are obnoxious to the
9 world. It is goodness of both, neg¬
a
ative and a positive sort. Leave off
to do evil and learn to do well.
Selfishness can show in one’s religion
as quickly as anywhere else and, like
flies in the ointment, it makes the
whole to stink.
Those institutions and bodies that
have really gone about the w 7 orld do
ing good have won the hearts and
confidence of men. The Roman Cath¬
olic Church with its angels of mercy
at the ear of the dying, and ready to
staunch the wounds of the suffering,
regardless of creed or class, have w r on
a large place in the world, and their
goodness has covered a multitude of
faults.
The lodges have seized upon these
teachings of Christ, and have prac¬
ticed them, whilst the churches have
been dogmatizing about controverted
doctrines, and men and women have
been dying.
There is not a single sound humani¬
tarian principle in the Catholic church
or in the lodges but w 7 hat ought to be
in the Baptist church at Covington,
and in an the other churches of Jesus
Christ. It is not something to be ad¬
ded. It is an integral part, an atmos¬
phere, a spirit, a motive. If each
member would go out of this place re¬
solving to practice the spirit of Christ
toward the poor, toward strangers,
toward enemies, toward all, the
church would rise in importance, and
take on pow 7 er as a garment.
An educated Mohammedan had to
come to New York recently on busi-1
ness and while he was in a Christian
home he was invited to go to a Chris¬
tian church. This he declined to do,
saying that it was contrary to his cus¬
tom and rearing. It w 7 as then
gested that perhaps he would like to
go thru the hospitals. He accepted
and started, and remarked that he
had heard that these institutions, af¬
ter they were filled with Christians,
wmuld take in foreigners if room re¬
mained. This he did not believe but
treated as an absurd story, and look¬
ed for a prompt declaration that it
w 7 as not true. He was told that it
was not only true, but that no distinc¬
tion was made, and that at that very i
time there were some of his
men under treatment in one of them.
He expressed a desire to see them,
and upon being carried to the ward,
he entered into such an animated
conversation with the patient that
the nurse was about to stop the visit
when he turned to her and told her
that his countryman had been telling
him that she was an angel of mercy
to him, and he thanked her in formal
and enthusiastic style. After reach¬
ing the sidew 7 alk his companion says
that he stopped and, stretching his
hands towards heaven, prayed such a
prayer asking the blessings of heaven
upon the institution as the American
had never heard.
This breadth is the very genius of
Christianity, and makes it differ from
all other religions; it is the spirit of
its founder who w 7 ent about doing
good without respect to creed or class
or color or nationality. Some people
who profess to know him draw 7 the
line at the Negro, and no one who
mistreats, hates, or oppesses the Ne¬
gro can ever convince me that he
knows Jesus Christ. The black man
is among those for whom Christ died,
and he is one to whom we can do
good.
There are 10,000 people in Ohio,
who have recently made a covenant
to do for a time what Jesus would do.
That is well, but it is spectacular.
The Christian is under a solemn cov¬
enant for life to do all the good lie
can, to as many as ever he can, just
as long as he can.
We may have our inward twists of
character that give us trouble with
ourselves, but we, who have been
touched by the life of the man of
Galilee, can never afford to treasure
any malice, ill will, or resentment to¬
ward a fellowman; and those who are
tempted to do so should recall the
apostle’s prayer, Forgive us our tres¬
passes as we forgive those who tres¬
pass against us.
There are noble and multiplied ex¬
amples of true Christianity in the
world, and this is the salt of Christian¬
ity which keeps it from spoiling.
Recently these words in an editoral
of a great daily paper were written
about a Baptist minister, “His is a
creed w 7 hich transcends the narrow 7
bounds of sect. Based upon manhood
and tolerance, it has, during his life
in this city, not balked at affiliation
with, and sympathy for Jew or Gen¬
tile. His is a catholic religion in its
truest sense, in that it embraces the
universal heart and the universal
need.” Noble tribute worthily spoken!
What do people want with a creed?
It is a poor, cold string of man made
words. What they want is flesh and
blood epistles with warm hearts and
ready hands. Such aro the nobles of
earth: They are tine truly happy, for
to be good is to he happy.
The Scriptures say we are never to
harden our hearts of compassion
against the suffering, nor close our
coffers against the needy.
This should be the meat and drink of
Christiana—to do good to men. Some
were talking not long ago about the
social classes in the churches, and the
statement w 7 as made that “oil
water will not mix.” This led the
speaker to propound this question,
How will they mix in heaven? This
provoked more talk, and the sugges¬
tion w r as made that perhaps they
would grow better before they w 7 ere
called to walk the golden streets; but
what if they were called before they
grew better? So many difficulties
arose that one finally said, Well,
maybe they w 7 ill not all get to heaven.
This closed the argument and brought
forcibly to mind the words of Jesus,
Not every one that saith, Lord, Lord,
—but he that doeth the will of my
Father in heaven. His will is that
you shall not offend one of the least
of those for whom Christ died, and if
you have done so, not to pray until
you have gone and asked forgiveness
and been reconciled; And not only
so, but His will is that the Christian
shall heap coals of fire upon his
enemy’s head, and seek to do good to
all men.
The Christian may grow 7 tired in the
work but never of it, because it is a
vital part of his new nature, and he
cannot forget it any more than the
sun could forget to shine.
May God grant that when we come
to lay down our lives, and close our
labors, that eyewitnesses may be able
to say, He or she went about doing
I good.
—FOR RENT—A four room dwelling
on Railroad street. Apply to W.
Cohen, or W. S. Ramsey.—2t.
THE COVINGTON NEWS
JURORS DRAWN FOR
MARCH SUPERIOR COURT.
Names of The Gentlemen Who Have
Been Drawn to Serve as Jurors at
Spring Term of The Court.
The following named persons w r ere
drawn to serve as Grand Jurors, for
March term, 19U9, Newton Superior
Court, to-wit:
GRAND JURORS-.
Evans Lunsford W. H. Boggus
C. 11. White * T. G. Berry
Tom (J. Cowan F. E. Heard
A. H. Smith E. C. Hull
Leonidas Loyd A. O. Ellington.
J. W. Stephenson J. II. Willingham
H. A. DeLoaeh L. W. Jarman
L. I). Adams T. D. Speer
J. L. Skinner J. W. Anderson
Feilder Ozbum W. T. Corley
C. E. Cook R. E. Lee
M. G. Turner C. I. Ogletree
A. C. Belcher F. M. Hays
E. II. Jordan Geo. T. Smith
C. 1. Cash J. II. Wood
The following named persons were
drawn to serve as Traverse Jurors, for
March term, 1909, New r ton Superior
Court, to-wit:
J. N. Epps L. S. Wright
S. R. Campbell L. A. Patrick
E. T. Hull W. E. Lunsford
C. D. Ramsey J. W. King
R. D. Dial A. J. Wingate
A. S. Fowler W. E. Harwell
W. T. Smith R. E. Everitt
C. A. Cannon P. jH. Henderson
G. I. Biggers A. J. Parker
J. K. Guffin R. H. Christian
S. H. Avery J. W. Pope
J. C. Harwell J. J. Owens
J. E. Dobbs W. P. Hooper
C. O. Kimball T. W. Heard
E. E. Lunsford P. W. Turner
C. E. Hardeman W. P. Odum
S. S. Starr C. M. Griffin
Newt Stedham C’nas. G. Smith
Fair View Dots.
Miss Clifford Smith was the guestjof
Miss Emily Neely Sunday.
Miss Emma Longshore entertained
a number of friends at a “spend the
day” party Tuesday. The guests de¬
parted at a late hour declaring Miss
Longshore an ideal hostess.
Quite a crowd w r as out at prayer
meeting at the home of Mr. H. J.
Neely’s Sunday night. The next meet¬
ing w'ill be held at the home of Mr.
J. P. Longshore.
Some one ask Mr. Dock Bentley
w 7 hy he w r as all smiles Sunday after¬
noon.
Mr. Johnie Stowers, of Atlanta,
spent the w r eek-end w r ith his parents
and friends. We are always glad
see Johnie shaking hands with
time friends.
Misses Katie Everett and
Ficquettw y ere delightfully
at Miss Adnah Neely’s Tuesday night.
Mr. Helms and w 7 ife, of Milstead,
visited at the home of Mr. J.
O’Kelley recently.
Mr. W. E. Ray and family were
our community Saturday night.
Some of our young people
the singing at Almon Sunday.
Mrs. Martha Nelms, of
was in this vicinity a few days
week.
We are sorry to note the illness
Mr. J. D. Boyd, We wish for him
speedy recovery.
Messrs Charlie and Oliver
visited friends near Conyers
night.
—FOR SALE, a number of
shoats just arrived. J.
Genuine Peruvian Guano
Untouched by the Chemist or the ^Manufacturer
For TOBACCO
COTTON, TRUCK
Peruvian Guano C orporation
CHARLESTON, S. C.
EGGS
From Prize Winning Barred
and White Plymouth Rocks
at $2.00 per setting. White
Leghorns at $1.00 per setting
and Spangled Games at $4
per setting. Put in your or¬
ders now for spring delivery.
MODEL POULTRY FARM
Conyers, Ga.
—
WAYS OF THE ARABS.
Dodging the Evil Eye and Tests of
Filial Piety.
Very curious to the occidental mind
are some of the ways of Arabia and
other Mohammedan countries. A trav¬
eler says: “One of the objects of the
most anxious solicitude for Moham¬
medan parents is the shielding of their
children from the evil eye. Any person
expressing admiration for a child ex¬
cept by pious ejaculation or the invo¬
cation of blessings upon the prophet
fills the heart of the parent with ap¬
prehension. When children are to be
taken into the street their faces are
often even smeared with mud or
greasy substances lest their comeliness
should attract attention, and in order
that the person of the child itself
should escape attention gaudy and glit¬
tering ornaments are hung about it
and written charms sewed into leather
medallions suspended from its neck.
“One of the best of Arab character¬
istics is that of filial piety. Sons and
daughters of deceased parents take
upon themselves all sorts of irksome
tasks accounted as expiatory of the
minor faults committed by the depart¬
ed ones during their lifetime and dis¬
charging faithfully- every payment or
obligation left unfulfilled by dead par¬
ents, for has not the prophet said that
martyrdom even will not atone for an
unpaid debt?
“Eloquence is accounted the greatest
of all possible gifts. According
Arab tradition, the most superlative
degree of eloquence was attained by
King David, such being the beauty
his diction, added to the poetry of his
words, that when he declaimed
Psalms even birds and wild beasts
were spellbound, while on some occa¬
sions as many as 400 men died from
the excess of delight induced by
reading.’’—Chicago News.
Off Guard.
“How did it happen that your
got the best of you?” queried the
quisitive person.
“They got busy while I was
Ltf my enemies,” explained the
who had got the short end of
cago News.
Subscribe for the News while it
only 50 cents a year.
NOTICE.
I am now back in my old office
Cohen’s. Have two rooms, one
white, the other for colored
and am fully prepai'ed and capable
doing better work than ever
Your patronage solicited.
Very respectfully,
W. J. Higgins, Dentist.
Dr. Tully U. Smith
Dentist
Office No. 9 Star Building
Phone 21 I
High Grade Work
0-;70*0*0*0*0*0<J0<?0<?0*0*0tt0£ •*•*•**•*•■<*•*•*•*•<*•*•<»• .,%-s
Barber Shop ?
The Only White In t 1 I
0 Covington, Georgia.
§ I
0
# 1 Is better prepared than ever to serve the . |
0 people of this section, with new equip¬ I
0 0 ! ment, hot and cold towels, wait and three !
good White Barbers to on you.
Come to see us, always glad t^ see Y'ui.
! i
W. J.GOBER, Proprietor.
* 0 * 0 m " 0 * 0 * 0*0 0 '. 0*0
Elegant Clothing for Men
Since we have been in
business in Covington we
have made a reputation for
carrying a good, substan¬
tial line of Clothing, and
this season’s line surpassss
anything we have pre¬
viously had. The quality
| of the goods, workmanship
and styles that appeal to
the men who iike to wear
neat, snappy clothes are in
our stock. Come and take
a look at them. After you
see them we believe we
can do business with you.
Heard, White & Company
Covington, Georgia.
-“4
THE BEST IN JOB PRINTING
NICE FRESH GROCERIES
You will always find at my store as nice and fresh Gro¬
ceries as can be found in the city, and when you purchase
them from me I make it a point to get them to your home
just as quick as it is possible for me to do it.
FRESH MEATS
I also have in connection with my store a first class Meat
Market and can furnish you with the choice kind of Meats
yon like so well. Giveme an order. 1 will appreciate it and
will try to please you.
Cigars aud Tobacco. Cash Paid for Hides.
R. F. Wright,
Covington, Georgia.