Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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To the left:  George Washington Barrett (1973-1956), my great-grandfather

To the right:  Sterling Hunter, Pastor of Summerville Presbyterian Church, Summerville, Georgia, from 1932 to 1938; he was pastor to my grandparents, John D. Taylor, Jr. (1905-1976), and Nell Barrett Taylor (1915-2001)

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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EDITOR’S COMMENTS:

I, for reasons beyond my control, have this document in partial form; the top of the sheet, with scriptural citations listed, is mostly absent.

My great-grandfather used “professor” to indicate one who professes Christian faith, not one who teaches at an institution of postsecondary education.

I imagine that Jesus terrified the money changers at the Temple one day.  They, of course, had it coming.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

APRIL 24, 2014 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF THE MARTYRS OF ARMENIA

THE FEAST OF JOHANN WALTER, COMPOSER

THE FEAST OF THE SEVEN MARTYRS OF THE MELANESIAN BROTHERHOOD

THE FEAST OF TOYOHIKO KAGAWA, TEACHER AND EVANGELIST

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I.

Who calls?  Jesus Christ, the Son of  God and Saviour–he who died for us all.  Give me your heart and follow me.  To all who come he grants his saving grace.

II.

Great as this is, it is just the beginning of the new life.  He has much to show us and teach us.

Not every act of professors is Christian–far from it. How learn?

(a)  Jesus gives us a great example and great principles–not a set of rules, for that tends of Pharisaism.  Follow him–live like Christ.

(b)  Righteousness.  Did he ever do an unrighteous thing?  “Which of you convicteth me of sin?”

(c)  Love governed all.  How compassionate he was with the erring!  Not one unkind, revengeful word or deed.  Whom did he slander?  Our courts guard us here.

(d)  He suffered wrong rather than retaliate.  It may be hard, but it is the best way out.

III.

Follow him and he will so transform your life as to make it sublime.  His steps “end at his throne.”  The only way there is to follow him.

Begin now and be true to the end.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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1 Kgs. 8, 56

I.

God has great purposes concerning his people: “Will make thee a great and mighty nation.”  If we follow him he will accomplish his great purposes.

II.

But man is hesitant, fearful, slow to follow, fearing he may fail.

III.

To encourage and embolden him God has given many precious promises.  They cover every need of the soul.  Promises:

(1)  forgiveness

(2)  cleansing

(3)  guidance

(4)  wisdom

(5)  power

(6) his presence

(7)  comfort

(8)  victory

(9)  heaven at last.

IV.  

His character, his goodness, and love, his faithfulness assure us he will keep his promises.  He who died for us, loved us, will be true [to us].  Not one promise has failed–if there has been any failure it was ours, not God’s.

V.

Wherefore let us everyone cling to him in all confidence and fidelity.  Who would not be true to such a Friend and Lord!

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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Ps. 127, 1a

Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it….

—Authorized Version

I.

A strong Christian character is the grandest edifice ever built.  It is more powerful than Gibraltar, more enduring than marble, and a greater blessing than all material possessions.  We should be very much concerned to build such.

II.

There are hurtful and helpful forces.  We must grapple with them.

(1)  The fear of the Lord is the bedrock on which we build.  Reverence and Godly fear are indispensable.  Be well-grounded here.  Irreverence is deadly.

(2)  Truthfulness must be inculcated.  No liar is a truly great man.

(3)  Personal purity–of thought, speech, and act are priceless.

Vileness is destructive of all character.  Evil thoughts are fatal.

Intoxication is a deadly foe.

Evil companions to be shunned.

III.

In all things seek the guidance and blessing of the God.  Else all effort fails.  He is needed in the house.

Family religion so important that one may start right.  His blessing the one great up-building power in the world.

He can save and keep men unto eternity.

Never dream you can succeed without His blessing.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  Both Sides of the Original Document

Images Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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EDITOR’S NOTES:

1.  The hymnal in question, I think, is The Methodist Hymnal (1905).

2.  I prefer Episcopal funerals, for the ritual focuses on celebrating life.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

MARCH 17, 2014 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF SAINT PATRICK, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF ARMAGH

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Isa. 38, 1

1.  It is certain we all must die, sooner or later.

2.  None of us has any time to lose.  God gives us our time for this one work.

3.  The important thing is to live well, then we will die well.  But how careless many of us are.

4.  Let us be wise while life lasts to make preparation for the great beyond.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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EDITOR’S COMMENT:

My great-grandfather quoted “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” which Joseph Scriven wrote circa 1855, at least according to Sing to the Lord, the 1993 hymnal of the Church of the Nazarene.  (I have over a hundred physical hymnals and many more digital ones, for I like to sample different hymnodies.  Thus I have a rather broad collection.)  The quote from that hymn brought to my memory a comment which a parishioner (now departed) of Christ Episcopal Church, Dublin, Georgia, told me ten years ago.  Betty explained why she disliked the song:

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Anyone who would do that is not a friend, she said. Betty was correct about that point.  She pointed out a logical hole in the text, for if one has such “friends,” one might be like Job.

Jesus is, of course, the greatest friend anyone could want and have.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

MARCH 16, 2014 COMMON ERA

THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT, YEAR A

THE FEAST OF SAINTS ADALBALD OF OSTEVANT, RICTRUDIS OF MARCHIENNES, AND THEIR RELATIONS

THE FEAST OF SAINT ABRAHAM KIDUNAIA, ROMAN CATHOLIC HERMIT, AND SAINT MARY OF EDESSA, ROMAN CATHOLIC ANCHORESS

THE FEAST OF SAINT GIOVANNI BATTISTA PERGOLESI, COMPOSER

THE FEAST OF MARTIN BOEHM, COFOUNDER OF THE CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST

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1 Peter 5, 7

Ps. 55, 22

Gal. 6, 2

I.

All have cares, burdens, sorrows of [the] heart, afflictions.  He saw so many weak–the lame, the blind, the halt-afflicted [This makes no sense to me, but I have examined my great-grandfather’s handwriting closely, and that is what he seems to have written.], either self or loved ones, many bodily ills, the dead.

Could one look on and his heart not be stirred?

II.

What [to] do with them?  Bring them to Jesus.  No care was hopeless.

Jesus never turned a soul away who came in faith.  “He was moved with compassion”–suffered with them.  “Able to do exceedingly all we ask or think”–Eph. 3, 20-21.  John [the] Baptist’s disciples “buried his body and went and told Jesus.”

“I cannot bear these burdens alone.”  Some try, [but] break under the load and destroy their lives.

III.

Sometimes it is a real relief to tell some sympathetic friend one’s troubles.  Tell it to Jesus; he will help.

“What a friend we have in Jesus.

Carry everything to God in prayer.

He cares for you.  Your cares are his cares.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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Ps. 1, 1 & 6

I.

All men desire happiness and blessedness.  All shrink from suffering.  Many seek it out in the wrong way.  It is had by all who seek it aright–“Blessed is the man”–blessedness is to the man.

II.

To be happy many things must be let alone.  Sin is the one evil and disturber in the world.  Something must be let alone.

(1)  Counsel of the ungodly–his advice touching any moral issue.  “If the blind lead the blind,” etc.  Perilous to advise a soul, as in the case of the woman  by mistake put off a train [at] a wood station out west in a blizzard and she and [her] babe froze.  Be sure you are right.

(2)  “Way of sinners”–Every sinner has his own way (a) drunkard, (b) covetousness, (c) unclean in thought and deed–lustful.

“Go not in the way of the wicked.”  At the peril of your soul turn from there.

III.

Why will one do wrong?

Why will one besmirch a good family name and embarrass his own offspring for a passing moment’s sin, and by his life turn others to destruction?  Let no one go on heedlessly, but think, and abstain from sin.

IV.

“The way of the ungodly shall perish.”

“Sin when it is finished bringeth forth death.”

The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, but shall be cast out forever.

Let us avoid evil and be happy and dwell forevermore in blessedness.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Above:  The Original Document

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

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Eph. 2, 12

I.

Man was made for God.  His immortal nature yearns after him and can find no rest away from him.

II.

God can have no fellowship with sin.  When sin comes into the heart God goes out.  Satan is God’s worst enemy.  Sin alienates him from God.

(a)  A sinner has no communion with God, no sense of God’s presence and love, no peace, no joy.  His heart responds not to God’s overtures.

(b)  No God in temptation to help him resist the devil.  Left a hopeless prey to all the snares of Satan.  Nothing but God’s grace can save one.

So he is left a victim of sin, a prey to lust, and every evil power.

How can parents rest while one child is away from God?

(c)  Without God in afflictions and bereavements.  The heart sorely needs him then.  He alone can comfort and strengthen.  No prayer, no help!  How unspeakable.

(d)  Without God in death; left to the the awful doom of the damned.

No hope of immortality, but unending woe.

Dare we live without him?  He calls you to him now.  Hear and heed him right now.

GEORGE WASHINGTON BARRETT

Image Source = Randolph Fleming Taylor

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My great-aunt (1912-2001)–sister of Nell Barrett Taylor (1915-2001) and daughter of George Washington Barrett (1873-1956) and Nellie Sequin Fox Barrett (1876-1958)

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

Image Source = Randolph Fleming Taylor

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My Uncle Randy (born in 1945) and my father, John Dodson Taylor, III (born in 1943), at the Euclid Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia, home of their grandparents, George Washington Barrett (1873-1956) and Nellie Seguin Fox Barrett (1876-1958), in the early 1950s

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR