New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-01
SKETCHES or ,SERMONS.
THE CHARACTER, GENIUS AND INFLUENCE OF
TIE REV. ERSKINE MASON

THE CHARACTER, GENIUS AND INFLUENCE OF
TIE REV ERsKINE MASON.
By THE REV. Or. PARKER
On Sunday evening there was discourse delivered ~
above al the Fourth Chapel corner OF twenty
10 large and attentive audience Upon rising DIR PARxER
mid he would ak attention tbs following text appro
PIRATE to the subject of his address
Acts We, An devon, men esF'isd S'sphen n 'ahA s's
Thi. simple statement he said suggested farreaching
influence Did the martyr terminate when ne ZEN
e.eepl No 1t became immortal IL some men We feel an
interest on Of what they do great
Or eject BY what they are the latter at rst less
Influential though at last found possess real and
permanent importance. DIR. Mssons genius wss moro
eoptemplatve than active The sketch Of his life
ard the tribute to his worth from the graceful pen
Of the Rev. DIR. Adams has achieved all that ne
oied writer proposed 20 accomplish and the present
st,euut imuues DO defect to il the design rather 70
cali attention to the value of DR. Mssons influence 10 the
cause Of Christianity especially IN the rresoy,enaI
Church Dr. Mason was theologian in whom close and
CONSEQUENT reasoning seemed instincts his thongnfs.
Ike blocks Of marble require no cement but become
tngle piece by being placed together Some theoogsns
excel IN being sublime others in being profound some
combine the Qualities and none perhaps more than thd
fsher Of Dr. Mason who pied up his tAoaghts like sfsis
them with the rays gspirs The qualities conbinsd
In Dr. L. Mason but the profound prednnlnated HE
reasoning wa, acute and b, taste . s1as nc ss y.
be polemie, for, although he possessed power
81 Argument by which he could excel, his modesty
kert him slosf. Ye, he exer'ed an influence on some
OF he most important controversies Of his time. His
STYLE was remarkably clear and elegantly ornate thougR
tie ornament seems sought foe itself His peculiar
logical power did not consist IN setting forth single
rvonosop and he ndng ell bis powers 70 the deonstra-
ion Of Is verify his mode was more popular cluster
of thoughts presented TO his logical process His gu
ment was glowing i melted the wax and impressed mo
ssal Of tyuth also distinguished for beautiful and
glowing appeals Nor his sermons distinguished for
brilliant paragraphs and pgngent perorailons merely
~tnls had
iv,nes This NAV be considered but erroneousy az ex
seeeration by those who look fer immediate and striking
r,suls His church IN Schenectady received seoess9"s;
In Rleecser 81 oonpacied by his eisrts, and In
ether congtCA iions he had seals OF MS ministry lhss
larger nurbe did rot assemble to hear him may be &C
counted for BY CONSIDERING tns, some sa LII s
congregation, tina; their sermons are more
sir'ired thsn they would otherwise be. Others shnn
much contact y, on me O,e 20 "a Ssmsa 70 oray
hr hssons chief place Of influence was the palpit ana
we thrk be would have preached 10 mrsense assemblies
hut Tor particular Circumstance, via In me early part
~ III ebatce In Pleecker ct the audience grew apace
hut new and tasteful house OF worshp was erected
nnlo above The Beeckerst. Church the City wn
increasing in that ereS,on' ana as'e, hos.s
Ckrsan families using their undouoted night seses,so
he latter and ihas Of the most reliable csoe % Pc
congregation veFe ealea s"sy ~ - ~ sno.ars vith =
strong and nuclsus and he work OF me minse
),ruly apostolic The BoeekU e. Chnrch ne'er ,esre
FINN
Las scclIn,rs health aided the result Had bic friends
erected = large sanctuary in the nsns oeesoAs
Ia vnaA have minlsssrsd TO "a largo eonsfegAtsoa
as ever collected In the City Of New YORK hn peeunar
Ssr,u, and hsll, dl Iced him TO aim 90 much at the
nhuraon Of individual nsts. a. 10 erer influence over
tho Ss.emhlsd multitude The PresbytsnAn Church did
re piaco him in The position hcs; suited to bis capse
Ia he div on u is5T bis keen PERCEPTION placed MN IN
the rAnks q the isaied party yet toe oPpoaie never
.hsrssd aim with Bnchsfab eness. lie ras Tor eaghs
,,srs stated Cesk q the 0ccsrd Assembly and thus hso
alarsp mountaineering. He Wa modest In debate de-
rrirs 90 other, bat making brief observation which
usa hsurt worthy Of the bcst attention. and his ugEse-
tIon in difcaty ofen led q light aud harmony Ihs-
oy wss his ferso he took The Scriptures - bis bsse
aide without rejecting authority. bat siosing for The
dNssrress ~ sppe which the progress ofxmc rea-
ders s.rsa.oni Tie held The mem between exneme
yisws AID did limit the aionoment Hew1 one OF Ne
noe, Useful u the Committee Publication OF the Amen
can Trsst Society and tho rnos Theological Sema&ry
mach indebted 10 him Ills manreD were wnnng ne
eonfsn,ss Of his nature chiefly dsseovcrsbe by he
shseueo Il the epposiis There are treasures ana1sed IA
his nusrou. manuscript sermons which thcse VINO hevo
o,smusd lheua say marked by The same Aay - az
oher uo,ks TAey wash male sosr 70 elgni voames %
dc .au,c so 20 ths Pastors Legsv and SoaIa De o.
e,rat Vaise u, libraries and esudets lie resIonnonnes
al DR. Mason were by
hearps him aad thcse 20 whom be preached In vain can
..arsfy kuow how great dscoaragemenf shsf 10 No
sssssns pssr wssd thai 0od hessisg on bis fcms.-
bsssa words wusd prepare thsm 10 meet with JOY shsr
fsstasr rsssos
H.