Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-10-21

This venerable and venerated Friend preached
twice in our city yesterday in the morning at the
Friends' Meeting House, on West street, and in
the afternoon al the Unitarian Church on West
street, on both occasions to large congregations
The Unitarian Church was densely crowded,
chairs and benches having been carried in. and
even every inch of standing room being occu-
pied. The services were opened with . very
brief, but impressive, prayer by the pastor, Rev.
Fielder Israel, Immediately after which Mrs
Mott commenced her discourse. She took as her
text, Do ye look on things after their outward
appearance' If any man trust to himself that
he is Christ's let him Of himself think this again.
that as he is Chrisi's, even SO are we Christ's.'
I'd Corinthians. x,7.
She alluded 10 the fact that many of those
present were not accustomed to worshiping with
those usually meeting in that house, and that
many probably denied to them the Christian
name; she called their stieution to the fact that
| the test Jesus himself set up was, " By their
fruits We shall know them" and said that II they
found that the daily life and character of Unita-
iians was such as should result from the teach
lDgs OF Jesus, that they should not Withhold
from them recognition aud sympathy as Chris
tians. She urged on all the exercise oil charity
10 judging those differing from then and thought
less than they seemed. That though the creeds,
the articles and the confessions remained that
| the philosophy of the creeds had been changed,
and that those called Orthodox denied that
they believed all their creeds set forth. She
| deprecated the importance attached 10 mere
opinions and said the daily life and character of
professors was of much greater importance. She
considered il prejudcial to the cause of Christian
ny 10 make anything else Of greater Importance
| than character and conduct. She thought the
| lack oil faith that lac faarf.d the lack
OF falth OF Christians themselves In The potential
character OF moral principles, faith In the posi-
bility OF achieving by Christ's methods and prin-
cipes the peace on earth aud good will towards
men" He preached. She was glad to see that men
were thinking, studying and debating. these great
questions she was glad to see the divine faculty
OF reason being cultivated and exercised aud
hailed with pleasure the agitation now going ON
amongst Liberal Christians as to authority Of the
Bible. She hoped the day was coming when
truth should be taken as authority in stead of au
thority as truth. She claimed Tor those called in
hdels and heretics who obeyed the monltions of
their own consclences and felt within themselves
approval for right action and the rebuke for
wrong, large share OF Christian Character, and
said she was herself worshipcr after the mar
ner called heresy.
She quoted Or. Channing's prophetic language
as to an era about to dawn In which greater love
for God aud ruer fellowship for man should be
manifested, and suggested that there WAS more
OF profit in the study OF such diyiuey inspired
prophecies as this in relation TO our own lime,
than In those of the men who wrote 10 the olden
time what was doubtless equally adapted to the
men of their day. She recognized the inspired
truth in The Bible. but did not accept it as vol
ume OF plenary inspiration, and the inspiration
then gives was still Impaired. She had been cdu-
Gated to look upon its defects and errors well
as its truths, and to recognize the inconsistency
between the conduct of the kings us recorded 10
In the Old Testament, and the beautiful and holy
lives OF the prophets. Her discourse lasted for
nearly one hour, and was an eloquent presentation
of the most advanced aud radical views of the So
ciety of which she is a member, and which they
hold in common with the great majority Of those
protesting Unitarian faith. Though her head ID
sivered with the SHOWS Of seventy seven winters
and she has been for forty years an active minis.
ter oil the Society OF Friends, and IN active labor.
er in behalf of Abolition, Temperance and othei
great moral reforms, and three generations Of
children call her mother, yet her voice is almos
I rs firm rs ever, her mind AS active and her lsgi,
as Keen.
! The service closed by the choir and congrega
ton singing Nearer my God 10 thee"