The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-03

The Sermon In Westminster Abbey-Dean
Stanley's Estimate Of the Great Novel;
;st-The Rich Man and Lazarus.


the HERALD that Dean Stanley preached funeral
day, June 49, In Westminster Abbey, London. Half
an hour before The commencement OF the service
every available seat and inch OF standing were
occupied ana hundreds, probably thousands, re-
NAMED until the close In distant parts OF the build
Ing where IL was impossible 10 hear word OF what
was beng said IN the choir. Among The many cis-
ungushed persons present the one who attracted
most notice was the Poet Laureate. Mr.. Tennyson
sat within the Sacrarium, and was an OBJECT OF
marked interest. 1t was stated that some men,
bers OF the deceased novcst's family were &C
coinmoda ed In the gallery to the north OF Poets
Corner. DR.. Staniey was suffering from so serious
q throat anecton that II was problematical up to
one O'Clock whether he would be able TO fulfil the
task he had undertaken. The very reverend gentle
Inan, however, appeared IN the pulpit. but his
noarseness that ii was almost as PAIN
iul for people 10 listen as Tor MIN to speak During
pause In his DISCOURSE caused by the iaintlng OF
Lady under the pulpit he asked the forbearance OF
the crowded congregation with his in1rmity. In
spite OF this the was listened to with breath
less attention, and many cheek was moist with
Sc airs duiing its progress.
The D.an who apparently was obliged TO sacrifice
some por lions OF his manuscript TOOK Us his text the
verses in the fifteenth and sixteenth chapters oil ST.
Luke, which enibody the parable Of Tie rioh man
aud L.Zarlis-''He spoke tllls parable: There was
u certain rich man winch WIS clothed IN purple ant
line llnc4i, ana Jared suIEptuousiy every day. Aud
there was cera beggur named Lazarus, VIII en-
was ali a. ms gate fu VI Sores an desiring 10 he
led Win the crumbs that fell IRON the ric mans
table. And, moreover dogs came and licked his
Sores" 1neie aie some pa stages Of scripture, he
SAID, which when read In the Sunday SERVICES
almost demand special notice rom tnelr extraJr
dinary power and lnpress.veness oucn Ii The para
bic or The iicn ilan aud Lazarus read IN he Gospe
oil THIS uay. There are some incdeuiS or human II
whicn Almost demand special notice, roln the
depth and breadth of the feelings. which tney
awaken IN tine neart Such was the ceremony
which On tuesday last consigned 10 his gave
within these walls the lalneu.ed ana gifted
to which ne belonged ana ii the scripture o,
Sle day and the incident o. the week d. ect our
minds 10 the same thoughts and mutu lily iustr;lt;
each o. her, the attractOI becomes resistlbie and
the ie son which edcn brings IL dUuby strengthened.
Let me attempt TO uraw out these iessols tis
noon. WIN speak nfsi OF the IOr.n OF INSTRUCTION
which we are called upon to notice IN t0-uays Cos
pei. MOI oLy Is C Ike most u our LOrd's instruc
parables. IL Is t.e last OF group WHICH III
the fifteenth and sixteenth chapte. or 1T. Luxe,
wuere Tile story IS taAen IN eacn case not ~ Ii
other gospel from inanlnae aud IriauJllaI cre,s-
lures, Dat rom tue ACTIONS and chuTaciers Of mcn
Fist colnes Lac story o. the good shepherd, With Ill
LIS depth VI teLdeiness lnen the stOry o. The indie
fatgaule searcher WITH all ts depth vi earnestncss;
then IL sto OIL the proulgal SOL with ali It's uep.u
OF pathos; THEN tue story Of The UNJUST steward
with All Its depth oil satIre; and last or all comes
tins story "a the ricn and poor man, drawn IRON
the varied stir or huinn enjoyment and suffering
Of real life so real lnat we eau hardy believe II Is
mol history. IL Is, leless, Of pune hction
DIVES ana Lazal are as Liucn lInus Da. uenks as
Hamlet or shy.ocK, and t.e scene III Abrahams
bosom, aud me nch nlal In Hades, Is drawn from
popular !ewish conceptions current al the u.ne
ihis parable, tlen .ile most direct example wnicn
the Bi,e contains OF The uoe ad ya.ue and Sacred
ness OF .hc,itlOus narrative. There Are, douptless
many Other Instances III the Ola and New Tesla
nltnt; bat the ntgAest sanction " thi5 mode OF IN
strucuon is thal. as III this parable gym by our
Lo. d himself IL was fits Iavori,c mode Of teucnIn
Dc AZ
parable, w.tnoue labie wAnoaG inyenIed story Oh
this KIND, he rarely opened ms lips. He. tae Exam
PIE u EXAMPLES, the Teacher VI Teachers, spoke
many things III paraD.e4 Through THIS pa ape
form Ills grayest instructions nave had d0uol. life
most pelec. exposition OF the most peIiec.
fning respecting God ana man WHOA the
world contAins IL would be found not IN
discourse, nor lii Creed nor III hymn, nor In
prayer, but III pa. avie story sucn LiOse which
have cited. haze uwe.t upon these charac.eris
tics O the gospel aching because 1t Is wen 20 see
how tue BiDe sanct.Oas mode OF IlstructI which
mas been IN spect sense God gi.t 70 our ow. age.
In Various aees III, no donbl has assumed varIOas
1orns-tc divine dame OF poet y, the far-reacniig
gaze o. science and The se.rcuIns analysis Uf phnO
sophy, the glorious page Of his0iy, tue burning
mUraiiss and d.vines, these have We had IN ages
thar a. o past. Tue4r nielnura are ali arvund u,
some more, ana some less, III tnc age wnica We
i've; but ~ Is leruaps, MT 100 mach tV say INA. Ia
no aee 0 the void, and IN no counlry OF the word
Ia, there been developed upon 80 Large &c lie. anu
win Su II Striking eects. As Ill our own, that git
speaking IN pa abes, and addressing m.iiNInd
through romance, no Ell. tale and Iab.e For
proof OF TINS there comes, first. that great
EST Of all TIE masters OF nction, the glory
OF Scotland whose romynces have refreshed ana
exalted our Childhood as they stu refresh aud eAal
our ADVANCING years. and would TO GOD they mIgnt
still continue Ia rerc n AMI exIlt the cnidreL OF
lie rest, beside h4s 1--we Tweed. Long may ne YET
charm AID purify US, long may yonder molumelt
OF the Scottish you II NhOn he has InlnOtallZed In
one OF mis- noblest works keep MIN Ia our mem ry
u.s. one by one, The lesser ahd later lights iol.ow Ia
his track. 1t Is because one o. these Ddght lights
has just passed from us-0ne Ia whom this genera
ton cnet To see tIe mOSt VIVID exempt hcaiiJn o.
the Heaven Sent power OF nctlon-.haG would thus
sp. ak today 10, lew moments lis most general
aspects. There was trutn-et me con es, ir-in |
the PurIan M agall5I an exay serated enjoy
ment OF rOnnces as teniins TO 10 Js IA the nbre Of
the mOra character. That Was as 1G seems TO me- a
Wholesome restraint rcincInuer In my childhood
which kept me from reveIling IN lictoi Until
impressed upon US that the reading OF
pleasant fiction was the hoi .ay Of lie, ana
ST. es the danger Of fictitious narratives const
tutes also ther power. 1hey approach Us at times
when we are ndlsposed TO attend to anything clse
They fill up those oLd moments Vi lie winch exert
so wide influence over tue wnO.e ten II o. our |
characters. Poe ry may enkinule lOtier nane, the
drama may rlvet the attention more H,my, science
may open wider. horizon, philosophy may toucn |
deeper spring; put no WORKS are 80 penetrating, |
none reach 80 many homes and attract % many |
rcA.telB the modern times. Those
who read nothing else read cage y me exciting ,ac.
Those whom sermons never rcacl, wnom history |
IatIB rcuCHeu anu are dTIeScu HUI
tiOuy PERSONS and by lie staring plots VI The SUCCESS
full nOveIS. IL Is THIS great power which maKe5 q |
wicked novel moe deteataDle almost than any other
form VI wicked words or deeds. It IS tbs which |
gives to the l0olism and wO. thess novel democrat
ising i0rce beyo.d las own Contemplate denerits 1.
Is this which macs good novel, pure III STYLE ee
vaing III Thought and true III sentiment, one VI |
the best blessings to TIE Christian nome and |
Christian state How vast the espOn ,iullity Of |
u, se VINO WELD this mghty engine-nl.gnty IL may
be- and has Leen cOrfuptOn, Tor debasemens, for
delement; mighty 1t cet in.y has been al our own |
no els tor edihcaton and purifi tatl0n lUr giving
wholesome thoughts, high aspi ali0ns and sou,-sur-
ring recOl.ectons. Ye VINO read those WONDERFUL
works of genius, acknowledges them as Gods |
specLl gIits TO us, only remember that the true |
romance OF life Is lie itseli. lnis leads Inc To the
furCn r question OF the special form which this gil
assumed IN HIM whose loss the country now deplo.es
with grief so deep and genuine as u De l,se "a |
matter for serious reflection what was thcre III
Inn, nj, h cal ed iortn this widespread sympatyS
WnaI IS there in this sympa ny ana m that which