The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-06

interest OF our GeltcfS, II SnONiN Dc u
source of much congratulation TO Rutland,
we will add, that it has citizens Of so much
public spirit as to give us so fine an intel
lectual treat as was contained IN this lee
ture, and, without whose endcavors, it
would not have been vouchsafcd rs.
There is u power that stands back ol all
our laws, stronger, mighlicr and most po-
tent for good or evil that gives birth to
all our prejudiccs and able to destroy all
other motives in a day than which no
other power possessed by man is 50 strong
or so able to change the impulses Of a COM
munity and turn the world upside down :;
that stands back Of all your churches and
able to take your crccds, your formulas and
all existing modes of ancient origin, of OBJ
servance or faith, TO modify or even to vote
out Of the church. This power you call
public opinion. This only asks you to OBJ
serve the creed of the people and Of the
masses to analyze all the opinions given
and conlense the same into one. 1t is what
our neighbor thinks and while We are sleep
ing tonight ii is forming itself and is with
us, unknown to ourselves. Mere public
opinion is So potent it makes a great differ
crence what everybody thinks. Even the
bcggar has rights which he knows well how
to use the thief in his cell, although for
hidden his liberty, has lost no power in this
respect. 1t is good for us TO look at life
through their eyes.
wish, said the speaker, to tell you this
evening about my creed with which, with
equal candor, you may differ, but | will
call attention to one or or two things which
it may be well to think about, though you
may not adopt my views. There is a diff
ference in the pulpit upon the meaning of
Gods word, with a marked result. The
platform is not made to bring out conclu-
sions, but simply to start an audience INTO
thinking. We talk tonight that you may
think tomorrow about what we think here,
and so that you may think what is right in
this matter.
Personally, the speaker believed in a
creed, and thought that everyone must also
have some sort of one. lie preferred his
written out upon the printed page, that his
friends and enemies might alike see what
his mind and judgment were like a ban
ner that floats above an army. lie did not
believe in shooting a rifle that another per-
son had loaded. This creed was not me-
tallic, but susceptible to all good ideas that
were opposed to the old. When God should
open his mind to understand the truths
taught more bright than any earthly under
standing, then would his heart take it in
with a blessing. He could never see any
charms in holding on to the old views and
prejudices of by-gone generations, but
would rather take hold of new things,
along which the rising generation may slfe-
ly run. Let us look for a moment at the
differences of the bounds that separate us
from the false bigotries of other genera
tons. lie believed that a human impulse.
coming from the honest convictions Of the
heart, was worth more TO man and more
acceptable to God than all the verbal creeds
that can be written out. We needed no
more theology that differs from our honest
conviction, no more Of those a%ntagonisms
that divide us; but more of a spirit of
brotherhood, good will and unity in labor
ing for those down there less favored than
ourselves. Had you been born as they
were you would have felt MS they do. lie
to see a practical unity. There was
hard fighting enough, which done no good.
Woe be to him who kindles enmity and
strife, the useless causes Of so much differ
snce among men.
Never should his hand bring a brand to
hat fire which burns but too well already.
lie despisod those knight-errants searching
he arena for broil and quarrel on religious
doctrines. Some there were left still in
England who loved nothing better
han to fight on orthodox questions or anxi-
rus for a foe to belabor. They were at
racted to such IA brOil MS the most expert
'hced poNcr 10 Il hSht. Religious meet
ngs are held and one of those men will adj
'ance on some brother and with a show OF
ight let out at him with his advise and
'ummel him with arguments aud then ask
iod to bless their efforts, after which they
will adjourn a week to talk up another vic
i'm. They call that preaching the Gospel.
What becomes of the poor, weak sinner ?
What do they do with these? Whose voice
5 to soothe them in their trouble whose
land is to wipe away the penilcntial tear
n give relief TO the broken-hearted ? The
peaker here touchingly %apostrophized the
lily who welded the power of gentleness
nd called upon the preacher to Danish the
thunders Of pulpit exhorlations and
instead preach with shining face and glow
ng heart the mercies of God. Let them
ndeayor to show how much there is in the
ruths of God not to quarrel about and by
o doing advance tn glory OF God more
nd better than to keep alive the old dit
erences of opinion and re-chalk the fading
mes of division that had so lonp divided