Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-04-21
Fast Day In Burlington.

were open. The warm and spring-like air
called multitudes out of doors And while.
as usual with many it was q mere day of
lounging and recreation, with many, also,
its religious character was recognized. The
occurrence OF the day on Coed Friday, ~
gave especial sacredness to the OCCASION
with some denominations. and the preach
ers. as will be seen, did no; neglect the pub
lie as well as private lessons Of the day
AT rHK UNITARIAN CHURCH,
the pastor. the Rev. L. G. Ware, preached
sermon from the text: Search me, o
God"-Ps. cIxxix %. 1t is now -'inves-
tigation." here, there. and. | had almost
said, everywhere. One hundred years ago
the patriot army used as passwords TO their
camps such words as freedom" and
right to-day the password is ''investiga-
tion"-a dubious and ugly word. signif-
cant of perplexing and solemn fact. We
are here now, not to pass Judgment. but to
rise above opinions, to clear I'D what is
true and to consider how TAR what is true
Is coincldent with our secret wishes. There
is tribunal set up here, though not to de-
eide the questions now before the public
as counsel, witness. sccuser and Judge.
Yet on this State day and civil fast some
thing may properly be said Of the investi-
CATION which is now the general order
When history says the worst 1t can OF any
period 1t writes 1t down as corrupt age.
Is this too be the judgment history upon
our own time-CentennIal corrupt? Ii
seems TO bad that Philsdel a is 50 near
Washington, for at the Exposition
the noses OF our guests be offended
and some awkward apologize rendered nee
esssry. Better the Dark Age than cor
rupt age. The Dark Age. dark as they
were, were not 50 corrupt as the last days
of the Roman Empire nor was the Paris
Commune. with all Its excuses, so corrupt
a. the empire it overthrew
But investigation on investigation brings
with It rebuke to hasty and unjust judy
ment. The whirligie of time brings its re-
venges-but slowly, oh. how slowly Time 8
justice lis sure but sometimes over-slow
Common report is apt TO run off on q false
scent. Wise men have learned to distrust
1t. The voice Of the people Is the voice of
God''-l hope we have got through with
that Sometimes the voice of the people Is
divine and sometimes very far from it. 1t
Is often altogether human, # 10 err is hu-
man. The voice OF the people is silent
vote it / embodied IN universal suffrage.
But there was one who said that he did not
like it that the vote Of Jesus and the vote
Of Judas should be on level.
Again. this custom OF lnvesti cation leads
10 self-probing and new sense Of mic
| would not trust him far who does not IN
these days OF ruin of name and fame feel
stunned-who. not falling into the common
~
Public spirit l. simply the expression OF com
mon minds the general purity depends on
our purity, and the general honesty on the
individual conscience. The Investigations
ordered by courts. by advisory councils, by
congress, point to Investigations TO be made
by each one Ct them, and now far each are
competent We al know Bat IN the inner
lite the investigation may be profound and
thorough. Let Us see how lar we are per
sonally responsible for the evils Of the time
the low views Of lite and morals-the self
seeking. through devious VGys-the slack
euIng OF the ties o.; moral responsibility.
The public Investigations may come TO what
they viii but there remains one Investigs-
tl1u always II order. Recognizing private
responsibility for public spirit. let u keep
this investigation always open Search
me. tod. and know my heart try me,
snd'kuow nv thoughts, and see II there
be any wicked way IN me. and lead me In
the way everlasting.
7. PAULs CHURCH-HoRSINC
The sermon Wa delivered by the Ri. Rev
w Il 4 Bis-e.. D. D.. Bishop Of the Do
ce-e. The discourse was not especially pre-
pared t1r the occasion a. s day Of pubic
tGst, but It, thoughts were rather suggested
NJ H. ola Nr-s 10
d. Good Friday, on which the crucifxion Of
our Saviour l. concentrated The text
Wa = Luke KIN. 46-"And when
Je-u- had cried with q loud voice, lie said
Father, INTO Thy hands / commend nv
spi-I- BIS Wa the as % the seven cele-
oratad sayings % our Lord upon the cross.
The larger portion of the sermon was taken
up WIKI the dev0tI1us. exposition Of the
language. 10 which i WAS shown that our
Lord w. committing Himself. and Hi di--
ciple~. INTO tne loving care oi HIS Father.
To be lructlca. application Of the text the
distinguished speaker remarked. that IN
y hat la- been presented there was much
that should arrest our attention and keep
30 abiding hold Of our minds Does II not
show u tDat the true disciple OF Jesus has
goodanc sufficient ground for peace and
comfort IN the hour OF his departure from
the word that be trusts N 6 SaviO.r who
has Il mse.f passed through that dissolu-
tou. showing himself. even in DIVING, to be
the Lord and c0nquerCr Of death who
spent HI last breath IL commanding the
departing spirits OF HIS disciples. each.
Win HIS own. into Ine hands Of the Father
o. thi- indeed l. hope firm and reliable
This viii remain secure. when g.. else Is
shaken TINS vii abide. when heart and
te,n shall iaI, and when a. things else
shat. be slipping from u. TINS vii bring
u consolation on our dying bed, when all
around u Zee. the sharp psng OF that sep
arai1n. I1ls VII Impart u our last mo-
ments something Of the deep rep0se that
our saviour found IL death. ana enable Us
% take up thsi which l. the echo Of HIS
kingiy word Lord Jesus receive NY
spirit
But this cain and happy commenting Of
ourselves 70 Him, II death. cannot be ours.
merely because we wish IT, Mu.titudes who
l0Dsed 10 say the word. have died and made
No sign Many poor sinner who had
trihed away his day OF grace. finds. in his
hour OF need. that he cannot commit HIM
sell 70 that Lord. whom be has spent his life
IN neglectlnC and resisting finds when
most he wants the support OF al unfaltsring
trust. that he has no faith OF love IL Christ.
only dread and fear Of Him
More than wishes and desires there must
be then. The life Of FGltk s obedience must
60 before, TO prepare the way for the repose
oi Faith trust. There must be that IN Us.
IN s measure which va 50 perfect II our
Lord. tie had come 10 40 The Fo.ie-'s lr!N
that had been 10 Him a. HIS meat and
drink. In each act Of al Hls life. there had
been a complete surrender of HIS own will
and choice to the Father. And what lie
did. - completely. We must always De aim
ing 10 do. Il l. not only by bearing ps-
tleutlv the trials which God sends ". but
slSo. and much more. By active obedience.
that faith grows strong, Tor II l. bv works
hat II i perfected Always a. long as We
,ranscre~- Hi- laws. We have the feeling
that God i an hard master Never. till we
earnestly enueavar 10 obey Him. ian we
taste and see nuw gracious the Lord il.
W hen The disciple gives mp his own will,
and ny obedience makes the will Of God his I
'wn, then be begins to know something Of 1
us grace and goodness to find IN his own I
experience that the secret OF the Lord l.
Sith them that fear Him" A quiet salts /
action. still and deep. the peace which 4
Jesus ioii u, a His legacy 10 His people. is I
she'd into his soul. 50 by each effort Of ODE
llcICt, Adltu grows strong anu WORKS DIV I
owe, until, when his discipline is finished. |
md faith and love are grown up to their
IN strength. he knows the happi-
less Of seli-surrender. and how blessed It Is
10 die as in the arms Of Jesus. The Bishop
poke OF the desire that be knew animated
ne hearts OF hls hearers, that their last
nj should be like this But then, be asked,
IRE We following the only course that can
ring Us to that end Are We living in
devoted, faithful obedience and giving our
elves up without reserve. now, TO the will
II God? II that trying moment had a.
eady come TO Us, as 1t has to so many that
re have known and loved. could we meet it
without dlsmay7 Would there be no mis-
living engendered fy unrepented sins ard
reelected duties, 10 make u shrink from
ar lncarnate Lord nothing to hinder our
ull and absolute trust Ia His mercy?
The sermon concluded with an earnest
'ersonal appeal that the hopes Of his hearers
hould be securely founded on Chrst-all
ther foundation will be but a. the shifting
and, certain TO fail u in the hour OF death;