The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-26
MASONIC TEMPLE.
THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN-sERMoN By REv.


O. b. ROCKINGHAM.
Ipropose, said Mr.. rockingham yesterday morn
ing as tho subject of my &seurse. The Whole Duty
of Man, The phrase is taken from Ecccsastes. q
book contains the strongest possible statement of
the variety OF human lifo' all Its relations Tho
Apostle Paul says, Eye not your own; 70 arc
bought with price," The popular religions adopt the
same words as motto. "Thc chief end of is TO
and love God and enjoy Him forever" The
heroes OF all ages have echoed the strain Aazzini
one OF the greatest heroes Of the modern world laid
himself his position, his power, all he was, all he
capable OF becoming at the service of faith and love-
In language quite worthy OF being classcd with the
literature OF the Bible he speaks Of tho solemn duty
laid upon every human beng not 10 think of himself
at all but TO offer up everything to the Greatest
Mr. xooDY's DOCTRINES.
Tho whole duty Of then, according to this doc
trine, is 10 serve God. THIS is lao down duty
clearly specifically, absolutely, not simple form,
but as strict, positive and rule that lays upon
the conscience. the hands, the feet the body. Mr..
Moody would hardly be content with acknowledging
the spirit of the good fe-he must have the rule OF
tho good lifc II Is not enough that ono must
live for nigh aim he must have we'll
defined creed Tho prime duty is, according
this rule life with the purpose Of satisfying the
divine law. Whence came tn IS idea into our reigionsY
1t came INTO Christianity from Judaism. The motto
Scriptura book Of the Old Testament. With tho
ancient Hebrews II was an implied contract between
Jehovah ana the members OF Tue israen.lsa Cnarcn.
blessings to His faithful people here and hereafter
and, in return, lie expected from them certain re-
ligious performances They must believe Him. accept
His word, walk according TO His rule. Christianity
borrowed this idea Judaism. as 1t reasonable
SAID Frothingham alter lengthy dissertation upon
this point THAT every human being should set before
himself this supreme object OF future reward and mako
that the supreme end Of bis Ifcs We say" he con
cd Mt all mpn N "A pa IN .
how, then do We say that all men should become holyY
How should say that II Is The duty OF all men 10 be
good, happy2 Take the testimony OF lfcand the csti-
mony OF lfc honest SIMPLE and sincerc-thc testi-
mony OF human nature as Is We are very apt to say
should be- Yes, but they become what
they should be- Arc they not what they are
by KIND OF limited necessity Are we
with tho difficulties they have TO contend WITH DO
We them thirst after knowlcdgcy We do not
he men ami women who aspire are lew, and they who
do compelled from the very same necessity, MS
plant that turns toward the sun. George Thompson,
Thomas Ciarksou, William Lloyd Garrison--supcrior
specimens OF humanity--have reached the cuim
Mating point OF their majestic character by law
which they cannot explain to themselves; by pur'
pose which they cannot understand; by secret work
ing OF the split which somehow came TO them without
their aid.
The power OF conversion was in Augustine at the be-
! ginning, when wild and dissolue youth. He could
help being Saint Augustine than he could bell
being Sinner Augustine before. Here then. the tcst
niony OF life reinforccs the testimony oil reason II
Tor us to nrd out what nature man has and cher
mud out what q man should become. Our fault every
day Is IN thwartng nature. We say certain things are
| right or wrong, putting our own dcnEHon-paltry
cheap dcnnitor--upon them.
IL is said by some that all men live for pleasure Ii
one form another. II Is not true. Pleasure seek
ers are u class II Is very hard liio to lead. per-
son who undertakes to lead that life doomed for h'
! most part To get n narrow, acrd heart Equally wei
may you say the making OF money Is not universal
aim. rho people who make money, who have th'
| knowledge OF making means and ends conspire th'
power OF economy, are comparatively few. There arr
multitude oil people who would rather not have money
than have IT, who think nuisance to invest money
tor IL takes time, ard they want thcir lie Tor othe
things than TO make and 10 keep money. Neither u
fame tho universal object Ii is the object Of yer,
few There are not enough people who have ambition
How fcw take the pains 10 make Tor themselves
name There arc too many who have no regard 10
public opinion or respect They are willing to liv
rccuse lives TO turn the cold shoulder against the rc
A spcct OF their fellow creatures They ought to car
what the world thinks shall wc say that sclf-cutur
should be the nature and ann OF mcnY Alas you cal
count your hngers the number OF people whose ain
ssclculture Humanity said the speaker IN closing,
omniprcscnt, omnpotent, oninisccnt Honesty pos
the mind dis the heart cnIarges the
Inspires the soul Truth Is another human quit
Falschood Is never human: II may be justified, DIT
has to DO justified. Philanthropy Is nothing. Tn
Prime end and OF man, when IL Is born Of the ma
turc, when his heart burns with love toward his fe
low men. Then take of our hats to the philan
throplst bow tho knee before him and celebrate hfr
with pcaus OF praise but the business OF philanthropy