The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-06-15
SERMON.
Amusements.*
BY IRVING A. sEARLEs.

II
at once more interesting and instructive than
the one that traces the development of this
doctrine. The first stage in christian ascetl-
cism was the hermit life. Men and women
Withdrew from society and lived in caves and
dens Of the desert. One man, when told tina,
he had fine voice for singing, took vow OF
silence and spoke to no one for thirty years,
One lived three years in the bottom of dry
we'll. Many Of the saints would eat but one
meal day-iust enough to keep soul and body
together The famous Pillar Saint goes alone
This is in the form OF pyramid and is several
feet in height On the summit OF this structure
this hermit lived, through storms and through
sunshine, through night and through day. lie
would occasionally descend and gather q few
berries and then return Immediately to his
living tomb. He became but mere skeleton.
His garments rotted nearly off from him. Upon
his diseased body the worms fed and historians
| say that when one of the creatures fell from
his arm he would pick it up and placing it back
ON his arm say; "Eat what God hath given
thee" People would make long pigrimages
to see this devoted saint,--one who had the
resolution to leave society and live like that.
This was Religion
The sermon Of that age took It's coloring
from the same theological idea. The sermon
dealt in dry points Of doctrine that the preacher
nor no one else in this world knew much about
The preacher coul d discuss, " How many feath.
ers in wing OF the Arch Angel Gabriel" but
to preach practical truths that the people could
take home with them and live out during the
week, was regarded rank heresy. The result
was that christians took up their cross" and
went to church and heard a sermon, while the
non-church member went hunting or fishing.
The saying "Dry as a sermon" came into gen.
eral use. II preacher 30 studied Gods word
and human nature as to make his sermons in
teresting, the word Hereto" was written
upon his brow, SO that all good people might
shun him. The rankest heresy was to 30 preach
as to keep people awake
The same style OF thought placed the preach
or himself aloof from society. The world be-
came divided Into men, women and ministers
The minister was cross between angels and
eral feet above the heads Of his hearers. Up
the winding stairs he would 20, shut the door,
and there he stood boxed up from his congre-
CATION. They could see only little OF his
head. IT was sacreligious to have him stand
down near the congregation, man among
men, fighting the same battle that they were
fighting, looking forward to the Same reward
which they hoped to WIN. His dress, too, must
in some way distinguish him from others.
Iaa linz ota ~
not to wear side whiskers, it would make him
look 30 worldly The result was that young
people rather see almost any one else than the
minister come to their homes. remember
that used to run and hide when saw the
preacher coming. The very sight of him made
me think OF funerals, collins and dead bodies
About the last stage in the development of
christian asceticism was the establishment of
the monasteries and nuneries of the East
The hermits formed into colonies, took VOWS
renouncing the world and all intercourse with
society. The Church of Rome still adheres TO
these institutions
Over against this doctrine place the state |
ment that our social nature Is not to be ignored
but properly directed. "Use this world, as not
abusing it," This implies that there is law
full use Of this world for the christian. We are
not, hermit like, to blot out our social nature |
Some Of you have seen Central Park, New York |
Years ago there were lodges OF unseemly rocks |
running in all directions. The city authorities |
went out there to look at the grounds and con-
slider the propriety OF making there beautiful |
park. But they said how shall we remove
those rocks 1t will coet an immense amount
Of money to do the required blasting. Indeed
that is impossible. But when the landscape
gardener came, ho said we don't want to get
rid OF those rocks we don't want to blast them
out OF existence. Plant your vines and flowers
near them. They did so, and you now see
flowers growing upon the rocks. The rocks,
instead Of having been blasted out Of existence,
are made use Of. Central Park to-day would
be Invested OF one-half its beauty were those
rocks removed. Christian asceticsm says blast
out mans social nature. 1t is of no use. But
proper says do not seek to ignore
that part Of our nature, but cultivate it, prop
erly direct it, let the vines and flowers be plant
cd, "use this world, as not abusing it,"
great English writer has said that tho sin
of the American people Is overwork and under
rest. We are in hurry. When we travel we
go by steam. When we talk We use the tele-
phone or the telegraph. We do not write the
old fashioned letters any more, but take
postal card, jot down two or three lines, and
conclude with the stereotyped remark, Yours
in haste" Charles Dickens gave the people Of
this country a good hit when he said that in
hundred years from his writing the Americans
would have patent-rght portable stomachs,
The merchant would not have to leave his
store for dinner, but could send his stomach
home to be filled while.he remained in the store
dealing out goods! The American people need
less Of this hurry and more rest.
Young people will have amusement. No
theological dogma will entirely hinder this, AS
the boy said when the teacher asked HIM why
he whistled, 81 didn't whistle, it whistled
ITSELF; 80 human nature will have amuse-
ment despite theological barriers. A church
social whore few persons sit around next to
the wall grinning ct each other will not supply
the needed amusement. Satan understands