The New York herald., 1877-03-05
MASONIC TEMPLE.
MASONlC ILMfLE.
DUTIES AND DREAMs-sERMON By ME-. o. B.
FROTHINGHAM.

DUTIES AND DREAMS-SERMON By ME-. o. B.
FRoIHINGHAM.
announce as my theme this morning, said Mr..
rockingham yesterday before his congregation,
EQUITIES and Dreams am aware that the expires.
sion Goes not convey fully tho idea which wish to
present. but other form Of words to express
the thought more compacly l wish to say good
word Tor dreams; TO exat the mission Of feeling and OF
imagination; to create II can, impression Of tho
power and closcness OF that invisible world
which is recognzed-not by science, not by
intellect, but by faith, hope, aspirat,on-by
what We call tho imagination. Perhaps
cannot introduce my thought better than by
auson to recent society formed for the purpose of
epcouraging ethical culture. III have been rightly
informed II VIII have nothing 70 90 win .neoogy no
concern with problems, with God, OF providence, OF
the SOUL of tho hereafter. OF the higher relations OF
tho sup Beng, but Will deal entirely with hose
questions which arc open and patent Naturally
enough this movement comes from the lsraclitcs.
PRACTICAL RELIGION.
Tho religion OF the lraeliics has always been prac
teal 1t madclttle OF theology. In fact has had
no theology N the sense Christians appreciate tho
word Its eyes have ing to tho ground
the Kingdom have been visions of the Kingdom OF
heaven on the earth. most important movement Is
ths society; a noo important mission was never
undertaken. We give II our heart speed III II can
have ten times the success II Is likely 10
have the deeper will be our satisfaction
And yet, IS tncrc not something moro wantineY
Contrast the services at Standard Hail with the SER
vices that held IN tue different churches They
elsewhere there Is altar; the place talk OF
theology, IN the other no talk OF any hing csc IN one
place all The discussions turn on duty III the other on
epeculati0ns ana dreams; in one place the thought
scarcely scars above The level of the ground In INC
other II scarcely touches the eround--scarccy deals
with any human relations, but scars continually into
the upper realms We como together, let me say II
with ali humility to discuss scientific questions,
10 discuss social questions We come hero to II
we cannot yet closer sight OF the secret OF existence
to see II we ce with our aith and hope those
final lines OF law which the coarscr hnsers OF science
ha gHie arrhn hg
depths OF the HIS concern Is to mud out what
the ocean OF; he would know what sort OF crca
lures beneath the dcep-wbether large or small,
beautiful ugly; this Is his whole task with all
sidcatons spccting The ocean he has nothing do
The merchant. taking commercial view OF the sea,
regnrds II simply as passage from shore To snore Hc
Is concerned IN what goes on boncath The surface
nc is only Interested TO know how he can the most
switty pass from continent TO the other. The poet
s,ands the margin OF the same ocean, To bim 1t rs
u matter OF pure indifference how large or how deep
the ocean Is. Neither does lie care at all about the
mercpant's venture. He surveys II by his Imagination.
Winch s tho correct OF the ocean, the view OF
The man OF scieuce who searches its depths the
OF the business man. who explores It's surface or tho
view of the poet looks into the hearty Does not
the eye Of the Imagination see as nucn, see as clearly
as citner OF the Othcrsy
ratc Two authors who describe society In human
characters One looks at men and women rs they are
IN fho relations whiGh they sustain TO each other lie
gathers and groups all human creatures as naturalist
gathers aud assUrts tho leaves IRON trees abd say
.I.ct us see what We have hcrc lie ooes ho' change
their relations fancy how they inght behave under
other relations lie paints the picture o human beings
,ust as II is We say Is an idealisL NO; he is an
sctuaIist His business Is 10 observe ana dcplct them
as they actually are at this prcsept nomcn.. me
o,her man does not deal with thugs as thcy are lie
tr,cs 20 picture how and women wou'd ochavc u
exposcd TO other circumstances. Hc looks ocnean the
smr,acc and sees other capabilities when, under
o,tar circumstaDccs would display dincrcni
ssuccts He. therefore. makes a composition
pic,urc We cali him seDtimcnta'sL NO. nc - az az
much "A rcalIst the other nave uIA"" n, ."''p"
SON m this presentation between william Makcpcae'
Tbackeray ana Charles DIckcns Tbackeray Is an M "c
insIst Dickens an idcast--both artists Dickens Hai
scen moro OF to than Tbackeray; but his iden ~ "
say what might these men and women occome u M o~
pceed 10 different circumstances, and be paints ns ~.