National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-03-26
THE WORK ora UNITlRIIN cHuRCH.
A Devotional Sermon by Rev. Clay Nc.
Cauley.

A Devotional Sermon by Rev. Clay Nc
Cauley.
Rev. Clay McCauley, the new pastor at the
First Unitarian church, preached his intor,luc.
tory sermon yesterday morning, from the text,
Nehemiah via. II am doing great work..
He began BY saying that when NebuchadneIzar
invaded Judca Jerusalem was laid waste, and
Its people were carried to Babylon into captivity.
About nfty years after, under the reign Of Cyrus,
the Hebrews were permitted to return to their
country to try to re-establish their National Or
der. II was not, however, until Nehemiah b.
came their governor that their ehdeavors were
successful. He eonsccrated his energies to 1.-THE
welfare Of the people, and through him Jeru-
salem became again the pride Of Judes. Thus
success, though, was not achieved without great
difficulty.
As this is the fret Sunday of our relation a.
about the purposes for which this Church has It's
existence, and how these purposes shall be &C.
ss.IP,SSsG' and as ESdsS know Of nothing
successful building Of this our city OF peace is As
important as the re.establshuent Of the old
shaded that until we become like Nehemiah our
endeavors Will be as vain rs were the struggles Of
the Israelitee.
We must be able to say to every opposition, we
are doing great work and cannot leave 1t. We
are Church. Manis
THE RELIGIOUS CREATURE.
The supreme Being has placed witness Of him.
ditions mankind has endeavored to obey its
Ironptings.
present, though at that time religion rose no
higher than the savage interests OF Fetichism.
earliest period humanity has boon compelled to
act under divine impulse.
We believe that the religion Of Jesus. Christ is
the highest form Of religion: while We are con.
yineed that it is the chief source Of piety aud
e adhere 70 a great part Of the theology which
has been associated with Christianity.
convictions Of truth that we have separated from
them altogether. Our religion life seeks Jesus
worship the Fsthsr. Our inteiiectaal life believes
In the Father as the one God, allwise Creator,
reason and with freedom to seek for truth.
Being Church, then, We ase answering the
voice OF God within as; as Christian Church, to
tartan Church We are trying to lii ignorance
from the minds Of our fellow creatures by teach.
ing the gospel Of an ail:wise unity. Thus We are
this city 10 the Jerusalem whose walls We are
trying to rear as the walls Of salvation, and each
Of Us should DO like Nehemiah; rs earnest as he,
As answering In the determination to accomplish
our purpose, and as consecrated to our work.
now THE WORK SHALL BR DONE
And now, since We have seen what our work IT,
us understand that this work 10 our work, your
work and my work, and then let US devote our
entrxiesto u. Let US understand that this pulpit
Is not platform for q display the preachers
ability. 10 Is 4 source Of spiritual energy which,
drawing its power from the faith, ought 10 md =
Tree course from brain to brain, and from heart to
heart. Let us also understand that our Church
ought not to be only an assembly OF lecturers,
with no other bond than the bearing of some
preachers message. Let Us believe that each one
Of Us 10 responsible for the success OF our work.
We are doing . great work. As . Unitarian
to secure to mankind its best Prosperity lathe ia the
world and the world to come. Temptations and
pertls lie in wait on every side; but let US take
courage as We remember the rebuilding OF the
walls Of Jerusalem and the faithful Nehemiah,
who labored there. Our devotion cannot AZ the
best fail OF success. Thus we shall build city
ofpeaee, and At last, doubt not we shall be able
to repeat for ourselves the words Of tho ornings
lesson "rhe wall was finished, aud when the
enemies heard thereof they perceived that this
work vas wrought of God"