The New York herald., 1877-01-22
MASONIC TEMPLE.

wIsDOM--sERMoN BY REV. o. B. FRoTHlNGHAM
''wisdom is loving spirit" quoted Rev. o. b.
rockingham yesterday morning. These words arc
found in the book of Eccesaslcs, aud were written
somewhere about three hundred years before the
ing OF Christ The book is characterized by deep
earnestncss Its key word, If may usc the term, is
wisdom. To wisdom ascrbed all the qualities that
IN the Scriptures ascribcd to religions kind OF
omnipotcnce. Wisdom 90 all things Nothing Is
from the eye of wisdom; wisdom is tho mirror
OF the Almghty's greatness 1t is the inspiration of
God Wisdom Is not learning simply, for learned men
often very much ovcrwise than wise. II s not
genius, for genius Is apt to be eccentric II is not
faith, for faith is built experience, rests on
observation, and only runs out long the firm
lessons which knowledge discloses. The knowledge
OF natures laws and Obedience to their demands
this la wisdom 1t Is practical spirit. IL deals
they Arc. /. inds some good IN tho lowest. Wisdom
is knowledge OF the world; but what Is the world!
The world is very vague expression. The world is
what we make IT, narrow mind has u narrow world
o broad MUD large world, and u thin mind ,hin
world The world to many consists IN eating. drink
ing and amusing oneself whose politics consists IN
simply putting certain person into certain place.
What is tho wisdom corresponding to world of such
dimensions. This world that has no wide sympathy
that demands heroism, escapes trouble suffer-
ing, and endcavors TO keep out OF the way OF dark
pericnces. The speaker contrasted conception OF
the larger world grander, higher, moro SYM
pathetic, hopeful and unse6sh, and reclted an
renee Of poor woman who, while sitting on curb
tho child frozen In her arms. II naturally produced
inquiry, Where the Christians in this Christian
city that could permit such thing to happens But
protest was confronted by protest. and one Of the
worlds largest and heartiest workcrs-one whose
whole life had been devoted 20 the attempt help and
comfort the poor and the sorrowfu-came and de-
clarcd that this oucry against the
the world was false cry The speaker said that the
heartlcssness and indifference which world decricd
occasioned because the conditions of lie had not
been obsorved-becauee had looked at things
they A really kind hearted person might refuse
to give aims to bcggars on the supposition
that thoy frauds and impostors and a
needing their request produced idlcness and
paupersm. The speaker remarked that the neglect 10
study the social conditions OF wealth and poverty had
begottcn apathy, apparently. which was hopeless.
The old system OF helpulness abolished; the
system of wise bcncaction had not yet boen fully
suffrage question and said that tho adjustments OF
women with our modern society was needed. There
complaints about II which must be listened TO
with commiseration. The question was how 10 bring
about new adjustment; how to accommodate the old
system with the He recommended that women
should accept what privileges werc granted them, walk
through every door that was opened for them
into larger plane. Little by little they would gain
footing. II would not be acquired by any act Of
not changed. They were obsolete by disuse. womon
must demand their place. and by earnestness and
severance work their way into society and assume
position.
The speaker closed his sermon by urging upon all
the study true wisdom, which would lift them upon
higher plane OF lie, and acting upon ncber prnci-
pies would be blessing to the needy and unfortunate
and finally convey them to brighter world whose
gates would be wide open to reccivo them