The New York herald., 1877-03-19
MASONIC TEMPLE.
THE PROPHETIC soUL-sERMoN BY MR.. o. B.
FROTHINGHAM.

THE PROPHETIC soUL-sERMON BY MR. o. B.
rRoTHINGHAM.
"My theme said Mr.. Frothngham yesterday morn.
ing is the prophetic SOUL Ono of the old standard
arguments OF The truth OF Christianity used to bc
drawn from prophecy It was to tho effect that cer-
tain inspired men several hundred years before tho
coming OF the Christ distinctly predicted His coming,
described in plain language the Chrss character tho
conditions Of hts ADVENT tho work He DO
and the fate He appointed 10 suffer- The argument
would be strong one II the foundation on which 1t
rests could DO relied upon II 1t indeed
men, inspired or uninsplred, distinctly ioresaw
the conditions and details Of period several
hundred years advance of them-events in the
Of historical person that argument would be cx.
ceedingly strong. Unfortunately, no such prediction
ever was made If there clear predictions OF the
future they reached only very little way, and 1t is
questionable even whether any such can be found 1t
has, indeed been contended, and not without some
show of reason thero attempt ut historical
prcdct,on that the prophets claimed
any power, and IL only by reading into their
language that they could be made TO bear the Christian
Interpretation.
ruE COMING CHRIST.
Latin historian states that aOout the timc OF the
coming Of the Christ general anticipation prevailed
all through tho East that tho Dclvercr Nigh That
this anticipation should have pointed toward Judea
surprising. Nor Is 1t at all surprising that such
anticipation should have existed, Tor tnc East was
aud slavery Therc was never any rest there
Nothing remained for the East but horc
They lived upon conjecture IL was part OF their INTEL
lee ual constitution, aud this dream this anc patton
lasted IL was more permanent than anything else.
II outlved their wealth, their comfort, their pros
perity, their national distinction and political power
IL outved wars, slavery and countless depressi0ns
This devoted people has suffered III history as no race
the objects OF scorn, OF active. cruel persecution, ago
after age, at the hands OF the Egyptians, the Greeks
the Romans, and, worst OF all, the Christians. This
has suffered, agonized, tollcd, wandered
always upheld by this prediction, this prophecy.
1t Is surprising thing, and yet II IS not soil
tary In history. All people have lived prophecy
Quo oi tho last undertakings OF Charles Sumner
was gathering together from all quarters the
of America How clear and eloquent those
voices were And If we road over toe records Of
the early part OF our history how all great men
and women clingng 10 this great prediction. All
greatness is associated with prophecy All grandeur
connected with hope that looks forward TO something
better. Memory takes us among the runs that may
be beautiful, 0vcred with flowers but they are runs
Tho hisoran dwelling upon the graudeus OF the past
comes TO dIsbe ieve IN possibility oil any grandeur in
the future The scniimcntalis', dwelling upon the
beauties of the past iccs as II all beauty ended there
All great .ovcmcnls come from anticipating some
thing In the future. The child looks forward to being
n youth; Tho youth TO being a man or woman; tho
man or woman the larger timc when 1t shall be
fathcr mother, worker IN the social affairs OF hu
manily the father or mother looks forward the u-
turc Of tho child again The reformer lives on the
vision OF the golden age. Tho philosopher Is sure
OF Time coming when love shall supersede
THIS interior and indomablc push rcdecms tue race.
After treating subject some length The speaker
proceeded to speak o different prophecies
THE PROPHECY HOPE
was charming. 1t the prophecy not only of the
wisc, the great the learned but also Of the simple,
tho ignorant and tho unlcttered IL was the only
prophecy that never deserted U.S. rhc hc
continued, 'hopcs or he would not commit suicide.
We hopc against knowledge, against fcar against sor
We always hope ami yet hope IS only one oi tho
MINOR prophets after all IL Is indefinite 1t forctells
something glorious, but never what. or when, or
wherefore 1t rs only when VIC come upon conscience
thai strike upon one OF the mayor prophets. Con-
science must stand on something. IL cannot live
tho arr hv. 1t must Iecl the Rock Of Ages beneath
itself IL assumes the integrity OF the world 1t as.
sumes cause and elect IL Is SOBER earnest: grave
and earnest and always lets US the track which
II is running.n