Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-02-25
Text of the Eloquent Sermon to the
ChiCkasaw Guards by Rev. DR..
Charles @. Parsons Of st.
Lazarus and Grace
Episcopal Church.
Sentiments Of Beauty and Words Of
PiOus WlsdOm-SerYices at st.
Mary's Cathedral and Ser.
mon to the Blaff City
Grays by Rev. DR..
Geo. c. Harris.

Yesterday was a day Of unusual inter
est in religio.military circles,a as it marked
the delivery OF sermons to the Chicka.
saw Guards and the Bluff City Grays.
At ten o'clock in the morning the Grays,
under command of Cspt. John F. Cam.
eron, and headed by fife and drum,
marched from their armory on Second
street out Poplar to St. Mary's Episco'
pal Cathedral, where they we're addressed
by Rev. DR.. George Harris. The church
was crowded, and many persons found 1t
impossible to gain admittance. Il the
the afternoon The Chickssaw Guards,
headed by Arnold brass band. and COM
manded by their captain, Gen. George
W. Gordon, matched from their armory
on Adams street down Main, Beal and
fernando to St. Lazarus and Grace.
Episcopal Church, where they we're ad
dressed by Rev. DR.. Chsrles G. Parsons
This church was also crowded to hear
the remarks by De. Parsons, who is rector
Of this parish, and also charlain OF the
Chickasaw Guards. Dr.. Parsons sp-
pearsd in full uniform, as did also
the company, aud delivered n of
the most impressive ermons we
have ever heard from the local pulpit.
His style was fresh, brilliant and deli
cate, his perception Of the subject being
keenly intelligent and full of vitality aud
vividnes5. In fact this sermon needs no
comment; it is a production of such I'M
usual merit aud uuquestionable propriety
that We give it q full synopsis, feeling
assured that the very apt and iudicious
excellence of the sermon viii be sufi.
cient explanation for the space required
for its publication. There is much in it
to study; all Of ii is worth remembering,
for every utterance is that of a heart
warm with ithe impulses Of a good man
and q Christian gentleman.
In it there is nothing of the cant, moth
ing Of the ra1t, nothing Of the esthetic
furore which too often pervade the ser.
mons Of able but o~yer.zoalous ministers,
whose theoretic piety so greatly detracts
from the effect OF well.intended but i'll.
delivered aud injudicious addresses.
Throughout there is o beautiful sympa-
thy Of fervid sentiment, an elevated sim
plicitJ Of style ard an elegant dignity OF
expression that will not fail to arrest the
attention and command the respect OF
the reader, whatever his creed or his
peculiar or general conclusion be. The
following is u synopsis Of this
ADDRESS OF REV. DIR PARSONS.
ALTHOUGH the fg-tree shall not blossom.
neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor
Of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield
no meat; the flock shall DO cut of from the
fold. and there shall be no herd in the stalls;
yet / will rejoice in the Lord, ( will jov in the
God of my salvation. "-Habakkuk, III, l7-lS.
It'll to me a matter Of profound graft.
6catiOn. gentlemen Of the Guards, that |
Am again permitted to speak 10 You 10
a corporate capacity. think to-day, as
| shall never cease TO think, with emo.
tions OF sincere gratitude, Of the occa-
sion when, ont Of your generous conf
ience, you established tina. relation be-.
tween myself and your company that
enables me from time 10 time 10 address
you upon subjects that are Of momen-
tous interest to the welfare OF your souls
and miDe. | like to talk to you, for
feel that it is the speech Of man TO man,
and / am sure if | come to you 10
the spirit of rigid fidelity to the vocation
whereWith | am called, ! shall be found
more worthy Of the consideration that
Aas been more lavishly, | fear, than de.
servedly bestowed upon me. / have moi
thought it necessary to read to you TO day
from the word Of God any Of those ae.
counts that are usually regarded appro.
priate under such circumstances as the
present, but the Lesson selected is from
one Of the grandest lyrics OF the Old
Testament. The entire prophecy oil
Hs5akkuk itself consists Of but three
chapters, but it is characterized by such
an unity Of design aud such complete
ness as a whole that considered simply
as a poem it merits attentive study. Sit
ting enid the desolation Of his country.
the man Of God mourns over the iuiquity
Of his people and cries bitterly 10 ID,
Lord for help. He is answered By a yis
ion Of the fearful vengeance Of III,
Chaldsans.' This Fouses 10 his bosom
that fiery spirit Of patriotism which i
such q magnificent feature 10 the char
aeter Of the typical Hebrew seer, and Il
a lofty and pathetic appeal to the DEITY
he eXclaims, Art Thou not from ever
lasting TO everlasting, 0 Lord, my God
mine Holy one2 We shall not die. G
Lord, Thou hast ordained them for iude
ment; and, . mighty God, Thou baq
established them for correction" As h
waits for an answer be is shown that b,
must wait by faith and prayer, and ther
q further vision reveals to him the 6vI
woes that shall be visited upon III.
Chaldeans, the narrative Of which i
doubtless the most CONCISE aud tqrribl
. series Of denuneiatioDs that vas eve
, launched against q sinful people. Thu
assured that his W people shall no
utterly perish in their wickedness, an,
{ that their oppressors shall be punishe,
for their rapaeily and cruelty and idola
q try, the prophet lifts up his voice in tbi
noble hymn Of inspiration, the prelator.
: verse Of which witnesses his humilit,
e and faith-"0 Lord, | have heard Tn.
< speeeh and was afraid 0 Lord, reyiy
4 Thy work in the midst Of the years, il
the midst Of the years make known; il
wrath remember mercy" admit 10 YOU
gentleman, that l am willing to hinge
d long, and ottsn, ss !, also, wish you Woul