The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-18
CHRYSOSTOM.
DIR. JOHN LORDS LECTURE ON THE CHRISTIAN
PULPIT.

DIR. JOHN LORDS LECTURE ON THE CHRISTIAN
PULPIT.
ssChrysostom' was the text of DR.. John Lords lee
ture on the Christian pulpit. delivered before a
large audience in Chickering Hall yesterday morn
ing. Chrysostom said the lecturer, was monk
without losing his humanity. philosopher without
forgetting the Bible In the desert he lay the founda-
ton of his future greatness and there did he form
taste for exile. But who can long thrive on root
dinners and aesthetics in cave? After six years he
returned to life in the world. Chrysostom began
active life at thirtyfour. preaching to the people
twice a week-saturday and Sunday mornings--at
break of day. Crowds focked to hear him. His
very voice would melt his hearers to tears.
Never since the pslmy days of Greece
has her language been welded by such a
master. He was majestic. sublime. graceful,
and in simplicity worthy successor of Him
who preached the day of Pentcost. Everything
combined to make Chrysostom the pride and glory
of the infant Church. aud perhaps the most remarks
BILE preacher who ever swayed an audience. He has
left to posterity over one thousand sermons. We
find in the sermons of Chrysostom no commonplace
and weak platitudes, such nowadays dealt out
to overdressed people OF society from fashionable
pulpits He preached on the old fashioned doctrine
of degeneracy. on the certainty OF retribution
and the influences Of the spirit. He dealt
not with tricks OF rhetoric. His friends
rich and poor. and he made himself great moral
force. He utterly despsed riches except as means
of usefulness. He was man acquainted with grief
and always accessible to those who needed consola-
ton. Few incidents in history are more impressive
than the manner in which he Quelled the rebellion
Antioch. The people closed their places OF bust
and spent days in PRAYER with Chrysostom, and
Antioch saved. 1t was sublime spectacle to see
this simple priest surrounded by the entire populace
looking to him their deliverer. He scorned SEN
sations and vulgar cant and confined himself to
sacred truths. There is no greater moral power in
this world. Worldly men talk of the power of the
press; grant that it is great but it's opinions are
contradictory The press Is an echo, not creator.
don't believe in those men who preach on nature
and aesthetic subjects.
Antioch was not great enough to hold Chrysostom
and he was summoned to Constantinople where he
made the highest prelate of the East being forced
to accept what he did not seek Scarcely he con-
secrated when he launched out in his invective
against the very court that sustained him. No one
could like a man who had no fayors to ask and who
could live crust of bread. Chrysostom lived
within his palace and dned alone. Rich dinners did
not agree with his weak digestion. His power in
the pulpit, not at the dinner table. Christ dined
with publicans and sinners; man must unbend some
where, but Chrysostom thought not He might have
retained his favor with the court had he been less
austere. The poor thought him as humble as the
rich thought him proud. 1t was not long before he
assaied. The first to turn against him
the Lord High Chancellor Even the sacred
cathedral did not protect him. and he was dragged
from before the altar. Jealousy was the cause.
heresy the pretext The Empress sided against him
and used her influence with the weak Emperor to
have him removed. He accused of high treason
and of having slandered the clergy. He con-
demned and sent into exile but the people would not
let him go. seasonable earthquake worked upon
their superstitious fears and he restored and be-
more powerful but not more popular than ever.
silver statue of the Empress was erected in the
square the Cathedral He ordered it removed
because the crowds who came to see it interfcred
with his services This defiance closed his career III
Constantinople. He was again exiled. but his writ
ings reaching the people he exiled to dis
tant part of the country. He died in the sixtyourth
year of his age martyr and one OF the great lights
of the world eXtinguiShcd.