, 1879-04-13
DIR. LOR1MER.

j THE NEW PASTOR OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
| Boston Advertiser. Aprsls.
Ihe departure OF the Rev. Or. Lorimer from
Boston is matter of regret to all OF us,-the loss
is bg no means confined to the congregation il
the fremont Temple, OF to the members of the
Baptist communion. The clergyman, whoever
he may be, who speaks every Sunday two OF
three times to 5000 people together, has very
| great power for good or for evil. in this case
half that congregation are not merely hearers.
! They are united in church order and make q
strong organization Of intelligent and conscien-
tlcus people, ready and willing to carry out the
impulse which such teacher may give. And
the teacher, In this case, is not only a public
speaker OF singular eloquence, hut faithful,
studious, unselish man, Of wisdom equal to his
opportunity, and ready to do his utmost what
ever the e1lgency may be. To lose from among
the leaders in society one 50 deseryedly respect
ed by all as he is deseryedly beloved hy his
friends, is indeed matter of general regret.
1t may perhaps be said not to be our affair."
but we take the liberty to suggest that it ia
worth tie while OF Intelligent men to CONSIDER
whether 1t be wise to put On the shoulders of
lorimer retfres from in the full flush of his sue
CESS. He has been here long enough to be we'll
known. His deep-seated popularity is not the
popularity OF newcomer. He can presume,
Aait! W tAE aAeCtOu an4conslQef8t1on OF hosts
OF friends. Yet he leaves an attached parish
whom be loves, not as the phrase is, '.for a
larger field Of duty" but for smaller one he
is oVerworkcd where he is. No mans strength
can stand such demands. Is it not q fair CUES
ton which asks whether system is wise which
throws such burden upon successful preach
erl
We trust it may not be improper il VIC say
that Or. Lorimcr's reputation, SO firmly estab-
nshed, IS in itself reproof to what Is we'll
enough called "sensatlona1ism u in the pulpit.
His ministry has been the unaffected, unpre-
tendin: ministry OF 8 man willing to make
himself OF no reputation If ouly he can
truly serve the cause he has embraced.
Ihere has been no aprlauding advertisements
There has been no effort for ssArst-rate
notices " IN the journals There has been no
voice heard III the Streets There has been
simply the frank, courageous discharge Of reg
uiar duty,--in the way that he found BEST
with an evident disregard Of the popular whim |
or the fashion Of the moment. 1t Is such dis |
charge Of duty which Is rewarded, for 1t must |
be q reward, by the constant presence Of !
crowded congregations: and. now that be leaves !
US, by the certainty Of the regard Of thousands,
who have. perhaps, hesitated to speak before.
Dr.: LorimcE's little book On the history Of the
Baptist body "17,e Great Conflict" showed |
how careful and how diligeut the scholarship
which goes to the making up Of great public
speaker. Perhaps it surprised, iu the range Of
ts research, those who had not heard him often
But those who had knew that those striking
addresses OF his are not made commonplace, and
hat rhetoric is. the very least element IN their
oower- The people who have heard him often |
luow that they would have been thus quick
med and moved, II, at the same time, they had
Tot been instructed.
Our Chicago friends gain in our loss, as they
laye way OF doing. Dr.. Lorlmer carries with
i'm great wealth Of regard and respectful re- |
1embrance.