New-York tribune., 1879-04-28
CHURCH ANNIVERSARIES.
THREE COMMEMORATIVE SERVICES.

THREE COMMEMORATIVE SERVICES.
THE pry. O. n. FRoruINGHAM RyyIHwS A MINISTRY
OF A SCORE or YEARS AND SKETCHES THE
PROGRESS OF FREE THOUGHr-A HISTORY BY
THE REV. DIR. TYING, JR., OF THE CHURCH OF
THE HOLY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF MIS-
eIONARY SOCIETY.
In several churches yesterday anniversary exer-
cises were held. The Rev. o. b. rockingham, IN
closing ministry of twenty years, spoke OF the
reasons for his separation from the Unitarian
Church and of the progress of free thought The era
of indivlduaism and destruction. nc said, was
near it's close. and the era of construction on a
new basis was near at hand. The history OF tho
Church of the Holy Trinity from its foundation M
teen years ago was reviewed by the Kew. Dr.
Stephen II. Tying, jr. Anniversary exercises OF the
Seamen's Missionary Society of the Protestant
Episcopal Church were held at the Church of the
Heavenly Rest.
REVIEW OF A TWENTY YEARS MINISTRY
The Rer o. D. rockingham at Masonic Hail.
The Rev. O. B. rockingham preached his
farewell before sailing for Europe yesterday
morning his congregation, which meets in Masonic
Temple Twenty years have passed since ne became the
pastor the con gregaton and he SAID he would take
that opportunity TO speak OF the PRINCIPLES, purposes
and aims orpreacher and people during that period
When your minister took charge OF this congregation,
he said. You known Unitarian Church, and
your minister known TO belong to the liberal branch
OF that chnrch-o the school Of Theodore Parker He
represented not stationary church but which be
heved In progressthe future rather than the past He
believed that the Unitarian Church defective in Its
theology; that there single article in her creed
without fatal defect. Your minister made no
secret OF this belief. But there came
time evil time, I think - when Unita-
rans determined to organize where they were. 1t
necessary that there should be an intellectual basis
OF organizaton and statements were made which COM
mtted the church TO creed 1t then seemed good to
minister to separate himself from the church with
which bo had been connected and TO stand aono and
for ten years past this church has been independent
connected with church organization, bound byno
creed. We stand the ground OF transcendentalism
With Parker aud with Emerson we believe that truth
comes the ind vidua heart and that man devo0pes
through his intellectual life IL was noble posi-
tion and nothing but nobeness OF character and Of life
could come out OF it. Was 1t Baptist minister OF
Boston, OF unquestioned orthodoxy, who when asked
where Emerson would 20 after death. replied, 81 will
not undertake say. Ny creed forbds to say he will
60 TO Heaven, but everything forbds that he
should go to hell for II he were there Its character
would be chan yed. and 1t would not be hell" So long
this doctrine understood In purity, nothing but
genteness and purity could proceed out but when
kind OF seaseron takes the place OF earnest
thought and study, then indiyduasm becomes license:
then the great deeds OF the world assailed by vu
gar hands and the noblest structures OF the past
torn down. never to be built up again.
Therefore 1t ia given to say you that the of
ndivdualsm is its close and an era OF Organza-
ton, OF construction basis is at hand. Where
shall look for organization the foundation OF
which may rebudi The Roman Catholic Church
II the greatest church that upon the earth
but reminds OF the middle ages of darkness and
superstition. It is Of the past 1t is impossible
that the world will ever be what it was 800
think and read The old church is making desperate
efforts IN England and America but do not fear it.
little short of detestabe. yet believe the oldasn
ioned piety, that spirit OF babyhOOd which lacks courage
that s'uks through the world spy IN an enemy'5
camr-will find refuge IN that old church.
Shall look to the Protestant Church. 1t is an
nothing than a misnterpreted Bible Its founda-
ton book which Tor the last hundred years has been
through and through thoroughly that not
Of the genuineness Of single chapter Its theology has
earnest minds that have ever lived. They
have undermined the very foundaiions Of
with the book fall 1t is neither Of the old
the new The past and the future struggle within IL
and are tearing 1t 10 pieces. Professionalism be-
e m reason never tree thought 1t set
The refuge the oidfashioned picty win be in the
old church. What will become of'the reverence,
and builds Oh ideas II will not to Rome. to CALVIN.
to Luther, to Wesminister, or to Chauning, 1t has
another future; IT must have another foundation;
There are always uneasy souls who detest creeds and
will not open tue book These will Increase more and
aud will como ont from the chuTches-spiriual
tramps What want Is something like a denOmna-
tlOnal organization Will not a creed. We
must have some intellectual basis some common ground
which all may stand | am not prepared
what; do not know but believe that the time
is not far distant when all who wish to work for hui
manity shall have some common platform which To
work. AS grow older am more and more impressed
with the importance of doing good. This is age OF
transition am not cOnceited enough to believe that
can right anything which is wrong but this do be-
lieye that any who means to do good in the
world cannot fail to make some eOntr button to the
world / have done wnat could 10 throw here and
there CLEAN OF light in the darkness make crooked
ways more straight, TO make wrong things right,
to hold up faith and courage Some OF yOn have been
with me all these years; you know what have meant.
believe all who have heard me have given credit
for honesty or purpose, and trust they will Justify
themseyes-not In my way but In their way. Let
them never give way to doubt despondency; let
them he ashamed 20 doubt future years shall he
better than those last twenty The speaker
may be silent forever, but the eternal will always
live.