Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-11-30


TUESDAY EVENING, NOV. 90. leoo.
Pastor and People.
We have read with great interest and
the sermon delivered by the
Rev. DR.. knight at the close of the third
year of his pastorate over the st. James
Episcopal parish. Its literary merit is
very great and its thought is strong. In
part it was devoted to an explanation Of
the changes he had made in the mode OF
worship and the causes of them.
And for every change he was
able to give an explanation that
had force in it; whether suficient or no,
not being of that household of faith, we
arc not called upon to judge. Evidently,
however, the forms Of worship had not
been cautiously adopted, nor without
reason that seemed sufficiently strong to
the rector Of the church. Evidently he
is a man of strong convictions and strong
mind. And what he thinks ought to be
done, he does, if it is in his power. He
regards himself as the shepherd of his
flock and does not hesitate to lead them
as he thinks they should go. He takes
very advanced ground in considering the
duty of the church members to follow
their pastors lead, warning them to be
careful how they "speak Of the service
or the sermon" and that they should try
to forget whatever defects may he in
either" and "to remember that the
clergy are the ministers Of Jesus Christ
and whatever may he their faults or fail.
lngs, that they speak here in His name
and by His authority" Doing which,
obviously, the members Of the congrega'
tion are bound to a very close and blind
obedience.
Probably DIR. knight considers news
paper criticism of the doctrines of a ser
mon to he impertinent :; but if so, Of
course we are not of that opinion par
ticularly of a sermon which has appeared
by authority in the newspapers. We can
not agree that it is anyone's duty to b
silent about what they have heard il
church, accepting it as the word Of God
That would never do. 1t cannot he .
fact that all preachers words ar'
thus inspired, for we certainly be
lieve that there are as many fool
among preachers as in any ether pro
fessiOn among men. 1t is very undem
Ocratic doctrine to declare such implici
acceptance Of the opinions OF any man
The Almighty has given to each individ
ual Il conscience and a judgment, and h
is responsible for his use or abuse Q
them. lie is not at liberty to surrende
them into the charge of any keeper
Another mans words command his al
legiance only as they seem to him to b
wise. He is right to consider and dis
cuss them to see whether they be wise
No free man can I've expected to refrai
from criticising another mans word
because they are found in a sermon
and the argument that the sermon
God-inspired makes no stronger fO
such doctrine, than the fact that tn
mans judgment is GOd-given make
against it.
But we do consider that the churche
would be greatly benefited if churc
people would put greater restrain
upon their tongues than they are in tn
habit of doing. They are by no mean
so conspicuous as they should be for Il.
manifestation of charity and good sense
Many of them seem to love to find fault
and never to be SO happy rs when criti
cizing their pastor. Such people regar,
him as their slave, to he judged by thei
judgment which is certainly as grea
an error as that of the pastor who al
sumcs to do all the thinking for his pee
pie.
Fashion must change very much whel
church folks do not linger as they 60 out
to greet one another; seemingly yer
innocent thing to do. Dr. knight oil
jects to it for reasons which logical
would bring his people to his churc
clothed in sack k-clOth and closely veilet
If,in their coming, their staying and thei
going, they are not to be distracted b
worldly thoughts, then even the brigf
sun of heaven and the green grass of cart
need to he covered from their sight, q
we'll as the velvets and furs and feather
the bonnets, jerseys and jewels that cove
the brilliant lambs Of the flock VIII
sit under the rectOr's words but len
an eye, in the intermissiOns, to the beau
tiful things about them. Let them talk
good rector, let them talk, as the coul
try fashion is, when they are dismissed
else bag them up from head to heels
there is no middle way.
Mrs. Polly Hopkins.
Mrs. Hopkins again to-day has some
thing to say in her homely but good
tempered way. 4 good many peOpl
want TO know who the good lady is; fol
getting that she is not a person of t.
day, but OF the future; no doubt 81,
exists, since it is only five years heEc
that she is supposed to speak but she
quite 4 different person now from villa
she will be then. Her most intimate ac
quaintances would hardly recognize j