The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-12-20
A HERO AND HIS FATE.
Rev.NA. J. Van kWagner on the
Freedom Of the Synagogue, the
Press and the Pulpit.

theme, OF Mr.. Van Wagner's sermon last
night so sharp a contrast between the
subject oi the two preceding Sunday even
ings and that of last evening, might have
been expected Ia somewhat reduce the
character and size OF the audience. The
immense Ihrong which filled the church To
bursting on the nights when mairimony
and marriage were the topics oi the
preacher, was absent when only Stephens
pure faith and heroic death were the SUBJ
ject. The church was veil filled but there
was room for one or two more.
Mr.. Van Wagner said that every hero
had sci an example for hundreds more to
follow. When Arnold Won Winkelreid
seized the Austrian spears, and gathered
them to his bosom, CRYING Make way for
liberty ~ he oniy furnished the example
which hundreds of patriots were TO imi-
tate. When Florence Nightingale gave
wounded, sick and dying in the hospitals
and upon the bloody fields oi the Crimea,
she vas only doing that which
hundreds OF women were To do
after her. All nations, all peoples
and all times have their heroes
But it Is OF hero Of free speech that de-
sire To speak tonight. There was one who
rose IN the synagogue at Jerusalem and
spoke in favor OF Christ Now Christ was
not very popular at that time. and those
who put their faith in him were scofied at
and prosecuted. Accordingly, when
Stephen spoke in favor of Jesus he was
thrown out of the synagogue, down a
precipice, and stones we're piled upon him
until hs was dead.
There should ne free speech and free
thought in every walk vi lie. A man
should BE- allowed perfect freedom OF speech
and thought at all times and at all
places. Because a man differs with YOU
l. no r, aSon that YOU should hate him, and
Infiict upon him kind OF petty persecu-
ton. In the synagogue a man should have
the perfect right of Tree speech, no matter
what he saws, ii it is within bounds. And
in the church, because one brother Processes
the new theology, and another brother sticks
to the old. that l. no reason why there
should be chickering's and I'll concealed con-
tempt OF the one for the other. / believe
III the utmost freedom OF speech. Ii there
are those who are irving To tear down the
church. infidels. free-thinkers, and the like.
don't hight them, don't try to muLLle them.
IL u the worst thin. that Won can do. Thai
* WHY sav. Give Mr.. Insersoll
perfect liberty L. empty himself"
Ii persecution j. begun against these men.
they will soon have Disciples and follow
rs IL powerful and a. unruly - them
selves. When the preachers of ~. Louis
lately called meeting, and hired law
yer. ami considered the proprietv oi ar
re>tin" lnger>oll they did wrong. Ii would
he the worst thing they could do. The
best WAY tU tight the enemies of the church
is L. let them alone. There should he
liberalIty ant laryene>s IN the churches,
ami perfect freedom. Don't saw that yoa
cannot have anything Ten do with this or
that brother because he goes step beyond
YOU in hi> belief and in the tenet> of the.
More advanced religion. 4 preacher should
h, allowed the greatest breadth of opinion
AMI the greatest freedom ri speech. Ii he
l. afraid of the opinion OF Others, and ii
he breaches in a manner calculated IT,
please certain people in the church whose
cen>ure he fears. or TO please certain pew>.
he j. unworthy his high office IL was Tor
this freedom and for teaching advanced
ideas OF religion that DIR. Swing and Dr.
Thomas were dragged and thrown cut OF
their churches. For wears they have
been trying To drag Beecher down for the
same reason. The press, within due
bounds, should also have the greatest
freedom.
Who can ever forget the picture ri
Stephen lying there AT the bottom
oi the precipice, his face covered
with blood, looking to heaven, the victim
of persecution, and saving, Father, for
give Ihem?' There was among the per>e-
cutors young man whose appointed duty
il was to- take care Of the cloaks of the ell
iers. They had taken their cloaks off so
that they wonld not be- hampered in throw
ing the stones down at Stephen, and this
Young man was chosen to- stand guard over
them. This youth was Saul, aiterw ards
the apostle Paul. lie regretted his part
of the persecution Of Stephen as long a. he
lived. Everywhere throughout his writings
and epistles 10 the churches, this regret
and sorrow is apparent. Never do that
which YOU will regret afterwards.
The most heroic souls in history were the
eleven devoted men who went forth To
preach the doctrines OF the despised Jesus.
They were great examples of the vindica-
ton of free speech.
Every preacher in the pulpi, has only
God TO account 10. He is responsible To no
one else. and it matters little what NAV be
said oi him by man. When Stephen spoke
in the synagogue he was not afraid Of any
thing his enemies could do. In his diving
moments he looked only to God. And that
is the only place the teacher and interpreter
of Christ's religion need to look, for to
God alone is he responsible.
No matter how willingly the BAzoo
would give this able sermon in full,
wan, oi space forbids more extended re-
port. An effor, has been made To give the
substance OF the discourse, however. Ii is
hard FOR the reporter to shut of without
again mentioning the sweet singing OF the
choir of this church. Nothing sweeter
since churches were, has been heard than
the selection, Golden Years, rendered by
the four sweet voices al the close ri the
services
Everybod is using Browns Iron Bit
terS and evervbody IL ,stoniShed al liz