The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-27

len delivered the following memorial ser
mon upon the title THE Man of Faith.
TExT-sThese All died in faith, not having
received the promises. put having seen
them afar of, and were persuaded OF them, and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on
the earth.'' He6retU His.
The long and painful suspense is over. The ma
parently unanswered. A food Of grief and sorrow
sweeps over the land, as the midnight bells, fanc
never the sound of bells 80 sad. solemn) rel
United States the latest in the succession OF heroes
and patriots, saints and martyrs. Oh God, must III
ever be that world shall prove itself unworthy oil
those whom thou dost send unto us for our deliver
ance and salvatons May not one such, not only see
out receive, the promises? Must offenses come
The blasting OF hopes, the disntesration of nations
How long, oh Lord, how long must thy coming bel
Is r,e me % earx ta f %et may na
oe silent. Justice to the dead fathfulness 10 the
living, require that the truth be sought for and]
spoken. Holy Ghost the comforter, come and give
as peace Holy Spirit, guide and enlightener, CONT
md direct our thoughts. and conduct to right con
illusions
Among the large and expressive words of language
words which contain whole world in themselves
aone out rank faith Yet is there no word which
las been robbed of its true glory by being made
10 stand for things small, often so untrue Ii IL
lutte refreshing 10 read over, occasionafy fi.fI
Eleventh chapter OF the ep,stle to the L. 81
where the great names, and great deeds, of Heufew
history are recalled as representatives and ilustra
lions of faith.
The one principle to be deduced from this chapter
u.s. that all that is great and good in human character
md human history is from rootfaith.h 1t is o.
quality looking in many directions, prompting to an
infinite variety OF actions, yet look which way we
nay it is always in the direction of the highest truth
md good act as it will its action is always sublime
t is limited by no creed, by no sect, by no place on
country. Its developments, ike its ends, are uui
yersal The heroes and Generators, great teachers
and hberators of all nations, have been men of
Faith; and because men OF faith, friends OF God.
nan can ascend higher in the scale OF true great
mess. than TO be man of faith. No man is so del
graded so ut ery unworthy of his nature danger
to- fQfxy hn h0 ia M
man WHO is devoid of faith Is, essentially, bad
man; while on the other hand, the man who has
faith is. essentially good man.
the apostle says: 'These all died in faith not hay
hng received the promises, but having seen them
afar off, and were persuaded of Them These
words reveal the intellectual element in faith
Faith is not, many suppose, blind, unreasoninG
hing, superstition, vanity, but is the most Won
preston. To ''afar off, to be persuaded of
what is afar off. requires great intelligence which
implies a most vigorous use OF all the faculties of
intelligence, and that in lawful way. The prob
lens with which man is confronted as arising FROM
merous and very difficult of solution. They present
a constant appeal to intelligence, and furnish the
ield for lis highest occupation. and continuous ex
ercise. Like the nature OF man itself, they are in
hnite and can only be approximately solved; and
faith 1t is not absolute knowledge in the sense of
being capable of mathematical demonstration, but
knowledge founded ON snch high probabilities that
1t viii thus be seen that faith is the essential ele
ment OF progress. 1t represents the company on
those who have been contending for the highest
happiness and glory of man. the prophets and wise
men, the heroes and martyrs but for whom proj
gress would have been Unknown, present light un
attained. Wherever you find the meditative soul
the soul not content with the present looking way
on into the future, striving to know all the truth
ind the OF faith. Such work is too exalted, tod
too remote in its rewards, to he inviting
to any who have not been born again, who are nod
living in and for the spirit, who not making tne
highest and noblest of intelligence, through con
formity 10 all Its laws and the use Of all its meh
DDS, of induction analogy, and logic. "Afar Off /
1.-THE coming time 1.-The highest good and happi
ness of all, - such are the objects of faith. Mo-
sooner is result attained than another and high
er is sought for. 1t is disturber of peace only id
the sense of looking eyer for that which can aone
Inc element of loyalty in faith II holds fast to thai
which is good 1t rejects no true light which has
come to man, instead, holds fast TO it, is ready to-
die for it. 1t rejects only evil To be thus true to-
light. and opposed to darkness, implies an inteIi
gence which can discern good and evil o God
But faith not only sees and is persuaded" it
embraces" what is seen and has become matter OF
deep conviction; which is the same 10 say that
faith is not only logical, but affectionate, Sent
ment, passion working force of the highest orr
der. 1t is this element OF faith which has made III
which binds all who actuated by il
into brotherhood; which has perpetuated The sue
cession of saints and heroes which has bid deance
10 all forms of opposition and torture; preferriHg o
wander about in sheepskins and goatskins, inI
deserts and in mountains, and in dens and caves
Of The earth; being destitute afflicted and toment
ed, rather than to renqush element OF the good
which faith beheld. The faith which loves not isl
dead, being alone. The faith which sees. is per
5uaded. and embraces lis alving faith. faith that
will have works which viii enact the best insight
which will subdue kingdoms, work righteousness,
obtain promises; stop the mouths OF lions, quenchl
out of weakness viii be made strong, viii val
snt IN gst viii put 70 light the f arnies Of the;
loves nothing is possible TO it when love is want
ing. Without an affection commensurate with in ::
tegence faith is an impossibility. Intelligence Isl
quicRened by love, and love embraces the percep-
lions OF intelligence acknowledges itself bound tos
them a stranger and pilgrim to all else. No doubt.
faith is often mistaken, and love thus misplaced
But what is nobler than 10 seek for and abide by
the highest perception, to love 1t with all tneE
this direction only such are inevitable, and
therefore, excusable, They are glorious, even ius
their folly. To free one from the possibility of be
ing mi. taken, the end would need to be attained be
fore the beginning; we would need to be createdi
soas: instead OF men; mat Is Gods In the process
ions, because he has thought, and who has theE
courage OF his convictions the courage OF afeeton
for that which seems truest and besl, and you have
gwen all that is necessary to constitute represent
alive, relatively perfect man.
Thus defined, it will be seen that the world, al
nations have had, still have, many of faith i
men who work, and think and contend earnestly /
pe-sisteutly for the right; men who bear burdens,
who form the support, the pillars, on which thes
great temple of human society rests. Israel was
great because Of her great men and they were great
because of faith. All truly great nations have beens
made great in the same way. American greatnesss
S greatness born of faith. In the measure of ou
representative men of our history and has it not;
been very great: American history thus far stands
Hone in the history of the world Youngest of the
yreat millions, are what should be, greatest {
do not say this boastingly bat soberly, as mat
er OF just judgment l say it not reproachfully l
hat is, to condemn others, but to the honor OH
lfhePs as well as ourselves. Earlier times anGs
,ther circumstances would not permit of such az
work as we have accomplished. The way had to bel
made ready. America is the last and best proddCl
If all previous history. We are indebted all thez
past to all modern nations. These nations share INF
,ne glory. 1t is theirs as well as ours. We weres
born of them, and thus show their ten
iency. tendency only 10 be fully realized through5
where it could have full scope, complete and nat
lrai unfolding. But, notwithstanding our indeht-
.dness 10 other nations, and TO mere remote times.
,ur Chief obligation ID to those great men who havek
eted an important part in our history, impartings
lew glory to human nature through their virtues
md happiness and prosperity to the nation and to
he world through their achievements. These al E
lied in faith; living and dying they were men off
aith, and thus, of great intelligence and Of grea
tHection. They saw the possibilities, were sper-s
much for their own good for the good of others
~ should never allow party prejudice to dim ourg
'islon or bias our judgment. Without disparage-
nent to others, without Withholding from them ANY,
measure of the honor they have merited, think IL
nay truly say that. as natien, we have trinity off
.reat names WHICH in point of high virtue are un
;qualed in the history of the Notwithstanding
4incon and Garfield. The first, the Father OF hiss
rer and the third, let us trust, its sancteT Thesek
James are nov forever separated from the srife of
,arty, and are the common possession of all. In
lonoring them we honor ourselves, in dishonoringS
md be glad because of them. and hold them up as
models for the imitation of the young of this gener
ltion and of the generation YET unborn
The whole career of President Garfield all his pub S