New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-17
THE FUNCTION OF THE PULPIT.

me KtU Dr. Reese AlSop at ST. georges Episcopal Church
The Rev. Dr. Reese +. AlsOp, OF Phiiadel-
rha preached yesterday morning al st. Georges Epis-
copal Church. at Rutherfordpace and sixteenthst He
took his text John Xxx, q and %: "Then satin
Jesus 10 Thomas reach hther thy finger and behold my
hands and reach hther thy hand and thrust IT into my
side and be not faithess but believing And Thomas
answered and said unto hun: My Lord ana my COD
DR. Asop is OF medium height. He has strong facc
with noticeaby dark eyes and clearly cut features lie
read fom manuscript but did not adhere to it closely
His voice was clear, and musical. 1t was DIFF
hcut 10 follow the preacher until the tones OF Ills voice
became somewhat familiar. He spoke in substance as
follows:
Conpcuous among the sicknesses which Jesus healed
o. He moved among the children OF men was palsy.
Recall one very striking case. He was teaching In an
upper room In Capernaum. The roof over HIS
head was broken and couch was lowered before
Him On itlay a paralytic. The word of power was
spoken Arise, take up thy bed and walk" With that
came fife At once the man arose and walked
It's token Of what Christ can do in another sphere.
There is palsy which falls upon the soul Ii has well
been called paralysis of faith. II sometimes TO
the nobles 1t clouds the clearest vision 1t
rrostrates the purest devotion Such stroke It was
that to Thomas at the crucfxiOn OF our Lord In
hin he had believed the Messiah. When then 1t
seemed him that Jesus had fallen, and fallen utterly,
dead and buried what wonder that his faith fell with
HIM He separates himself from the rest OF the disci
pies and is not with them in the upper when the
Lord reappcars They find him and tell him the glad
news. But there Is palsy upon him. Except" he
shall see in His hands the print of the nails and
put my hnger into the print OF the nails and thrust my
hands into His SIDE, will not hcleve Do not misun
derst&nd him. His word is only the utterance of his
detection week passes and again in the midst stands
He whom they have known 50 well. Aud now the Mas
ters eye falls upon him who has doubted. think his
doubts gone already He does not need the proof
he demanded JOY faith and alteration find uterance
the cry " Ny Lord and ny God" We miss the deepest
lesson Of this scene If We suppose as do That
Thomas applied the tests he demanded What is
taI 10 Hth III one person III another seems unneces-
a when once The soul sees OF hears Christ its former
Demands are forgotten. Its paralysis il gone.
This episode then in the history of Thomas repeats it
self IN the life of many and many another Some sudden
Kind OF literature they have listened the questions Of
qlestoners and the doubts of dOubters till to them there
mathematics even, which Is not followed by its note OF
Interrogation. They feel that only by some positive
demonstration can they ever be lifted into the old belief
kenan claims in his L of Christ than any resurrection
which asks belief ought call assembly Of scientists
10 M judgment upon it, and at their request TO repeat
Itself over and again The demand is made
WIN irreverence II Is the state of mind that asks for
above that despair yriads by clinging
@their demands but by coming into different, higher
STATE OF mind IN which they have been able 10 fling them
away There is lesson here to the truest function,
ne INCHES, power Of the pulpit There can be no doubt
any thoughtful mind that the Church stands to-day
pennontng vast amount OF scepticism. Now much OF
tls seepcsIn Is not triumphant defiant but sad thor
cagly intensely sad. II is the mood of Thomas feeling
mai Ne shall never believe again and mourning III secret
over bis lost faith How shall meet this doubt which
should the pulpit he made theatre OF controversy
eha sermons be filed with discussions OF scientific
,Ohs some controversy IN fitting time and place there
nould be- The faith is nationally defensibe down 10 the
et 9ruee sun for most pulpts, think there Is more
excellent way.
Phillips Brooks says: If you are going TO help men
lO are ministers 1t Will not probably be by scientific
utpoo0f OF nateralism Ii will be by a steady live offer
spntual realities. may know nothing OF speculative
= spprehend, the great function Of the pulpit. That
I'm sgh viii conquer the scepucsm Of to-day Lecky,
a. us history OF RatOnaism, describes the enchanted
OF an old Irish legend 1t lay for centuries shrOuded
~ Ntkheks, In the midst OF gorgeous city, TIL some
careless hand left open the door that had inclOsed il,
s Snu the morning sunlight flashed upon its waters.
Immediately IL responsive 10 the beam, II
merged the city which had surrounded 1t and It's
RESTLESS waves chanting wild music heaven rolled
"a every human heart there IL spring like TO that
hahled WELL and II be that the spirit of the age
sone and sealed 1t down with mighty slab while all
aronnd II scepticsm has built cunnngly its defences
=, here nothing TO break the spell Aye there il.
sVihe power shift that slab little open through il
@ and through that opening let but beam from the
~ VI righteousness fall upon those waters darkng in
s e gloom let but the Christ look upon them, and 10
y are alive; responsive to His LOOK they move they
cue covering that would hold them down They sweep
why the barriers which would conne them and, chant
elr glad music TO heaven, they pour forth tide to
aouen aud beauty the life that shut away from the
'Aee OF God, has been barren.
The EDUCATION OF THE BEAUTIFUL
M Beseher al plymouth Church, BrookIyn
mf. beecher had bunch of the earliest