New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-05-28
ROBERT coLLThR on TIE BRlDGE.

The Rev. Robert Colyer made the opening of
the Brooklyn Bridge the subject OF his sermon Yesterday
at the church Of the Messiah, Thirty fouru-s lie chose
his text from the Apocr, pha taking the 10TH verse Of
the xth chapter OF Second Maccabco lie wont about
to make bridge 10 certain strong city which was IN
habitcd by people OF divers countries"
" would touch the Bridge" he said, "as one OF the
MODEST cations OF the manhood of this New World
one more answer done in iron and granite to those
who suppose the American man has become vain IN bis
naginaOn- when lac is called upon TO do his most Sc
rous work. ana that protesting be wise have become
10 say some who write books about Us occasionally
but looking at the Bridge toll them it IA not true when
I the wonderful Blac1frlars Bridge across the
Thames first, said This is the Englshman bis mark
IN the third quarter OF the nineteenth century; a reyea
lion OF his sturdy, broldDaScd manhood and when see
this Bridge 1 know that this IA the revelation OF
lighter and moro ssOm manhood resting deep on mas.
sye foundations but swinging free and tough as blue
steel tempered In OIL. 1t Is the American his mark IN
the fourth quarter of the nineteenth century The Eng
lishman builds by weight aud glrth. loads ON bIs
structure all 1t will carry. When the first Eddystone
Lighthouse was built II was massive that the builder
laughed i should ike to see the storm that would
knock that down. and he did it, and fell with It.
himself When second still moro massive fell the
fantheared cried No will ever build a house ON
EddystOne' But Smeaton came and working by the
hight of The divine truths hidden in geometry, wrought
upon the base Of his tower Except the Lord build tbe
house, they labor IN vain that build lie tolled
as Gods foreman, and carved 'Laus Deo' ON its
top when It done. Tho thing rocked and
sIayed to every storm. but it is built 90 true that n
stands to-day not moved hairs breadth from the limo
he reared IL on.
The American too, puts iron aud granite into his
without stint know no more noble vorl
earth than the laying of those rOadways and Let bo
carp who will, 1t stands honest IA piece of |
toll as was ever wrought by laborer Of God
when Thomas Paine first got his idea of the susnen.tn
bridge from the spiders swaying between two |
wigs upon misty morning he went TO London with II
and was greeted with contempt. But Americans looked
It his design and said, That's just what We want the
Jther side. LOndOners called IL all gossamer bit tho
Americans said they did not want to make their brIes
AIRY more weight than needed. Stephenson agIcJ
Sh them; Paines bridge ho said would always rrnYi
model ana unriFhlled. Paine TO the most nnns
ng presence at the opening ceremonies no was tie trne
MONITOR this side OF Chlna OF the great work The story
II his life Is pltiaDy sad Azrac and the Devil on0,
many hard battle over the body OF the wayward ,n
)u his soul would still turn slowly ike ina son -
he and OfyrOn, ana OF Burns TO the eternal tSt
)f TRUTH aud right itself whenever II swung free 49,"
The Bridge has kcptaliYe the remnant OF rho old tn
superstition That when great work was taken in bnnd
)uT best mans HE went into the Bridge and IA much ~
lis sons - the great Powers high could spgre Yo,
ia remember how IL was Oitcntmes limited that Tho ~
vent gu but slowly and that would be we'll for ti
nalincd and broken men to retire on pension ana iat
the complete his work but for one thank 1od het
VS. nave not the shame Of having acquesced IN mo s
eston to face aud to hama down to our children a}r