National Republican., 1883-05-14

thinking people in all churches have put
away this thought from their hearts. 1t re-
mains in the creeds, and has place in largo
degree in their minds. But il is not among
the practical working convictions, and that is
the reason why so many people, nominal be-
liovers in the doctrine, are found in all the
churches. To illustrate Those of you who
have been in the country and in the pastures
have noticed how close tho rich succulent
grass was cropped, while the clumps of
poisonous weeds stood untouched. Why was
it2 Because God gave these creatures an in
stinct by which they could discern what was
good for food. God has not done less for man
than he has done for the BEAST And so you
may turn people into these great pastures,
and the men and women who are honestly
striving to be what God meant there TO be
will reach out for something TO build them
up in manhood, and the poisonous weeds
stand untouched; and sweet succuent, whole-
sope grass Is selected, assimilated, and they
thrive and grow fat upon 1t. You have seen,
too, in pastures that were very poor, with
fences around them, where IL did not seem
that the sheep could get q living at all,
the sheep working under the fence and
reaching out into fields around for the
good living not inside the fence. 1 am
inclined to think that the best orthodox peo-
pie to-day owe much of their happy condi-
| tion to grass from our pastures. DO not think
that we begrudge tho grass; we only object
to the way of getting 1t. The pasture Is free
and open to all, and there is no necessity of
nibbling at the good things in the cracks OF
the fences.
Those who are familiar with history will
know that in every nation where people have
held large and benevolent conception Of
God, they have been q large and benevolent
people and where people have been found
with q cruel conception of God, they have
been ready TO take the torch, or knife, or any
Notr n.Nf aH
cause which they deemed the cause Of God
We cannot attach too much Importance to a
sound theology in tho work of saving men
from the bondage of sin any moro than we
can place too high value upon science in re-
lation to the material affairs Of life.
This is an age when IL is needless to say
much of tho necessity Of studious habits on
the part of a minister. Never was the de-
mand upon him so great as now. He is
brought into competition with the lecturer
who puts the study of a lifetime into one or
two lectures, and goes starring" through
the country. Fortunately for the minister,
there are fow who make a speciality of theol-
Ogy. There are many who dabblo In IL sufi-
ciently to have q multitude of disbeliefs; (;
but there are few who work out for them
selves harmonious system of positive belief
This seems to be u doubling age, and people
take pride in doubling. / think there Is
nothing more hurtful in the world to-day
than this. There is need to encourage hon
esty in the pulpit II seems hard
which 1 belong. They keep back the
truths on which they are feeding themselves
because they are afraid that tho people are
not ready for them; and the deacon in this
pew keeps IL to himself, fearing that tho
deacon in the other pew is not as far advanced
as himself. l do not mean to say that the
preachers lie, but they keep back the truth
thut thau nnuht IN foil II ia hppanga thnv
have not faith enough in the truth, and they
are afraid that they will lose their usefulness
If they speak it. There is q great deal of
Judgment, of circumspection to be used
Pearls are not to be cast before swine. There
are many truths held to-day by intelligent
ministers that the people need-truths which
lie at the very root Of goodness and without
which goodness will never blossom and -four
ish in society. The fact that there are i'm
portant segments in the circle of truth is over
looked.
There is yet abundant room for light to
break upon the world touching many of the
most important questions of our individual
and social life, and nothing but the strongest
and highest honesty can open the door
through which the light may enter. This is
the business of the chhrch. If you wish q
leader ready to march against the foe, you
must always be ready to follow. Earnest ap-
peals ought to yield something beyond thrill
ing words. The earnest address of a leader is
of no avail IL there Is no army to follow the
lead into tho field Of battle. The church is to
bear witness to the truth in its organized ca
pacity by throwing weight as q body on the
side of right on questions of o moral char
acter. We are not to do evil that good may
come. l have seen many people who
favored the introduction of lotteries in
some form in the church festival or fairs.
/ have yet to find the first person to stand
up squarely and say, believe it is right
believe it is in entire accordance with the
Christian religion" and yet, to the disgrace
of the church, nine 'tenths of the people in all
the churches in some form allow it, If in
nothing more than grab bag or guess cake.
My dear friends, tho Lord is not served by
any such means. Any institution that can
prosper by such means had better die. The
world does not need it.
Lastly, If we would bear efficient witness
to the truth as church, there must be gem
eral witnessing by individual members. The
church will be what the individual members
make it. If there is a general activity, the
average of Christian character will be high.
Rev. A. b. Crash gave an interesting his
torical sketch of the life of the organization
which has so faithfully worked for the build
ing of church in Washington.
Rev. w. w. Currey then made statement
of the business enterprise, and referred TO the
future management of the church.
The choir, consisting Of Mrs. Annie Roemer-
Kaspar, soprano; Mrs. Il. r. True, contralto; !;
Mr. Fred. Knoop, tonor, and Mr. J. III. Key
ser, bass, forms one Of the best quartetts in
the city, and will prove decided attraction
to the church under the skillful direction of
Mr.. William Waldecker, as organist. The
music yesterday was of q high order and eX-
cellently rendered. The Gloria, Qui Tolls,
and Quoniam from Haydn's Imperial Mass
were given in the morning, and Mrs. Kaspar
at the oflertory, sang Holy Savior" by Mer-
cadante, in an exquisite manner. In the
evening the "Kyrie," from Haydn's Mass No.
3, and the Magniicat from Millard's Vespers
were rendered, and Mrs. Kaspar sang "The
palmsu