, 1884-10-14
ELOQUENT Discourse.
Or. Nswman's Sermon Sunday Eve
ming on Character,
And Its Relation to Happiness in
Earthly Life.

ed on Sunday night. Every seat in that
large ediace was taken and the aisles
were filed with chairs. In the language
of theatrical people. there was standing
room only. The audience was refined and
intelligent and one of which any city
might be proud. The occurrence was the
sermon of Rev. DR.. j. d. Newman, the
eminent divine, and the services were n
unionofthe Presbyterian, Congregational.
Baptist and Methodist Churches. A
marked feature of the evening was the
singing by a mixed choir selected from
the churches above named. All were in
good voice and sang with taste and ex-
preston. The hymns chosen were those
which gave them a fine opportunity to
display their vocal powers and the selec-
tons were well rendered, especially the
solo of Mrs. Masten, which captivated the
audience.
The opening services were: Reading Of
the Scripture, by Rev. DIR. E. S. Chap
man; prayer, by Rev. Charles Eldridge.
Rev. Charles Sanders then arose and in
troduced the well known divine, Rev. DIR
Newman. of New York. 9.
Rev. DR.. Newman then spoke to the
audience. Before giving a synopsis of
his remarks a description of the clerical
gentleman will not be amiss.
He is tall, a very giant in size, with a
large, well-possessed head mounted on a
pair of broad, square shoulders. He is
about 60 years of age, remarkably well
preserved and straight as the proverbial
arrow. His hair is iron gray with a
tendency to badness. He wears no
beard except a small pair ofside whiskers.
He has a prominent nose, grey eyes and
well modelled features. He was dressed
in a suit of lustreless black and wore his
Prince Albert coat buttoned closely across
his chest. His subject was Character,
and its relation to happiness in this life
and the life to come" and his text was
Hebrews l2-l4-"Without holiness no
man shall see the Lord"
Lack of space will not permit anything
except a brief synopsis.
Something's we cannot define. No alb
stainer would risk his reputation in de-
6ning light; no biologist would undertake
to define life. Some had defined the eff
fects of life, but none life itself. No
statesman could define civilization; yet we
know what is meant by light, life and
civilization. So it isl with characters.
His definition of character was what n
man is in his modes of thought, passions,
appetite and totality-
Character was three-fold hereditary re
sponsible and energetic. 1t was trans
INVISIBLE from parent to child. He be
lieved in evolution, not that taught by
some, that his ancestors were once mem
bers of a geological garden, but in an
evolution of character. He stated that
outside of Christianity all efforts to make
a man better, have failed. Some of the
greatest intellects, have been the greatest
monsters and have always gone down to
dishonored graves. The speaker stated
that happiness sprung from character
and must flow out of the man. The hui
man heart should be to happiness what
home is to the husband. Remember that
home is the scene of the greatest joys and
griefs, and therefore it should be a
sanctuary. Angels may kiss the children,
may take away the beloved wife, and make
home a scenee of d~esolation, but when all
has passed away but God is the great
comforter. To heaven must we look for
a noble character, perfect happiness and
for salvation.
DIR. Newman also preached to a large
audience in the morning at the First
Presbyterian church, and it is needless to
say that the sermon was able, vigorous
and instructive.