Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-25

The schools OF science. but the puer-
ijities Of Independent personal theology
fail 70 command respect, or attract
permanent interest. No wonder churches
are empty where there is no worship.
enly the preaching Of sermon, and
that cheap literature Of the fimsiest
sort.
Whatever be your estimate OF tho
value of the old orthodox faith, you
know little Of the bones Of the New
England body polite il you fail to re-
cognize the importance, in their lorna
ton and growth, Of the pastoral office
in the church Of former days. Old MIR.
James, of Easthawpton, on Long Island,
had himself buried in front Of all his
people, that in the resurrection he
might stand up facing them as they
rose, and challenge all, saints and
sinners, to dispute that he had done
his duty to them. He was fair
specimen Of the pastor Of old days.
Such a man was power in commu-
nity. lie had for himself an I'M
changed and Interchangeable standard
whereby to live and die. He brought
his people up to that standard as we'll
as he could. Were the people any
boiler in those days? don't know
that they were; but they were better
members Of society, and better citi-
zens; they had respect for authority;
an ingrained sense Of subsection to
moral law; constant remind
ing that independence of thought or
deed was disreputable and abominable
if it dishonored God or disconnected a
fellow-man. They revered God more
than now, and honored the minister as
His minister. 1t is a great thing for q
people to be taught reverence for any
thing. They we'll knew that standard
by which the minister commanded
them to live. They never
heard him say, Ny idea, after much
study, is that the chief end of man Is
to do good to his fellow-men, and get his
reward for the good he does, and no no.
tice to be taken Of the evil he does"
He was a high churchman, obedient to
the law Of his church, whatever its
name.
As write these lines the form and
face Of one and another of those old
time priests Of the Most High God
comes visibly before me. They were
unlike in much, alike in the browning
characteristic Of their lives and labors.
In this one represents all.
do not speak of his profound learn
ing or his fervent piety. His power
was in his grand faith. He lived near
a Master whom he obeyed. Humility
and pride were well mingled in his
character. When he prayed. OF a
Sunday morning, in the full con-
gregation, he and they were bowed
very low. When he poured out
the words OF praise he and
they all together believed that the sound
of their voices was heard among the
voices of all the ages, and of the angels
and the morning stars. He preached
as one with a message not his own.
There are old men living who have not
forgotten his sermons, heard when they
were small boys-will not forget them
forever and ever. He was mighty
man in the Church and mighty in the
community. There was no doubt, no
hesitation. no doctrine Of probabilities
in any Of his teaching. Whatsoever
might be mems uncertainty about hu-
man law, about electricity, about crops,
about the next election, about the count
less things of this life, there was in him
and his teachings an element of GER
tainty, an absolute, indubitable system
of truths, firm, adamsntine foundation
Of belief which was gloriously attract
i've. THUS saith the Lord - was no
theory Of philosophy, no speculation OF
a human brain. 1t was voice out OF
the future, out of the past, out of the
il. finite, as true as existence, as solemn
as the vault Of heaven, as clear
as sunlight, and ne one doubted.
None can estimate the Importance
in a community OF one great certainty
among .changcful things and thoughts.
For more than half century he was
the guide and teacher, the leader, and
guardian of his people. .
Four generations Of men and women
were educated in the faith in which he
went to his rest. There are some such
men left--not many. This October
sun shines on the graves Of thousands
of them, gone to God, from this coun-
Try. They we're the men who made the
country what it is. 1t is rare thing
in our travel experience to find a man
in the pulpit who tells the people that
there is any absolute certainty about
the future life. have heard in sup
posed orthodox church clergyman
preach, as his final conclusion after
much Bible study, that the future of
mankind is either heaven or annihila-
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