St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-20
POINTING THE MORAL.
Ministers Draw the Lesson Taught
by the Minnie Cook Disaster.

Ministers Draw the Lesson Taught
by the Minnie Cook Disaster.
The knowledge that several prominent
ministers would point out to their flockS the
lessons contained in the accident at Mime
tonka last Sunday filled those churches,
yesterday, with larger congregations than
usual. Any expectation, however, sof SEN
sational references to Sunday dissertation
were disappointed in every instance, the
pastors taking the ground that special judg-
mentS are not in accord with the divine
policy.
A STEP FROM LIFE TO DEATH.
DR.. IL. c. Hovey, at the Second Congre-
gational church, spoke from First Samuel.
Goth chapter, Sd verse: Truly as the Lord
liveth and thy soul liveth, there is a step be-
tween me and death. The introductory pOr-
ton referred particularly to the MinnetOnka
disaster, the reverend orator speaking as
follows:
The hand Of a mysterious providence has
been guiding the thoughts of at least 100, 600
people in one common channel. Weare all
mOurnerS to-day. Hard indeed would be
the heart which could view such q calamity
as that of last Sunday without deep and
sincere emotion. The details have been
given so fully through the columns of the
press and on every street corner that / need
not rehearSe them now. The main fact
that concerns us is that week ago ten of
our esteemed and beloved fellow citizens,
representing nearly every period of life,
from the little child of 5 TO the grandSire of
"a, were engulfed in the waters of Lake
MinnetOnka. The question arises before a
pastor, what lessons may appropriately be
drawn for the edificatiOn of his people. And
lnf ma fl,n hat 4 10 ,,a4,.
gard this event in the light of
SPECIAL DIVINE JUDGMENT,
except so far as mems consciences may
make it so. There is a sort of piety that
is always on the look out for marks of
Gods displeaSure, visited on other people.
/ regard this a very poor kind of piety
Christ rebuked such self-righteousness in
His day. The tower of Sloan fell and
crushed eighteen victims. Men said that
these were sinners above all other jewellers
i'll Jerusalem. Christ said. Il tell you nay;
but except we repent We shall all likewise
perish" And SO of the party lost in the
wreck of the Minnie Cook. They belonged
to a sinful race; SO do we. and God is no
respecter of persons. Highly as l value the
Sanctity of the Sabbath, and much as wish
it might be wholly consecrated to religious
uses, Irepel the thought both in the inter-
ests Of orthodoxy and from tender con-
sideration for the feelings of surviving
friends that an Almighty hand was put
forth from that terrible cloud to deal
wrathful blow. There is something worse
than death, and that is to live i'm a world
ruled by our Heavenly Father and vet to
feel he is vengeful tyrant. Let us leave
the dead in the hands of just judge who
makes no mistakes. Many eulogies have
been pronounced on those who have thus
passed away, and such hOnors can only be
won by corresponding virtues. Thus ten
derby would l speak of the dead, but to the
living voice comes forth from the bosom
of this sorrow saying, Prepare to meet thy
God" Memory is busy in an hour like this
bringing to mind moments when death
knocked at our door and then passed on.
The brevity and uncertainty of life is the
thought contained in our text. and is. in
my opinion, the most emphatic lesson
taught by the calamity under consideration
TO those who stand on the borders of eter-
nifty the longest life is but brief
ONLY TIE vEsTIBULE
of viewleSs worlds, whether of darkness or
of light. He who obeyS Gods will and has
faith in the Son of God. is himself Gods
child and though he may realize that there
is but step between him and DEATH the
true meaning of that saying is. only step
between him and heaven. The divine way
must often be mysterious in our sight. and
yet God is love and that love may be man
ifested in death as well as in life.
Instances proving the love of God and IL
Illustrations of it were given and the speaker
gave his concluding thoughts as follows:
First-A religion worth cherishing at home
should be carried with us on our Journeys
and voyages, whether for business or pleas
ure. This was specially applicable at this
season OF travelling for summer recreation.
The Christian carries his religion with
him everywhere because ii is his life. Ii is
not something within him, or something he
wears, but his life itself.
SecOnd-The duty of praying for those who
are exposed to the perils of our rivers. lakes
and seas. There are at least three million
sailors and at least as many more who are
on the seas as passengers.
OTHER SERMONS.
Rev. DR.. Peter Stryker, at Andrew Pres
byterian church on the East side, preached
last night on The Lessons of the Hour.
having special reference to the Minnetonka
catastrophe. The principal thought to
which he gave expression was that in the
fulneSs of life Death lurked in the inn
mediate vicinity and was the reverse of
every bright, happy picture. 1t comes like
thief in the night and man should watch
and pray constantly. 1t frequently hap
pens that death dashes away the cup of
happiness just as it is being put to the lips
DIR. c. w. Merrill of the Pilgrim Con-
gregational church repeated his sermon,
From Jerusalem to Rome, by request yes
terday morning, and preluded it with a
reference to the disaster and the lessons it
conveyed. Several other ministers referred
to the same thing briefly, but generally
touched only upon the calamity that had
come upon the city.