New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-15
DR STORRs'S GREAT WORK.
roRry YEARS IN TIE PILGRIM ChohCh'
vu.r HAS pxsS DONE DURING HIS PAs'o"H

Il iee."
.n,,v.rsary sermon of the Rev. Dr. X o. s'orrs. OF
., .,.-o.x LARGE audiences listened to the
,r,.restinr addresses In the church nj henso" a""
u.nrv..ta Gu Thursday evening . recep''o" WV 20
n.,d nv Dr. ana MIRA storrs NJ sac parsonage u" ''e
p"nt-st .S.,., ~, ,hs
ork by his church IL the sstfor'y yes's
an, r,DdIv glanced at the changes which have taken
Mace In this city and Brooklyn since he was ca'eu
70 the Chnrch OF the Pilgrims In lo4o, nD
snu m inc world at large the last forty years
sermon II printed In full would cover two pases Oh
aud he rest he evening service Inc Iext va e
Episte tue Ephe-isn> H. 10 y now
WIN the saints aud with the household OF Col; an
built upon the fonads,on OF ,ns sss corn~r
stone om.Ali the building MY framed .oea,nes
sroweth unto a holy temple Ia the Lord III who'u ye
also are 6nidrd together. for a habitatiOu Of God
The susstanre OF the sermon ia o. follows:
My DEAR CHRISTIAN FRIENDS: The comple-
ton of ry Of continuous pastoral service Ia tns
church incires my thoughts to-day ana possibly yours
with a ratur impulse. toward rapid survey OF ~hst
the church has hitherto been, in It's unfolding LIE anu
power OF what has done sought to DC In service
TO the MASTER rhe changes constantly OCCUR ng
around usneyer before frequent impressive IN our
community in recent yearsadmonish us iorci"y .na'
such sketch by the only pastor whom the church mss
yet had. should not be deferred to some other ami
verssry wh,ch for him may never come
church constituted as dstneJ SnfisHa"
society in the love OF Christ and for the furthsrance or
His earthly Kingdom, by men ~ho moi only believed
His teachings reoicsd HIS Offices and worshipped HIS
person. who had tender and reverept o. nse o. te
sacredn-ss of The church essentially related 10 the
nauirs alton OF His life in the world. The congr-ea-
ton OF fat Iful men not simple human society
for ltcultivston in ethical philosophical KIN owledge
or even IN religious thought aud in the graces and
forces OF character
twas to them IL 10 the apostle by whom were
written the words OF the text 1t has beeu to u.s. the
living continuing household Of Christ; knit toxeer
and quckenei by faith toward HIM; endowed by Him
with the ricnes OF HIS truth AMI the treasure OF His
sacraments; IN winch sonay His discples.
&c Impair to tn-m besveni-r life than cart can Offers
before wuen He opens celestial gates. Sacred fellow
ships witu each other. supreme, transfer nng oon-
seriousness OF Bis presence oxung and inspiring wor-
sLlp with Joyful service IeTed TO HIS oause-thrso
were therefore the aims OF those who felt themselves
drawn by the motion His Spirit to form this church.
TIL, has always continued TO be what was al
FIRST household church, and impress OF the fact has
bcen apparent IN all lis his Org.
HE CHARACTER OF rHE PILGRIM CHURCH.
certain reserve has therefore characterized it, such
as nse common IN churches than II mas o"eu
OF te We have preferred to live In tile privacy secured
70 us and to do In special sphere without
proc amaon the families thus associated have by no
means wholly from New England or descendants
from the Puritan they been such only a.
had previously been accus omei to the Con1regauona
or Ter of worship.
Relatively, at least, this has been also permanent
ccD srecaiion. Morr twenty antilles al repre-
sruted among us which here when nrst stood IN
tails pulpit; while the number VI those 20 nave oe-D
here thirty Is o. course Vastly arer
Tnere /, more than beauty such comp rdtive
pernauence of CONGREGATIONS. persistent aud
powerful and moral force comes to developu ent witn
aud through it. mat this bias heen also harmonious
church hardly b. said; and the fact has beer
on the Que nsnd fruit on the other 1and source OF
the interior continuity Oi It's life. faoti0us minority
has never existed Many other h,rches have oeen
larger than ts and more comp caous nouol I, sny
Que can be found winch has ID nsplier co"eoruo'
feeling 80 lons aud So habtually prevalent IN IL
AS church o. affiliated Christian households TINS wa:
not rs ablls ed. and II Las not rxste as centrr OF
doclrna or ecciesasiical ptoagandSm; Tut Il
has auty honOIrd the faith III tue acceptance OF
which II was ioun led ana TIE special orr OF orsan@a
ton which at the outset adopted Con.ieg ttonai
church. orthodox IN d"cline while democratic IN p"ifv
distinct novelty mere when this churoh began
Characterization was associated, IN Tue genrIal
varey OF then odous Prrecuonist opinions IL was
widely expected thai tins church would soon become ab
surbrd in some abs ed aud commanding c0nmunob
preceding II on this ground; or hat u deVei"pihy "n
rs inrs, it would take the attitude toward ruch
conmunions OF rrpr NEE aud menace II Was ire |
QueLy Vested that is Confession oi Faith won not
br lons m.lnt nsd "ut int some atracV" mn Ne
said. erh.Ps. that such fears In either irecton we're
sSi hat no such fears justified by our history
that none sucb con nov continue
EVANGELISM AND ECCLEsIAsrrClsM.
We have not over alned any specls form OF church
constitution We have quito understood That no ar
guard the inner church life. The p'el"cal SYSTEM
which naturally up III the Elm pire afr the
posIoc time, and which gave coherence ana mutual
mari 10 the early has shown it-ef III
hi.tor, and In its OIL, POSITIVE modern development, 10
fatal sympathy with The system Oi doctrine Whlch sr
pc unlike the majestic aud tender MESSAGE OF be
Gospel the rIlded aud rurpled Alpine ice is unlike
the bloom OF summer gardens :. ,,
Even under tue careful restrictive limit atons on winch
Protestantsm iLsisis har Nv supplies substantive
support distD ty evangelical teschpe II accepts
an fn.trs art Of beauty IN connection with lis bull
Tugs; eAtont IL rnr hes CEREMONIAL aud adhs
sta -ness TO bc church oouncll- IL chords doubt
not suabe luidance IL the missionary enort o. com
nuniOn IT makes tie voluntary Withdrawal from u OF
CHURCHES more difficult and oonvulsive aud
sometimes IL gives higher prominence wider inhu-
to me aud strong character or 10 generous culture
But it seems unable t. exclude pnlpts either
Those Dir Giles as legends the Word OF God IA
on Tue o her hand copy the dress. emulate tue
manner, mimic tue ties, and covet the d0gmas q"
IN, teal doc Of soneey"d npon sacrtm-nts.
appe equally at home IN The shelter OF rs chauces;
wn- o. eIteut n common ri ual Ia maintained.
thih that ritual conflicting Opinions 30 aee ~a" Other
ID Sss Ir s %s ne to ee
recent SUI erhci Ihio'ophy OF donnt or sone.le OF
AID sconis tie Reformation or a clear and delightul
exhibition Of the Gospel The unity OF the ialth 10 |
largely aud eoaueny eUogz-n by the system. but it
the other hsud. uus' equally be admitted that
moro nearly tie New Testament plan. are liable also 10
be IL >id"usly Invaded iorciby overs~ept ny the
OF rash sp-cul on by the snbrr iDtrus
Ion Of that sceptical -pirt which begins vi doubt aud
ends fierce and wild denial The only real barriers
gansi either OF these be In the int- gent AMI
eIperencri faith OF the body believers Tue
til church life. undecavIR, inviDchle to assault
resi- Only on the grace OF the Divine Spirit
What carries disciples, choches connunons, bacg to
thai in simple strong reliance OF the heart Is like
ir 10 keep In accord with the Master ana ip the
ial fellowship of the faith
KLxMgNrs OF THE CONGREG iTIONAL SYSTEM.
While honoriDg therefore, the scheme OF church order
which we have Inherited we have 10 feud With any |
otDer We value. for ourselves the democratic equality
Of members: the open church meetings for important
tue wholly unhndered conference OF minds
IN the weekly religious assemblies; the liberty
IN selecting and arranging forms o. worshp the
care Irovison intelligent church discipline. win
the strict dcfeuces OF rights the limited trusts
al m ofrc