Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-10-25
pn1AWaRn, VIEW nrsnor.


n Eurnc congregation Greets Him
nnd listers 30 tsis First sermon.
Bishop Coleman was welcomed Sun.
day to his new diocese by large audiences
at st. Andrews and st. Johns Churches
where he preached morning and after
noon respectively. The nature of the
congregations at both churches were very
definite indications Of the extreme esti-
nation in which DR.. Coleman is held.
The choral arrangements formed prom
mont feature at both services. At st.
Andrews the bishop preached from st.
Matthew XVII, "a, "What ehall loo then
with Jesus"
DR.. Coleman said in part:
In the group Of men that gathered around
our blessed Lord, when all His disciples
had forsaken Him aud fed, and when the
ilnal and sad scenes Of His mock trial
ard shameful crucifixion were happening,
Pontius Plate has place peculiar to him
self He bad not taken any interest In the
theological questions concerning the mes
siahship which was so rife among the Jews
--he entertained no hatred nor malice
toward the persecuted Nsssrine. Indeed
the promptipgs Of his heart would seem to
have agreed with the mental conclusion
which be had reached, In favor OF His dis
charge from captivity.
But he was In a quandary caused by po-
litioal and prudential considerations. He
would f1ln have set the innocent and I'M
complaining prisoner free. Again and
again be tried to bring the populace to his
way Of thinking. Surely he thought they
will prefer Jesus to Batabhas. But when
they chose the robber he seid: "Wnat shall
l do, then. with Jesus, which Is called
Christ ?" He could not deem himself justi-
He'd In proceeding any further against him,
and yet he could not, for fear Of it's effects
upon his own prospects &C Rome, release
him. Hts personal Knowledge and obser-
walton Of Him had been brief, but 1t must
have suthoed TO convince him that he was
dealing with no ordinary person. Unless,
however, be was prepared to acknowledge
the claims tc the messiahship which Jesus
made, he felt that he would COMPROMISE
himseR In thwartipg the jews. We can
easily, therefore, understand Pilates per-
plexl,y OF mind when he addressed them
the inquiry OF the text, what shall do
With Jesus ?"
The preacher then reverted TO the con.
dition Of the question as II reours in the
mind Of Christendom at the present day,
"What shall we do with Jesus ?" 1t Is
the same question that presented itself to
Fesius and Agripps when Paul reproaohed
them for their RIGHTEOUSNESS and profit
eacy. II has haunted the thrones of the
CpsarH and the naughty monarchies of
Germany, France, and England of the
middle ages
The question has to be met manfulIy by
us ct tho present day.
1t will not suffice to say, as come do,
I'VE are not satisfied as yet of His divine
nature and authority ITO transfer the
question as to what we are to do with Him
from our souls to our minds, and TO post
pone the answer until all intellectual diff
eulties In the matter are settled. PLATE
4 tried In some such way to shift his respon-
sihitity by sending Jesus to Herod, But
Htrod sent Linn back. And so the mind
will send him back to the heart; and the
heart alter all must face tho Issue. II the
reason still hesitate and demand further
proofs Of His divine sonship, Of His being
the true Christ whom all men are to obey
not merely to admire, but to believe In and
follow--it must be- prepared TO explain how
It ts that Of all the names, belonging TO the
remotest periode, and to modern periods as
well, His is the only one given among men
Whereby they must be saved.
/ Serutinzed as no one has ever been be-.
\ fore or since, compared with all the worlds
worthless, His maxims and conduet tested
\ by every rule and method OF criticism, both
friendly and hostile; the extension Of His
sway combatted by the shrewdest and most
determined opponents, hell and earth COM
. hthNsN tNFF'HF'I W ifi1iNh nun NNfTNtiFNW
lin, nothing Las awaited 70 ram9ge Him
from cur midst.
/ Ihs pFssoheI Continued in asserting
that it will not be enough for us to say
We will wait and see what others will
do with Him who are as much interested
in the matter as Ourselves. We cannot
avoid cur responsibilities BY quoting the
replies of others. The matter is urgent
and cannot be attended to hereafter.
The bishop spoke pointedly upon the
extreme danger Of indecision. We must
recognize in Him the lamb slain from the
foundation of the world, the ''lamb of
God which taketh away the sins of The
world"
at st. Johns Church in the afternoon
Bishop Coleman preached to another
large congregation. He chose for his
text Mark TX 4347, SIT Is better for thee
to enter into life, &C." The sermon was
listened 10 with close attention by the
audience who thronged every part OF the
building. At the close OF the services
DIR. Coleman was surrounded by large
crowds of friends and admirers who evi
denced their esteem of Delaware's new
bishop in the most pronounced manner