Morning journal and courier., 1888-04-23

not its necessary complement, freedom of speech. Yet now our history has borne for za the full sweet truth of liberty, anarchic disturbances shew that we may have to ad- just etill further this whole truth of personal liberty to other related truths of social or der. l pass by this most important part of our history as belonging moro properly to our civic celebration, pausing to make this single application of the history to those who sheer at the religious and social med- dIssomeness of those earlier times, and in the same breath make large socialistic de-
 mands upon medern legislation. Are they aware, these confident dreamers of the dream of enc happy seeialistic state, do they know how very paternal our early church-State was, and what secialistio demands were au- ticipatsd by those primitive laws concerning
 labor, wages and prices, the-s settlement ot strangers, and indeed almost the whole busi-
 ness of the community? And what has this
 secialistie church history proved? What,
 but that it is preferable, within tke limits of
 the self protection of society, to let every
 man mind his own businessl
 Rather than many of your modern plat
 forms of social democracy which lave read
 and pondered would take for the true creed
 of the relation of employers and laborers this
 article which JohR Davenport added to his
 confession of the great doctrines of religion
 wheH he joined this church: Concerning
 giving every man his due. That qnto all
 men is to be given whatsoever is due them
 in regard te their efioe, place, gifts, wages,
 estate and condition; endeayoring ourselves
 to have a conscience void of offense towards
 Ged and towards man."
 And that same nan who made that article
 & part of his covenant with man and Ged, ten
 years afterwards sought to bling certain
 questions and differences between himself
 and his hired farmer to an issue by refer
 ence to three arbiters. Thus early in the
 creed and the practice of the founder eff this
 church was the modern principle of arbitra- tion in labor troubles introduced.
 If have been obliged to turn the hour
 glass as often our fathers did while preach ing, you know not how much have spared you from hearing of your history. Yeu must suffer me, therefore, as bring this discourse concerning the past to Q close to leave with you two words of application with which fad my mind impressed as I turn now to- wards the future. This church belongs to this eonnunity. That is the first lessen for us of our history. This church, whatever others may de, this old, first church cannot live for itself alone. And in order that in all times to ceme this church may belong to this town as of old there is still foundation work to be accomplished. Our fathers be- gan by settling here two men in their minis | try and by seeking to endow the church ! which they established. In one of the first wills ever recorded in New Haven this church | was made residuary 1egates. As growing | city attracts people to build their homes in | its pleasant suburbs in order that in times | beyond your day and mine this church may still belong to this whole community in | growing fulfllments of it's history, it would \ be if even HOW we could resume that ! leng disused custom of the fathers and begin | again to equip the church with ample endow- meats for it's educational, philanthropic and ! religious werk fer all the people But I leave ! this suggestion to the thoughtful considera- \ tion of these who may have need to think how they can provide for their own and at l the same time serve God in their last will and testament. And finally, we have been I reviewing the history of but single church and during one limited period of history. ! But there is . larger sweep of historic forces and universal communion of believers | What shall be our Congregational contribution the full measure and worth of tito the holy Catholic church universal, the signs oi I whose coming faith may see even now ! upon the stormy horizons of our long day oi Protestant dissensiensf Of such as we have give we unto thee, O age more glorious te \ comet Our freedom of worship, our faith in ! the eonmon priesthood of believers, eul passion for truth, our willingness gained not | without sacrifice to cease even to be a sect fel the kingdom of Gods sake, of such truths ai thsse,which we:hRve received frem our fathers dear to us and sacred as their memories, ", | would give te the church of Christ universal- that enc final and true church of God int
 which all churches shall bring their glory anG honor, the spells of Christian history, tn,
 the riches of the sges, the crowns of victory
 to be cast before the Lord of all.
 II