The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-20
THE MILTON MEMORIAL.

THE MILTON MEMORIAL.
Archdeacon Farrar Delivers a Special Scr
mon in Connection with Its UnveilinG.
LONDON, Feb 19.-Despite keenly cold
northeast wind, coupled with frequent intsrmit-
tent snow-falls, a large congregation focked to
St. Margaret's Church. Westminster, to-day,
the occasion being special sermon by Arch
deacon Farrar, in connection with the uuveil-
ing. yesterday, of the Milton memorial present.
ed to the church by Mr.. G. w. Chlds, Of Phila-
delphia. The pew space was soon fully occu-
pied, and chairs were placed in the aisles to
commodate the late arrivals. The corgrega-
tion included Mr. Phelps. the American minis
ter, and his wife, Baroness Burdett- Coutts, and
many leading American residents The British
aristocracy was also largely represented. Tho
service was the ordinary lenten one, except
that the hymn before the sermon was Millions
"Let Us with gladsome mind praise the Lord,
for He is King" Canon Farrar, who preached
from Lamentations, iv. z. further emphasized
the occasion in his opening remarks. While
justly calling attention to the fact that he never
neglected to preach according to the church's
season; that year after year, through both the
gloom and the glory of the Chris
tian calendar, it had been and would
be his endeavor to dwell with the congre-
CATION upon each sacred anniversary as it
recurred, he plainly announced on this occasion
a departure from the usual practice, deferring
for week the usual lentsn exhortation. He
devoted almost the whole address to pointing
out the concrete lesson of Christianity as sx-
pounded by the noble life of Milton. spon-
taneous, generous and just expression OF ap-
proval of the action of the donor of the memor
ial window succeeded by an eloquent and
keenly appreciative resume of Millions life as
Christian man. coupled with an unstinted trib-
ute to his genius poet who derived inspira-
tion from divine source. AS the
discourse proceeded and the congregation
warmed in sympathy with tho impassioned but
well-weghed eloquence of the preacher tho
gloomy weather without cleared, and the win
try sun cleaned through the richly y-staned win
dows with which ST. Mnrgarets is generously
adorned, and glinted on the Milton memorial,
relieving the semi -obscurity of the interior and
illumining the impressive scene, in which the
worshipers mingled with devotion to the AL
mighty the full need of admiration Of Millions
Inspired genius which the preachers fervency
demanded. The Archdeacon spoke as follows
with reference to the Milton memorial window:
''Is has been my desire for twelve years to
surround this ancient and famous church with
noble associations to revive the memories or
nected, and thus TO indicate the relation in
which il stands TO the history OF England. To
commemorate events of recent days the mem
bers of the House of Commons, whose church 1t
is have erected the window which recalls the
tragic death of Lord Frederick Cavendish, and
memorials have been placed here to Lord Hath
erly the good Lord Chancellor; to Lord Farm
borough. who spent his life in the service Of
Parliament, and in token of our gratitude for
fifty years of almost unbroken prosperity under
the reign of a beloved Queen. The Caxton
uvid WAS cyau bv the D~ipterS OF London
memory of that great man who lies buried
here, and citizens of America, In their large
handed generosity and care for the great tradl-
tions which are their heritage no less than ours,
have presented us with that brilliant west win
dow. which Commentaries nothing less than the
founding of the world. But this church
may also claim special in terest in the mighty
name of Milton. That name is reported In our
register and here lies buried, with Millions in
FAINT daughter, that beloved wife-'My Late
Espoused Sant'-whose love flung one brief
gleam of happiness over the poets troubled later
years Once more we are indebted TO an Ameri-
can citizen for the beautiful Milton window.
which Yesterday was unveiled The we'll
counseled munifcence of Mr.. Chiids,
Childs. who has already enriched Stratford-on
minister Abbey with the widow memory of
Herbert and Cowper. has now erected
this abiding memorial to the great
Puritan poet Myself the debtor to American
friends for great kindness. l cannot but rejoice
that the Church of St. Margaret should furnish
yet one more illustrate of those bonds OF COM
affection which unite England to the great Re-
public of the West. and am glad that the pub
lie spirit of the church wRrdenS has assigned
from henceforth the of one pew IN this
church to our friends and visitors from the
other side of the Atlantic. There was some-
thing specially appropriate in the Milton widow
being the gift of an American, for the
United States represent much that Mil
ton most deeply loved-the commonwealth
which. failing in England. in America gloriousiy
succeeded; the Puritanism which, crushed in
England inspired vigor and nohleness into our
kin beyond the Paradise Lost was the one
English poem which the of the Pilgrim
Fathers loved. and which, unit, Longfsllow in
spired New England with fresh sense of the
sacredness of art and song. alone tempered the
ants by those who sailed In the Mayhower.
Some of Millions dearest friends were closely
connected with American history. Sir Henry
Vane, the younger, to whom be addressed the
sonnet 'Vane, young in years, in sage expe-
rience old Vane, wLo has been called 'one of
the greatest and purest men who ever walked
on the earth to adorn and elevate his kind, en-
igrated to New England il 1885, aud was
elected Governor in 1886. Roger Williams,
the apostle OF soul freedom, the founder or
Rhode Island, is mentioned with enthusiastic
affection by Milton in his letter to the denoese
envoy, and in letter to Governor Winthrop,
Roger Williams incidentally remarks s'the sec
retary of the council, Mr.. Milton, for my Dutch.
poet. Mr.. Whittier, who has written the lines
for yonder window, most justly SAYS:
1.-The new world honors him whose lofty plea
For England's freedom made her own more sure;
Whose song, immortal as its theme, shall be-
Their common freehold while both worlds endure
beams illumne all, from twilight dawn till per-
feet day"
THE RUSSIAN NOTE.