The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-11


quiet beauty, not by It's blazing grand
eur; it awakened less awe, but inspired
mora confidence in the worshippers
gathered there than most churches of
its class, l will not say it was perfect,
for perfect is a word which must be
sparingly used upon anything which
man does or is. To me, however, it
was the most perfect church of its cost
and size | have ever seen.
There is an old church in England
which has pair Of ladders carved on
its side with angelic fgures-referring
to Jacobs vision doubtless represent
ed as passing up and down them. In
my imagination l have seen ladders
raised against the walls of the Church
of the Redeemer and angels ascending
and descending on them. Jacob called
the place where the angels appeared
''gate of Heaven" If there was spot
on this earth where l should have dared
to put up the sign ''gate of Heaven it
was at the altar of the Church of the
Redeemer. The sight of this church
Amounted my eyes and cheered my
heart always. In my frequent walks
or rides along the city 1 naturally, al
most unavoidably took a street leading
by it; 1 involuntarily stopped to ad-
mire its lofty walls, its stately tower,
its harmonious windows. In sunlight
or in moonlight, under fair skies or
cloudy skies it was ''thing of beauty"
and a ''joy forever" What hallowed
associations, what heart his stories be-
long to that church? Lost, but not for
gotten Though burned to the ground,
the good it accomplished lives on.
But you must not think, my dear
friends, that my mourning in this way
over the loss of that church swallows
up my hope of the future of the soci
ETY., nor any considerable share of it.
You must not believe that am yield
ing to anything like despair. Since 1
returned, particularly since I have
learned of the hopeful meeting of the
trustees, of their determination to re-
duce this calamity to its lowest possible
minimum, since have conversed with
some of our people, and found how
firmly, heroically you stand under this
blow, the skies have cleared wonderful
ly and my courage has revived.
There are compensations in all mis-
fortunes. st. Paul said that he gloried
in tribulation, knowing that tribulation
worketh patience. etc. L confess 1
have not reached that high point of
Christian excellence which permits me
to glory in loss like this; 1 can, how
overland this is perhaps what Paul
meant-believe that great benefits
may grow out of any trouble to persons
who accept it in the right spirit and
try to rise above it. Much good has
already followed in the steps of our
loss. The kindness and sympathy
which have been awakened by it in the
hearts of this community have given
touching confirmation of the fact that
misfortune of this kind is likely to be
not wholly misfortune; that the rough
est thorns in our experience may bear
the sweetest flowers.
was deeply and gratefully impressed
with the Christian courtesy Of our
neighbors, the Congregationalists,
Unitarians, Methodists and Jews, in
offering us the use of their churches
until other arrangements could be
made. This was an act of brotherly
love delightful to think Of, and it has af-
fected us as no opposition could have
done. 1t has won yet more Of our love
for them; it has closed our lips, for the
present at least, against any complaints
we may have been tempted to make con-
corning sectarian narrowness and cold
ness. These churches and their pastors
have, know, been already officially in
formed of our obligations to them, but
/ desire on this occasion to express my
personal thanks to them for their noble
liberality toward us in the hour of our
great affection.
Nor can let this opportunity pass
without adding my thanks to those of
my associate, and to those of my con-
gregation, to the faithful firemen who
Iabored hard and labored long to quench
the fire and save our church; who, de-
flying cold and hunger, kept up the I'M
equal conflict until nightfall, yea, until
they themselves fell, in some instances,
in sheer exhaustion. 1t was terrible
day to them. They deserve the sincere
a d earnest praise of us ALL
Aud those neighbors who opened
their houses to receive whatever things
we're snatched from the jaws of the fire,
to warm and feed the workers at the
fire, of their kindness hear praises on
every side, and am sure that this en-
tire audience gladly joins with me in
grateful appreciation of their aid.
When great loss like this has hap
pened the practical question is: What
is left2 Our loss is serious one; but
what remains? God is left; Christ is