Telegram-herald., 1889-10-14

MEoL-s . l.-AL tD Ltlert NGo IdA lD0l
their Father aud his way al inspiration
o. every man WhO would md courage
amid lie, checkered and troubled
scenes Particularly has IL been tne
vehicle for religious utterances that
commend themselves % tne reason and
reverence OF man. Religion, natural
o. the human heart, has found per
petuA express on iu ,upersluOus sarb
and tettered form. lthas been my ann o.
tear away these di,gu se- and break the
manacles-to make religion seem more
reasonable and beautiful and
sweet; 90 show the hailoWedne,s
OF the common life about Us
and the most wonderful wonder OF Gre
at.Ou-a universe, every part of which
therefore holy ground, while M
every human soul have con
tended for q native grandeur and
unmeasurable possibilities. lt has
ha, been q broad and vital gospel which
I have thus felt free 20 proclaim
un.yeral and not even partial uuIver-
,al.sm. Ii, in the course OF my teach
ing. / have changed somewhat your
OpnOns, II | have shown the INSULT
ciencv of proofs of tine opinions which
-
might make YOU sceptical, but that you
might have instead deeper and broader
foundations for your belief. and find-
iug &c supported IN science, IN nature,
or m human history As well as IN the
Bible, boz therefore all the more certain
in its truthfulness. | have aimed 10
keep this pulpit abreast OF the age, 10
welcome to Il the best and highest type
Of thought, 10 make it sympathetic
with all vital questions and all causes
that affect ,he well-being of our com
mon humanity. In this YOU have aid-
cd and encouraged me 10y your willing
ness 10 have It so.
And So long as | occupy II it shall be
such a pulpit, afraid of TO truth, but
afraid only of being false 10 truth; III
league with all forces that make for
the advancement of the human race;
IN fellowship with the great essentials
underlying all the forms OF religion;
yea, in fellowship with what IS known
as the evangelical COmmunlOns,
although they may not fellowship me;
since IN a large and vital sense 1t is for
Us 10 see them all as working with us.
and for Us to bring about the salvation
of humanity, they doing a specific
work which we may not De able 10 do.
At the same while | occupy this
pulpit, it shall be my aim 10 keep 1t III
sympathy with the highest and best
truth. This church shall lead IN this
communion in this respect. II not III
numbers or wealth. 30 pronounced
shall be the opinions spoken mere that
no man entering thee portals shall
doubt as t. the name of this church.
And if 10 should chance that any of nay
contemporaries IN the evangelical pull
pits should preach what Is called Uni
yersali>m," VIII engage TO preach
better Universahsm, or If | Will not
agree always 10 preach the ism, viii.
what Is better, pledge myself to the
championship Of the best truth which |
know.
These are some of the reasons why |
have remained among YOU, and why
there has grown up tnls long union.
such have been our relations that here
] have passed the larger portion OF my
ministry pastOrate mere nearly
three times as long as my longest else
where: nor need / make use OF any
aattarv when | tell YOU that of all the
people with whom | have dwelt, YOU
are tine best have ever known. When
ever we meet am glad 10
meet Won. Whenever have wandered.
ann alvavs clad 70 get homo
aroonc, Won. of all CONGREGATIONS winch
7 address find in vou the most SYM
pathetic and charitable listeners.
Yet. as / look into your faces today
am reminded that those fourteen
ve,rs have loft many marks of chance
uorc. In It's personnel the cOngrcga-
f..n has indie 2 undergone great trans
formation. WnenI first looked into
Those pawS from tins pulpit had little
diT.1-lt, .u selecting tie veteran, of
our c3u-. hlr. those who had shared
rho hrrl.o and. ncat of ~. dav. and
v-tl strong hands had united 10 plant
in -..-cltv the banner of Gods eternal
i.v.. Tn front of me and almost with
.u f.rcn. -n,re sat man whose face
bore all tine marks of n determined will
MINGLED ..th Certlrnoss and i0I.lv:
a r0au who. Ike Tenuv-9n's d" Iron
Ulk. % had "-tood t0ur.~quare to all
H.e winds that blew. IL was S,la-
PIERCE. Npar u.m another man. OF
rugged features and indOmt8bie enc
.rv4 and plain virtues-a- honest a-
nature. auI a- true as tine suu That
WAS Robert II ton Across the ai-ie.
and farther back was Franklin y. Dav.
who loved thl- church more than he
loved hrs own soul. and whose hand, m
ra0uzhtful tpucu was upon It's every
into -t. And opD0<lts -at Joel Nor
chant. whose very attire. CARLYLE would
-lv. wa- tue SYMBOL of "a -crupuIDus
exactncss u all ~ h.s dealings. and OF
"A moral cleauliae-s. Easily do recall.
tao. tuc faces of noble and faithful
vofuen. our Narvsand Nagtaicrsw