The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-31
A MEMORABLE SERMON AND IT'S
STeSTSTGoNS.

A MEMORIALS SERMON AND IT'S
SUGGESTIONS.
Al thereopcong OF ST. Paul's Church
on Sunday last. the work OF interior
decoration having been completed. there
was delivered by The rector, the Rev.
Mr.. Carmichael. a sermon Of rsmarka-
BILE Interest ard power, sermon as
valuable for its practical suggestiveness
ns IL was impressive for its religious
lessons. christianity" he declared.
"vas net the enemy Of culture. but
true cultuie Is Christianity own child
and nowhere have Art, Poetry. and
Music found deafer home than IN the
church OF Jesus Christ"
It's not in our province to enlarge
upon the various thoughts called up By
these words in their purely religions
bearing. Il is only IN their modihed
significance that We propose to regard
Them. namely. that "the human AID The
formal are as necessary elements D.the
ordinary affnifs Of life as IN religion IT.
self. Who ever ignores thsm or con
siders them as unimpoItaut, falls IDto
a mistake which. II general, has The
most serious elect rpon the prosperity
and health Of the community.
We have repeatedly referred to the
practical and moral advantages which
accrue to people from careful siten
ton to external appearances IN all tha'
pertains 10 their civic character. this
being q" the human ard the formal - 10
in their municipal relations. Dull must
be the soul the. does not bCc)mc more
devotional when surrounded IN church
by al those subtle influences created by
things that strike the eye. appeal TO
the heart and elevate the spirit, III other
words, by the triumphs Of art, poetry
and music. The Inhabitants OF a city
should recognize snd utilize the same
influences in their municipal life. VERY
monument that we raise IN Richmond
il but another stem forward in popular
education. Every new building OF
ARCHITECTURAL beauty that we erect Is an
advance in culture. Tasteful decoia-
ton introduced into churches or pri-
va.e residences is promotive Of our fur
thor retirement.
Looked at from purely practical
siandpoint. the educational and stimu-
lstirg influence Of such objects are
beyond calculation. Well may the
poople of this city congratulate them
selves. for purely moral reasons, that
they are bringing to completion such
noble structure as the new City Hall;
that they will soon have in place he
magnificent statue to Lee, and that they
possess so fino a specimen Of church
decoration as now exists in St Pdul's.
THESE obj cts. and others Ike them, not
only have an educational and moral IN
fluence of the very highest importance,
but they are most conducive TO the pros
perity OF our selfish interests. Daily i'm
pressed by our rapid acquisition OF all
~ that il Characteristic of the largest,
weallhiest and mos. cosmopolitan com
muniiics. we are strongly moged to dis
play still greater energy and enterprise
to promote the general improvement Of
the city.
Splendid statues, noble public build
ings, beautiful houses of worship are
the landmarks Of progress that are
sources Of ever Increasing hope and in
rpiIaiiou TO the people to whom they
belong. showing tier influence in
every phase OF that people moral and
industrial contemporary history. If
they soIved no other purpose, the iav-
oraDle eject they would have upon
strangers would give them q use
fulnses which il would be difficult
to overestimate. Such objects in gen
eral constitute the countenance Of Il
city TO which the visitor is compelled
to look first TO get some mixing into
the character of the people. II these
obi ca are no. such as TO appeal TO him
agreeaD.y, il Is moi surprising that his
disposition towards the community 10
either one of Indifference or contempt,
frame o. mind which no city can az
ford to overlook in these who are tenn
porarily stopping in las limits.