Morning journal and courier., 1889-05-13
BEAUTIFUL WORDS OF FAITH.

An Anniversary Sermon by Rev. pr.
 Parker of Hartford Before the Grad-
 uating Class of the Theological
 School I'm Center Church-"To Whom
 Shall We Turnf',-SAapPy omen or
 a Frightening Day.''
 A large congregation was ed1hed ey the eloouence and magnificent rhetoric of Rev. Dr. Edwin F. Parker of Hartford at Center church yesterday evening. It was the anni- vsrssry sermon before the graduating class of the Yale Divinity school and the members of the class attended and listened to the preachers eloquent words in body. On account of this service no service was held at the United church last evening.
 The discourse turned upon the fidelity of the apostles to their faith and master, and the words of the divine as he opened his bril- liant argument, ''It is better to study fidelity than infidelity," struck the keynote and fash toned the spirit of his remarks.
 When men are hungry they know the value of bread and the difference between bread and stone, said he. Their zeal, here tofore undetermined, takes on ,sobriety, and destiny seems to them divine. We all know how in later days people became permeated with the Christian spirit, became Christian men. Then and there Christ's precious words took root in their hearts and, under the influence of his fellowship, souls awak apostles, had exchanged hard and galling yoke for minds enlightened with divine knowledge. Jesus had been to them the bread of life. They had fed upon him by faith in their hearts. think we appreciate the virtue of loyalty, and it's significance to us in that men were sincerely tried in those days in their faith. It was an hour of surg- ing foods and beating tempests in which the house built upon rock alone could stand.
 My friends, 1 believe there will be many disappointments and trials; stout oppositions will appall, sad assertions will oppress, the soul; confusion will obscure your faith in the dust and smoke of conflict; and finally it all comes to this: twill ye also go awayw The difficulty which those who go back is that, in their discipleship, they did not know Christ himself in spirit. Confidence, love, obedi- ence, these are the progressive and surely consecutive stages which are analogous to the whole faith. You may not understand every saving of Jesus, but will not be blown from your faith by every wind of discord. The bond of his own spirit will continue our seri- ous thought and the tender ties connecting us with friends on earth and in heaven, with the low murmur of prayer, with the inex- pressible outpourings of peace and life and been touched by his blessed benedietions.
 'tLord, to whom shall we go!o What 8 pathos in the question: Surely we cannot pretend that we have no light in our dark ness And if now and then some lamentable little man rises with clsmor in his voice, the upstart is charitably considered worthy of no notice. Can we prostate ourselves blind folded before the Roman pontiff2 Can we Ait about with the moths in the pallor of Ingersoll's balefu1 glare? Can we accept the sorry vagaries of Pentecost. To whom shall we turn to Jesusi He may be asked how the requisites of religion are likely to be supplied unless, as some witty Frenchman has said, another Jesus be found to live over again that unconquerable life. The fact is, when one nas turned from him, the gloom approaches where life has fled and glow worms only glitter. Elsewhere I believe as you do in the prophets and sages of different people, because God never left himself without a witness in any nation, but what are these to the light that precedes the search of Christian satisfaction come back to Christ as the hearts true rest and home From out the battlefelds of these later days of conflict, I expect to see Christianity emerge in unity and power and gathered unto sal- vation and service innumerable children of men from the east, west, north and south.
 The years to come are bright with prom ise and rich in blessings are those who are to live in these times and preach the gospel of Christ. Heed the cheering thunders on the left; heed the hopeful auguries and happy omens of the ever brightening day. Gird on the armor of God and stand steedfast in ser vice. May your eyes see the glimmering of constant joy, your ears catch the music of conquering Kingdoms and may you rest in faith and peace according to his word.