The Portland daily press., 1890-02-17
PULPIT ANo PLATFORM.
ST. LAWRENCE STREET CHURCH.

Rev. VIM. Carruthers. son of the beloved
Rev. Dr. Carruthers. preached at this church
yesterday from this text: 1.-THE words that
speak unto you they are spirit, and they
are life. John XII, 63. This fact separates
Christ from all other masters. and Christ
ianity from all other systems of religion.
There were other masters. with other creeds.
Some of them were helpful In the spiritual
development of man; but they had to give
place to one who could say OF himself, 81 am
the truth" Mr.. Carruthers here put In con-
trast the words Of some Of the old philos-
ephers aud the words Of Christ, showing by
several Illustrations that the superiority Of
the latter over the former is the superiority
of life over mere color and form. The differ
ence between Jesus and other masters is the
difference between philosopher with power
TO seeculate aud Saviour with power to
draw men from their sin and stimulate them
to the pursuit OF goodness through the
energies Of an infinite love.
Another point at which the superiority OF
Christ shines out with splendid radiance is
MS drawing line round the whole aggre-
gate OF human duties, and over this one
vast empire Of life enthroning the one prin-
ciple OF love; this one circumference of love
comprising all the segments, and diameters
and quadrants Of the law Of duty. The an
and Zemara. They divided and sub
divided into almost innumerable divisions
and subdivisions the circle of human ac-
tivities; and to turn from them to- Jesus with
the wondrous sweep Of his one law Of life
stlrs nightly the pulses of our joy.
Then again there comes to us out Of the
text this thought: There is only one true
law Oh interpretation. whether IL Is the
Bible, or religious history. or the ways Of
pr1yidsnce iaan - our own lives that we care are
and its spirit FCrgetfulness of this fact has
led to most grotesque superstitions. most ab-
surd theoiOgies, and to manifold prosecutions
for opinions sake. When men stick fast In
the letter, truth becomes to them dead
thing, utterly powerless to quicken. We
want men who will do with the
Bible as Scott, Shakespeare, Milton.
Wordsworth and all.other great poets have
done with nature, reveal to us its soul, and
| cause us to see how 1t throbs with the very
| life OF God. Enough who can deal with 1t in
| purely mechanical way. Enough who can
tear 1t to pieces by jangling criticism
Enough who can make every text a sword,
| or spear, or arrow with which to attack
those who chance TO differ from them.
Enough who can make even the sweet and
pleasant places of scripture to be noisy with
| the din of battle. 1t is not these who have
kept the Bible In practical power; but those
who have read 1t from the heart, as sons
read their mothers letters; who have gone
to II under burdens, woes aud agonies OF
mind and spirit; who have fled to 1t as to q
| covert from storms; who have had their cry
for mercy changed into song OF praise by
| Its assurance Of pardon and eternal life
those who have had their manhood intoned
oy 1t, and been made patient, hopeful, brave.
heroic; these have kept the Bible in Its
place Of authority. When we want the book
| interpreted we pass by the man who Is In
bondage to the letter. and ask the interpre-
tation of him who has touched the heart oi
the Book. and found Il pulslng with the
energies Of Gods spirit Again, the text
furnishes us the principle by which we car
distinguish between the real and the con
yentional In Christian character. Mr.
Carruthers said he remembered a character
which seemed almost faultless; its outward
came an hour of revelation; and what had
onced charmed him appeared r0bed
In the darkness OF a great mora
ugliness. Such an experience will make
as never before Christ's declaration as to his
words being spirit and life. He will no
longer walki the beaten track Of lifeles:
Journalism. This pathway shall be where
living roots are sending up their juices Il
make beautiful and fruitful the living tree
This Is the man whose definition Of the
Christian life we eagerly welcome. for 1t i
the voice of his own spiritual experience
We listen to him gladly, for whilst there ar
n.any In these days who claim the words o
Jesus are only words to be elassed with tn
words Of philosophers whose speculation!
the busy world Of today cares nothing for
that man Is demonstrating that those word
are still spirit and life" blossoming int
human character and coming to fruitage 4
human conduct.
Just before the sermon Rev. Mr.. Wright
the pastor, referred to the preacher as TO
lows:
| The pastor of my youth, and friend Q
thirty years, Is with me today and wi
speak to you in my stead. Rev. Willial
Carruthers requires no formal presentatio
70 the congregation His face and voice ar
preached the sermon on the occasion OF m
installation, as your pastor. His venerabl
father. now living in his Goth year, was th
moderator Of that council Of installation
In Gods providence the words OF encourage
ment and advice spoken by this aged mar
thirty years ago, led my steps into the min
istry. Under the instruction OF his son
began my studies for this sacred office
May God bless the preacher today, and max
his words blessing to you all.
SUNDAY POPULAR SERVICES.
Rev. A. II. Wright, pastor of the St Law
renee street church, is making successfl
effort to popularize his Sunday evening Sc
vice. He is doing this after no sensations
fashion. His methods accord with Il
soundest principles Of common sense. Tt
service is largely musical. The music
rendered by chorus choir whose selection
are OF kind TO stimulate the devotiOna
spirit The pastor gives an address 10 or
minutes in length on some practical topi
treating 1t in such a way as to secure IL
closest attention Of his audience. Popul'
interest in these services has already bee
thoroughly aroused. For two Sunday ev
nings MIR. Wright has had his church crow,
ed. His wisdom in inaugurating such
service is very manifest. 1t will inerea!
the spiritual fruitage ofa pastorate whiC
J has been exceptionally successful.