The record-union., 1891-03-30
ESSENCE OF RELIGION.
The Cross the Symbol Of Union With
God and Man.
An Eloquent Sermon Delivered by
Rev. Mr.. Silcox Last Evening
ssLove Thy Gods

Ing rev. y. ID. SllcOA, tue PASTOR, pTedcuet
the annual sermon before the Sacramento
Commanedry of knights Templar, choos-
ing for his text: "This Commandment
have we from Him, that he who loveth
God love his brother also."-1. John
iy., 81.
The one golden thought, he said, rum
ming through this Epistle of st. John is
that the Cross of Christ brings us nearer to
our brother man as well as nearer to our
Father God. If we walk in the light of
the cross 1--WE have fellowship one with
another" as well as fellowship with God.
The Cross binds us to God. 1t also binds
us to one another. Jesus said: II, if be
lifted up, will draw all men unto me-"
The nearer we are drawn to Christ, the
nearer we are drawn to one another.
Thus the Cross is the symbol of union
with God and of union with man. This
commandment have we from Him that
he who loveth God love his brother also.
When our Savior was asked what con-
stituted the essence of religion, he an
swered, Love-" Thou shalt love thy
God and thou shalt love thy nelghbOr.
On these two commandments hang all the
law and the prophets. In that one sent
ence is condensed the heart and soul oftrue
icllSIOl ue lONO VI HAL 10 dS d
part of religion as is the love of God. '1f
man say love God and hateth his
brother. he is liar; for he that loyeth not
his brother whom he hath seen, how can
he love God whom he hath not SEEM"
As / understand the noble order of
Knights Templar represented here to-
night, they are body of men who have
grasped this conception of religion and
are trying to give it a practical expression
in their daily life. The cross that they
wear is an emblem of their loyal devotion
to Jesus Christ. 1t is sign and symbol
to the world that they acknowledge His
divinity, and that they possess His spirit.
They endeavor in their individual and
collective capacity to show chivalrous
and helpful spirit toward the weak, the
needy and the unfortunate. Respect for
the feelings of others, readiness to relieve
want and extend hospitality to the
stranger, are cardinal virtues of the true
and loyal knight. In short, loving God
they strive to love their brother also.
These principles are fundamental in
Christianity. And as they are funda-
mental in your noble order, it is appro-
pirate that we consider them for the short
time we are together here tonight.
The religion that our Savior taught and
lived is benefcent and humane. 1t begets
and nourishes fraternal feeling in the
hearts of all who embrace it. Christianity
when real. unites mankind in fraternal
relations and causes them to recognize
and fulfill fraternal responsibilities. Its
language is: ''See that ye love one
another with pure heart fervently."
The royal law according to the scripture
is, thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself."
80, brother man fold to thy heart thy brother,
When pity dwells the peace of God is there;
To worship rightly is to love each other,
Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer"
The highest test of religion is the test of
love. 1t is comparatively easy to conform
to a rite or ceremony. 1t is compare
lively easy to give assent to a creed. The
difficult thing in religion is TO maintain a
loving heart and helpful spirit toward
friend and foe alike. To forgive our enc
mics, to pray for those who despitefully
use us, to do good to those who wrong us,
are the highest proofs that we are, in
truth. the friends and followers of Christ.
Wisely and well said the Eastern bard:
Fear is easy but love is hard;
Easy TO glow with the Sautons rage
And walk on the Meccan pilgrimage;
But he is greatest and best who can
Worship Allah, by loving man."
Jesus Christ distinctly taught that
there could be no true worship of God
where hate of man was harbored in the
heart. Wherefore, if thou bring thy
gift to the altar and there rememberest
that thy brother hath aught against thee,
leave there thy gift before the altar
and go thy way; first be reconciled
to thy brother and then come and
offer thy gift" Reconciliation to man
is as necessary to salvation as is reconcil-
iation with God. Jesus said, "If ye for
give not men their trespaSSeS, neither
will your Heavenly Father forgive you
your trespasses." Therefore, as the poet
of the Sierras has taught:
"Forgive If We would be forgiven
Forgive. aye forget lest the ills you have done
BE remembered against you in heaven
And all the years under the sun.
For who shall have bread without labor,
And who shall have rest without price,
And who shall hold war with his neighbor
With promise of peace with the Christi"
This commandment have we from
Him, that ''he who loveth God, love his
brother Also"
Knighthood has its roots in the frater-
nal and humane principles taught and
lived by our Savior. The beginning ofthe
order of the Knights of st. John was an
effort to minister to the needs of the sick
and the dying. 1t was practical recog-
milton of the brotherhood of man, and
grew out of faith in the divinity OF Christ.
In the early days of the knights
Templar no distinction of race or nation
ality was recognized. The order knit
together, in one fraternal embrace, men
of diverse rank and order and race. 1t
was an organization to disseminate
friendship, charity, beneyolence and
klDuly 1eellnS between man ana man.
This order did much to lessen the cruel
ties and horrors of war. The beginning
of a more humane treatment of prisoners
of war may be traced to the influence OF
the order of Knights Templar. When
the celebrated Knight Bayard received
his sword, his mother said to him
''Serve God and He will aid thee, be
sweet and courteous to every gentleman
in divesting thyself of all pride, be loyal
in word and deed, be helpful to the poor
and orphan, and God will regard it to
thee" The Knight represented the high
est order of Christian manhood. He took
an oath to defend the faith, and also to de-
fend the helpless and champion the cause
of the oppressed. The love of God and
the love of man were both enjoined on
him.
We have been too much in the habit oi
considering humane and benevolent
organizations as something distinct from
and not as part and parcel of religion
itself We have spoken of humane work
pei and saving souls we have called
spiritual work. What contend for and
emphasize is this: True spirituality, Oh
true religion, has humane side as well
as a divine side; it considers time as
well as eternity; it ministers to the body
as well as to the soul: it has regard fol
the life that now is as well as that which
Is to come. The man who, in the love o
Christ, ministers TO the physical need ol
humanity, is doing spiritual work, as
truly as the man who is seeking to save
mems souls. When Peabody gave his
millions to build better homes for tho
poor laboring class of London, he was
doing as spiritual work as though he had
given his wealth to build cathedrals OIL
V . ~NHo