The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-15
PULPIT AND PEW.
NEWS EXTRACTS OF INTEREST TO
CHURCH PEOPLE.


An Era Of Modern Civilization which Threat
ems the Power of Individual Responsibility
and js Reaching a Dangerous Limit-How
TO Start In Life.
An overfowing congregation was at old st.
Paul's Church, Charles and Saratoga Streets
Baltimore, on Sunday, February Sth. to hear
Bishop Henry G. Potter's sermon to young
men. Every seat was occupied, and the aisles
we're crowded. Bishop Potter, who has
charge Of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese OF
New York, is of striking and commanding
appearance. He is about sixty years Old, has
large and muscular frame, with an elasticity
Of step and movement greater than most men
Of his apparent age. His face is benevolent
and attractive and indicates great force and
poyver His eyes are blue, bright and pene-
tratino his forehead is high and intellectual,
and his hair is gray and scanty. lie wears
close-cropped gray side whlskers, MS iace
otherwise being clean shaver. In speaking
his gestures are easy and graceful, ms voice
well modulated, and his delivery fluent and
forcible.
sixth chapter of St John, relating the story
of the FIVE loaves and two fishes with which
the Lord fed the multitude. He said IN part:
ssThe work of Christ on earth was intended as
an evidence 10 mankind of His character-an
evidence of His love and interest III us. Inc
teachings of the Church make the faith OF
Christ and of the Church PLAN enough 10 all.
While here Christ worked certain results CON
trary 10 what is now generally accepted as
being the usual course OF nature. Ihese we
call miraculous and supernatural. These He
set in motion in the beginning. and we accept
them as those of old accepted them-that
Jesus was what He claimed TO be. Again and
again He wrought such actions as TO compei
men to believe in Him and HIS supernatural
power These miracles have also an Illustrative
value. revealing not only the power of Jesus
Christ. but the heart and mind OF Jesus, lis
lasting love for us, The world conld anOru
10 dismiss all miracles, and yet conld not as
card the homage due to Christ. The charac-
ter of Christ and His life here haveleit fasting
results on human history. II has transformed
human society and made this whole world
new world. What is that which most con-
Germs the child in helpless infancy! II is by
knowing how those whom II looks mp 10 as
the embodiment of knowledge and power feel
toward it or are affected toward It,, 10 I'M
derstand the goodness and grace that is IN
their hearts and minds toward it. Then what
should most concern usy IL IS to know how
our Father is affected toward us. Not how
irresistible is His love, but how IN our way.
wardness lie feels toward us IN our ruined
estate. Take the miracle OF the leper the
hind man and the dead son of the widow of
Main. What significance there was IN the
work of Him who thus revealed the heart OF
God toward man! What evidence OF HIS
GREAT redeeming love, The miracle is an OBJ
iect lesson to show this feeling of God toward
us. and how our hearts should turn toward
Him.
civilization when that which threatens the
power of individual responsibility is reaching
n dangerous limit. Ours Is an age when
political science, social science and pmloso-
phy teach that TO attain results tney must act
uuon society in the large. Ii is the age IN
which the tendency is to combine capital and
industry and intellectual power IN great and
influential trusts. This IS true IN art as IN
enterprise You merge the individuality and
change the atoms of society to secure desired
ends, and use the force thus secured IN tneir
attainment rather than TO gain them by APP
pealing TO the higher, the moral power OF the
individual. which by this system OF force
loses itself in the multitude. In nearly every
modern effort the tendency is to herd men III
great masses, and to minister TO men through
combination in such way as 10 destroy IN
them their sense of individuality. As a con-
sequence Of this theory of association we are
getting q type of character which dlstrusts us
own gifts and power, not with modest SEN
sitmeness. but with faithlessness that arises
from the detraction of self-reliance
will ask himself on the threshold: What
chance have in this race? have no wealth,
no prestige. no ancestry to aid me IN securing
the plane l desire TO reach. How, then, can
i accomplish anything? Let such one take
10 heart the story of the five loaves and two
fishes. This act of the Saviour III refusing to
be disnayed when called upon to feed so
many with such scanty allowance should
encourage him to say; i, too, will confront
the world with the powers that God has be
slowed upon me. / will strive to use them
as he directs and win for myself footing IN
the struggle for precedence. The lad who
brought his five loayes and two fishes with
such confidence in the belief that God
would make it great III his service, pos
sessed the spirit that will win fame and
position even in the existing struggle. Use
your opportunity, such as II Is; use the gifts
us God has given them, and put them to HIS
use in your struggles with the world. 1t Is
the men who have shown undaunted courage
in the face of difficulties who have done the
manifest and bravcst service for God and Tor
man. The greatest moral and reformatory
work the world ever saw was not accomplished
by this power of association and combination,
but through the heroic determination and un-
aided resolution of one strong and self.reliant
heart. trusting in the gifts that God had be
stowcd upon him.
"a quarter of century ago Edward Den
nison, q gentleman of wealth and culture,
and neglected poor of London TO see what he
could do toward lifting up his fellow-men
from the evil conditions that surrounded
them. His self-sacrihcing devotion to this
cause together with his strong individual reso-
luton brought measure Of success not since
equalod by any combination. From this
small beginning has radiated. one after
another, the good results attending the
courageous devotion of his individual efforts
until revolution has been created in
the work that he first took up. His
life shows what Christian graces can do
il properly brought 10 Gods holy work The
lesson is not to wait on others. not TO hold
back and lose your usefulness in some large
machinery. but 10 bring your individual eff
forts to God and ask Him 10 aid you, as he did
the lad with the five loaves and two fishes, in
accomplishing good work. BE not dismayed,
but stand fast Recollect who il is that bids
you stand fast, and remember that His grace
is sweet and sufficient. Whatever is your lot
in life, remember who walks beside you, who
works within you. Entrust our feeblest en-
deayors t. HIS hands. and our failures will be
transformed IN the eyes of His love. All God
wants ale The tokens that we are striving to
make the best use of the gifts we hayen-
Baltimore sun.
Influence In Life.