The morning call., 1891-01-19
A PERFECT LIFE.
Sermon by the New Pastor of
Grace Nj. Z. Church.
Rev. DR.. MoClish Reproduces Our savior's
Picture of the Ideal Characters Sketch
of the Preachers Life.

Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. at the
corner OF Twenty first and Capp streets, was
well filed by an attentive congregation yes
terday morning, when the Rev. DR.. McCish
the new pastor, preached upon "Our Sa-
viors Sermon on the Mount" The rever-
end gentleman in his remarks dwelt spe-
cially upon the verse, "WhOsoeyer cOmeth
to NE, and heareth my sayings and doeth
them. Will show you to whom he is like"
Following out his theme he said that Jesus
Christ came to teach men how to attain the
perfect life. lie stood before men without
hesitation, and told them how to live IN or
der that they should become so strong.
brave and pure that the storms of life
Savior was the grandest the world had
ever heard 1t was divine production, tor
no human mind could evolve its great
truths, It's broad charity, its sublime ten
derness. When Christ preached it he had
the ideal man in his mind.
TIE MODEL MAN.
He who leads this perfect life, said the
preacher, VIII possess conscious poverty of
spirit, the first eligibility for Instruction He
VIII be tcudeTly, y sympathetic, meek, modest
and Iuercilul. He VIII hunger and thirst
alter righteousness, with an unsuitable
craving for the bread Of life. He will be
pure IN heart as well as in word and deed.
As a Deacemaker among men he is always
Is a spiritual illumination, whose life is one
continuous sermon. more effective than the
most eloquent eXhortation. lie has a keen
sense of what true relig on is. lie does not
like the Pharisees, pray by the clock last
| by the almanac, and give tIthes by aIlthme-
tic. Religion, In the perfect life, will touch
the very core OF his being.
THE IDEAL LIFE.
DR.. McClish then proceeded to show how
the ideal man obeyef the commandments
and the whole law Of God in every thought
and act. There are three springs of human
action, lie SAID, the appetite, the desires and
the affections. These must be curbed,
passed through the fire and purified. In lis
external conduct the perfect man is calm,
benevolent, unOstentatl0us. He does not,
like the Che; 90 banker, advertise his buSl-
ness by opening the bank with prayer.
With Christian lbeTalty he can say the
"Our Father" lie holds his means in trust
for God, not as a slave, but as an hOuOred
manager. He Is not good judge and would
make a poor iuquisltor, but he is brother
in distress and loves TO aid the weak and
helpless. The preacher then pictured the
great influence such perfect life would
WELD in any community, and advanced the
| idea that ali church organizations are means
| of grace to the attainment OF this Ideal eX-
/ Istence.
CLOSING REMARKS.
In concluding his sermon, the reverend
gentleman said: This perfect life is soft
ened subdued and sanctiied by the soIem-
! nifty OF the SaylOrS sacrifice. We may not
! know the name, nationality or creed OF the
man who lives it, but his life is what Christ
| came to this earth 10 develop. AS he lives,
he is the ideal Christian character, and the
! world is better for his living. As lie passes
out Of the world, his spirit is reverent, re-
signed and peaceful; his death is the unfold
! ing OF his being into fuller and larger ex-
| istence; and The perfect life goes Oh living
forever on high with the God by whom il
was created"
AT the conclusion of the sermon. seven
adult candidates for membership appeared
at the communicable and were admtte
by the pastor into the fellowship Of the
church.
On Thursday evening reception will be
given to the pastor in the parlOrs of the
church.
THE PASTORS HISTORY.
DIR. McClish arrived in San Francisco ten
days ago, and delivered his inaugural ser
mon on the 1lth inst. During the last
seven years he has been President of the
Grand Prairie Seminary at Onarga, ILL.,, and
received his appointment to the pastorate OF
Grace Church at the September session OF
the California Conference He is still q
comparatively young and well-preseryed
man, although he served three years in tht
Union Army. He was with Sherman at the
siege of Atlanta before lie was Is years OF
age, and at 90 left the army, ignorant ever
of the first rudiments of an education. Ht
Immediately commenced to study, and
eleven years later was graduated from
theological seminary under the Presidency
of Bishop Fowler. Dr. McClish has since
been pastor of several Eastern churches
and is an earnest and eloquent preacher.