The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1892-11-29
FULL TEXT OF DIR. BECKWiTH'
COMMEMORATIVE SERMON.

dLLenueU III Iue HUI HIilS, NhiiO AZ
the evening the church was crowded
to its utmost capacity. Good music
was a feature of both services. In
the morning the Rev. DR.. Beckwith
preached an eloquent farewell SER
mon which brings together much
interesting information concerning
the history of the church. The
sermon was followed with the keen
est interest and appreciation
throughout. 1t is subjoined in
full.
The Farewell Sermon.
Lord, l have loved the habtation of thy
house, and the place where thine honor
dwelleth.-Psalm 1858.
The habitation of Gods house that
David loved, was the humble tabernacle
that was SO soon to give place to the
fairer and grander temple. 1t may have
been the little tabernacle that David
built for the ark at Jerusalem, or it may
have been the old tabernacle of wit
ness' out of the wilderness. Ii the
former, his love had gone out to a very
simple structure, that served as shelter
for the ark and shrine for the peoples
worship only single generation. If the
latter, it was an old and decaying struct-
ure his heart had gone out after; a
weather-worn and tattered tent that
was just ready to fall in pieces for very
age. So, whether it was the tabernacle
at Gibeol or the tent at Jerusalem of
which he said, "I have loved the habita-
tion of thy house and the place where
thine honor dwelleth," we know it was
not the beauty of the house, but the JOY
of the worship that had won bis heart.
He loved the house because it was the
place where Gods honor dwelt. He had
often met the Lord there at the mercy
seat. Times unnumbered, he had come
up to its courts "with thanksgiving and
the voice of melody" Year after year,
with "incense and pure Offering" he
had worshipped there sin the beauty of
holiness" There he had caught the in
spiration that has come down to US in
these inimitable songs of Zion. There
he had found strength to stand when the
waves and the billows were going over
him, andIhe had come forth saying, "He
heard my voice out Of his temple" and
che sent from above, he took me, he
drew me out of many waters" There he
had gone in penitence and tears plead
ing, Have mercy upon me, 0 God, ac
cording to thy loving kindness, according
to the multitude OF thy tender mercies
blot out nay transgressions )" and he haC
come forth saying, GAS far as the eas
is from the west, so far hath he removed
our transgressions from u.s." He had
found peace in Gods house, and he
loved it. 1t was hallowed by the glad
dest memories of the divine presence
and power, and grace, and he loved it
Only little house though it was, com
pared with the great stone temple tina
followed it. Yet he loved it tenderly, a
being the place where he had prayed ,ant
sung, and taken sweet counsel, and re
ioiced in the Lord, and come up from
the stern conflicts Of his warning life
saving, "Return unto thy rest, o m
soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifull
with thee"
Now, like David, we, too, have hu m
BILE house that we have come to low
very tenderly. And, as with him, no
for any rare beauty OF form or adornin
in it. Though l remember when som
of us thought it quite fair to see. l SUP
pose, because it was our frst-born an
our own. For indeed it was not at a.
"magnifical for glory or for beauty.
And yet it has come to be exceedin
dear to US. To very many of US thes
walls are sacred, and these aisles are So
cred, and these seats are sacred
and this pulpit is sacred, and a
this house, from prayer-room and parlc
70 hall t,,rr
very sweet and solemn sense of th
special presence of God. And when "
go forth from it, as now we must by tn
and the law of decay, we shall yet g
saying, "Lord, We have loved the hab
tation of thy house and the plac
where thine honor dwelleth."
See, now, as we recall the story of tn
house, what abundant reason we hav
for holding it in glad and grateful re
membrance. 1t is simple story. Thi
house is not historic, as the worl
thinks OF history. 1t is not historic a:
for example, the old South Church {
Boston is historic, or as the ManC
house OF Scrooby was historic 1t is nc
old in years, not "overgrown with tn
thick moss of centuries" There is n
romance about it but the romance of th
daily life. 1t has been the scene of n
conflicts but the conflicts of strugglin
souls. 1t can boast of no achievement,
but the victories of humble Christia
men fighting the good fight, and finisf
ing. the course, and keeping th
iaith, and gaining the crown of righ
eCusness.
Though, let me just ask, in passin,
why are not these the great achiev
ments? These spiritual confIicts
which good men stand 4sapainst nrinr
palltes, against powers, against the RI
ers OF darkness of this world. AGAIN
spiritual wickedpess in high places
't''s onWritten history whose subject