Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-13


age was st. Paul. and after referring to the
divine mission of that apostle he said that to-
day the Christian ministry is substan-
tally the same. The Methodist Church
had ever held that no man taketh
this honor unto himself but he that is
called OF God, and that when a man was moved
by the Holy Ghost to take upon him this Office
ministry it would be made manifest to the
church by gifts, graces and fruit. This calling
was the rnblest of vocations. The law was an
honorable profession. medicine SO was
politics when associated with true patriotism.
but the grandest work beneath the skies was
the work of converting and saving men.
ST. Paul did not know precisely what was be-
fore him, but he knew that trials awaited him.
His trust was in God and he feared not the
issue. We needed the same deliberate purpose
This was the explanation of thousands of heroic
lives. IL made the hero of Harper's Ferry,
John Brown. who vas thankful that he was al
lowed TO die for a cause. 1t sustained Abraham
Lincoln. your niartyred President: his face the
most familiar after WashIngtons and his name
the most beloved name in this continent.
Throughout his political career he had a single
purpose, and this great motive placed that I'M
calmly man. without the learning of the schools
or the polish Of society, among tine most con-
spicuous statesmen of his day-the peer of the
stately chiefs of republicanism-Sewa Chase
anu Summer. Aided by consummate generals,
among them two whose names are inscribed on
these walls-One of them standing up so colossal
in history that it would require the perspective
of a hundred years to measure his true great
ness-he bore the nation through its mighty
and memorable struggle, and through his great
sacrifice your President, as he took the oath of
Office on the open Bible ard delivered an inaug-
ural address, in every way worthy the most
Christian sovereign that ever sat upon throne
was enabled. from the steps of the Capitol to
look out over nation of s., 0O0. 900 and see not
single slave holder or a single slave.
The character of his preaching was testifying
This was the minister's central work. The Cos
pei was individual. The rpeacher had a mes
sage to the community, for sin was not only
lntrenched In the heart, but also in social GUS
toms and unjust laws. He must not keep him
self apart from public interests and thrilling
questions of the day-the Sabbath question,
the school question, the temperance question,
the labor question. Without making his pulpit
an organ of secular discussion he might vet
dwell upon the abuses of our social system
Without making himself the mouthpiece of a
party he should yet seek to beget in his people
public and patriotic spirit. But his one vo-
cation was TO watch over the spiritual interests
of men. Topreaeh Christ Was the most effectual
way of preaching the highest morality. To en-
throne the loving Redeemer in the hearts and
lives of men was the best way to heal our social
disorders and solve the throbbing problems of
the day. He felt the difficulties of his situation
He knew they would bear with him until he
got accustomed to his new environments and be
kinder to him than he deserved He thanked
them for their words of welcome their SYM
patty and cooperation, and urged his people
with new conservation to enter upon another
ecclesiastical year.