Morning journal and courier., 1893-09-04
OUTGROwING EVIL.

Features Of Strong Discourse by tho |
Rev. Mr. Conklin Delivered Yester- |
day at the Church OF the Messiah
Mans Diversified Life-Reasens for
Christian Livfng-Abflity OF Right
eousness TO Justify Itself.
large congregation at the Church of
the Messiah yesterday morning listened
with wrapt attention to very earnest and
impressive discourse delivered by the new
pastor of the church, Rev. Mr.. Conklin.
His subject was "Outgro wing Evil" and
his text:
Ephraim shall say what have to &c any more
with idols?-Hosea xiv: s.
In the text nation is referred to under
the figure of an individual man. There
was peculiar fitness In thus personifying
| Israel No community on earth has ever
| been such unit as the Hebrew common
wealth. It was as one man. A fashion
once set, became the fashion of the whole
people whether 1t was a noble or an ig-
| noble custom. When they worshipped
| Jehsrah there were but few dissenters, If
| any. When they turned to Beal they went
| over to heathenism In body. The reason
for that is not obscure. They were
nation of one idol. They were taught
nothing for centuries but religion. Their
1
lem were all conferred In religious sano-
tions. Hence when they lost any hope
| they lost all hope. When faith In God
weakened, faith in virtue was swept away.
When the prophets of religion became un-
worthy there was nothing to do but to
rush pell NELL into Elm. 1t seems to me
that life is stronger and richer when its
interests are diversified. 1 believe in re-
ligion with Intensity of conviction, but
1 hol OF nd fnfa cd
should develop only the spiritual faculty,
or that we should trust all our wealth to
the bank of faith. Man was organised for
diversified life. In diversifed life lies
safety.
| Sin is not solely an outrage upon God.
1t is crime sgsinst society. 1t bruises
the fair civilization that men are 80 Ia
boriously developing in these days through
self-restraint and lofty aspiration. 1t i.
shocking to taste. 1t is slow poison to the
individual. It is the destroyer of all fac
ulties. 1t is the ruthless breaker of levins
hearts. 1t Is against hundred interests
of high moment that man operates when
he turns aeids from virtue, and l think
that that should bs better understood.
Love, responding to the infinite love, as
the dewdrop yearns for the sea, as the
| flower reaches out for the light, as the tides
flow on after the moon-this is indeed the
supreme support OF character. 1t Is per.
| haps the propelling force of the grandest
!, moral achievements, but would establish
the souls safety not only in that, but In
, would have man stop drinking intoxicat
, ing liquors rot only for piety's sake, but
, for pitys sake too. I would have q man
, cease to do evil not only because God SECS
/ his deed with abhorring eyes, but because
, he makes such such a disgusting spectacle
of himself to Us poor mortals. Emerson
laughs a little ct the English, whom he
, accuses of believing in salvation by taste
, and not by grace, but would have SILVA
: | ton not only by grace, but by taste also.
, / It isn't bad thing for a man to be too
, | polite to make mean remark, to be too
! | much gentleman to utter profane oath
| I wish that every man in the world were
too refined to abuse his wife, or to rob hi
{ | employers till, or to buy a vote, or t.
? wreck railroad. God speed the day wher
an exquisite sense of etiquette will preven
people from lying about each other, o.
) even giving currency to idle gossip. Eph
! RAIN was to bs truly saved when he couls
) | say: 81 have no more use for idols. I an
J above them. They fill me with disgust.
have something better. have grown Sc
? | that can never 90 back to such stuff"
That ia salvation. have hope for soul
r only when by culture and growth in grac'
| they come to this point-that measuring tn
sins of the world fully and fairly, the,
| turn away from them in contempt because
q | in the sweet, new life of heaven they seen
: such poor and shabby way to live. Dea
. | friends, this Is to be, God helping me, tn
? tone and purpose of my ministry in THU
church.
q I believe in the ability of Righteousness
;. to Justify itself in every sound and health,
n mind. am convinced of the attractive
! ness of virtue, the beauty of holiness.
4 don't believe that sinners are extracting
4 the juices of this life while the saints ar
: faring on the rind. And, as would saw
a child from the thralldom of BAT
j books by acauainting him with goot
a ones as would trust the STABILITY of ex
+ cellent goods in competition with those o
a inferior quality, as I expect men every
= | where to hold in profound respect the pure
y sweet song, the well-chiselled statue, tn
9 artistic painting, the heroic deed, SO fee
confident in the wisdom and power of
ministry that enunoiates and pleads for tn
ideal human life. The highest example Of
q that life to me. Ia Jesus of Nazareth, tn
Amounted of God, chosen to be the spirit
ual leader of men. That name has beef
5 honored in the designation of this church
:, 1t will be honored in this pulpit as long a
4 1t shall be my privilege to stand here a
= your minister.
In the evening Mr.. Conklin spoke from
the topic 1.-THE Strength of the Hills" Tn,
service was a most interesting and enjoy