New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-24
IN DIR. PAXTON'S PULPIT.
A SAN FRANCISCO MINISTER'S INTEREST
ING DISCOURSE.
THE REV. DIR. ROBERT MACKENZIE breaches
TO THE CONGREGATION OF THE WEST

THE REV DIR. ROBERT MACKENZIE breaches
TO THE CONGREGATION OF THE WEST
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Tho nr,nt Of the West Presbyterian Church
was occupied yesterday by the Rev. Dr. Robert
,,acLenze nastor OF the First Presbyterian Church
of San Francisco. DR.. Mackenzie Is enjoying a
brief vacation in the East. and on invitation OF
James H. Benedict. one of the trustees OF the
church. has consented to preach there four umes'
The visitor is not a candidate for the vacant pull
pit and will not take the Rev. Or. Paxtons place
az pastor of the church DR.. Mackenzie is pro-
fessor Of theology in the San Francisco Iheoiogi-
cal Seminary. at yearly salary OF S'VV' besiueS
this he has his salary of $4,000 as minister OF MS
church at home so the pulpit Of the West Presby-
terrain Church offers inducements when consid-
cred from a pecuniary view only. The church was
well filled Yesterday 10 hear Or. Mackenzie and he
made a favorable impression In appearance ne
is a why, energetic man about hve feet eish'
inches tall He speaks clearly and at moderate
rate without faltering or hesitation. and holds the
close attention OF his audience. The speaker TOOK
for his text Luke XIV. 2: And they round Inc
stone rolled away from the sepulchre." He said. In
part: I'VE on the eve OF Christmas ana the
text OF my sermon carries us to the dawn OF Eas-
ter There is vital connection between the TWO
The meaning and Importance OF Christmas arise
from the fact that II followed by Easter Had
not the stone been rolled away ana CHRIST risen
again. Christmas would have been meanlngletss
like this. that question is well understood Your ,
business is largely done on paper. ana you know
what it means TO have IT Endorsed, ana by the
right person. To my mind the most hlgoted man
in this community is not the staid Presbyteriain
preacher, but the cashier OF conservative bank:
You give TO him the paper OF business house ana ma
tell him OF its value. and OF the unmpeachabIe
status Of the firm. He listens to you and does not
dispute. but he tells you that the paper would he
more valuable If Endorsed by some reliable person;
We are religious persons well as commercial
ones Religion is supreme business ana II IL
done largely paper. for what are the pages or
the Bible but many promises and 50 many
notes? -.
Warning is written over every page or the
book not good unless indorsed. There Is no
promise. hope prospect worth more man
the paper 1t is written on. unless 1t Is Endorsed by
God. You must believe something, and that some
thing is your religion What do you believe Make
IL clear and then a business man ask. mas ~
been Endorsed by God? Many persons are very
particular about the Endorsement on "A note FOR
paltry amount. and yet are laying their eter-
nal fortune fiyleaf careless of the result
The fundamental hopes shining upon us In
the light of Christmas, are the nope OF immortal
itv and the hope OF salvation We all cling to the
hope Of a life beyond the grave. None are content
to think that death ends all. The cradle dwindles
into the grave but the spirit lives and returns to
its creator Are our hopes indorsed? Yes. Jesus
Christ has said. i go 10 prepare a place for you.
and will come again and receive YOU unto myself.
that where am We may be also