St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-03-01
BISHOP HALLS VISIT.

NJ NV n - "A. lam liz A4NNNAJ
chosen bishop of the Vermont do
cese, was in St. Johnsbury on Sun
day, on his visit to St. Andrews
church, and many Of our people took !
occasion to hear this distinguished |
divine He held four services dur
ing the day, the attendance 1T each |
being large. Bishop Hall Isl strong, |
earnest preacher; his style is vigor-
Gus and direct, his ilustra tions are
aptly chosen and his comparisons et-
fective. He celebrated the holy COM
munion at S a. m, and at the
regular morning service delivered
the sermon and administered the
rite of confirmation to a clase of ~.
His text at this time was, Blessed
are they which do hunger and thirst
after righteousness, for they shall be
filed" These words, he said,
would serve as an excellent motto
for the Lenten season, time of fast
ing and selfdenial. True self-denial
is always means to something be-
vond If we die to the lower, it is
that we may rise to the higher.
Speaking of the helpfulness of Lent,
he said the important question is,
what have we gained by it in the
way of prayer, in self-contrOl, IN
deeper penitence and a higher knowl-
edge? The preacher brought out in
an earnest way the meaning OF such
words as justification, conversion,
salvation and righteousness. Need,
he said, must not be mistaken for
hunger. There are stag eS of spiritual
sickness when nOurlshment cannot
be taken; there must be a real
hunger after this Righteousness, a
spiritual appetite, before one can be
filed. The woman of Samaria and
Zaccheus were referred to as illustrat-
ing the right sort of hunger. In
closing, Bishop Hall said that if one
were really hungering and thirsting
after righteousness, he would wei
come reprOof; there would be sub
mission to Gods discipline, instead
of bitterness or rebellion, and
temptation would often prove a
stepping-stone rather than a stumbl-
ing block there would be a diligent
use of all means of grace as a privilege
and not simply a duty-the ques
ton would not be, must l but may
? And there would be an approach
to all means Of grace in a right and
proper spirit. The text was referred
to as the very central truth in that
list of beatitudes found in Mat
thew V.
THE y. NJ. c. A. SERVICE.
In the afternoon Bishop Hall adj
dressed a large number of men at
Music Hall, taking Freedom and
Liberty" as his theme. One defni
tiOn given to liberty" he said, was
that it is unrestrained freedom to do
and say and think just what one
likes. This might be acceptable if
only we understand that word
like" The truth or force of the de-
finition depends on the meaning of
that word. The prodigal son want
ed to do as he liked, but soon found
that what he liked was not really
what he needed and desired and
how often is his experience repeated.
You can get money, or place or
fame-if you work for it; the ques-
ton is whether it is worth having.
We are paid back with just what we
reap a habit; you SOW a habit
and reap a character; you SOW
character and reap destiny,
and there is nothing unfair about it.
God gives you your own work. By
following your likes you will become
a slave to likes. Gods laws are
never arbitrary. He never makes a
law simply because he chooses to do
so. 1t is for our good and marks
out our peace and happiness. The
speaker called attention here to the
law of purity, and honesty, the law
of PRAYER, of Sunday observance, and
religious service Obedience to this
law does not interfere with our
liberty-it preserves our real and
true liberty
The bishop spoke instructively of
the sinful emphasis sometimes put
upon the pronoun !, and used strong
terms in denouncing the man who
thus puts himself and his likes above
everything else; and suggested as an
antidote the having somebody be-
sides ones self to care for. He ad-
vocated the sacrifice of individual in
clinatiOns for the common good.
Liberty is not to be used with
license. We are to become the slaves
OF the accumulated experience OF
others-then shall we be really free.
The speaker closed with an earnest
appeal to young men to accept the
liberty which would make them free
indeed-the liberty of a renewed
heart and right purposes.
The Mahogany Quartette furnish
ed music al this service.
THE EVENING SERVICE.
At the FIVE o'clock service Bishop
Hall spoke from Ephesians Y: O.
For the fruit of the spirit is in al
goodness and righteousness anc