St. Paul daily globe., 1894-02-12
RESIGNATION ACCEPTED.
Unity Church Passes Touching
Resolutions.

The subject of Rev. S. Nj. Crothers'
sermon at Unity church yesterday morn-
Ing was "The Law Of the Blessed
Life" His text was the first psalm.
which he called an Old Testament beat
ltude, and in which the Hebrew poet
describes the blessed man as one who
obeys the Jewish law and meditates
upon it night and day. Mr.. Crothers
said that it is characteristic of all true
religion that it can be translated into
the language OF today. The thought of
the psalmlSt is as true now as then.
Man does not attain the blessed life
through obedience to any written laws.
but by obeying those eternal and i'm
mutable laws OF the soul. All blessed
ness follows obedience to these laws.
Religion may be defined as search for
the eternal elements in the universe.
How shall we find these eternities? The
ascetic goes into the desert. Alas, here
we find loneliness rather than help.
Another way to find the essentials of
religion is through our own per-
sonal experience. Personal religion
is finding in the common life
that which builds us up in strength
and JOY "a trust in the power
that rules the world, and which
entertains our hope. There are two
ways OF living. One. the superficial and
thoughtlesS, so that when we meet with
some personal loss nothing remains and
there is no permanent growth of char
acter. To such one the world is but
universe of sand without consistency.
The other way is to live thoughtful and
meditative lives, SO that the roots of
character shall reach down into per-
manent laws and to the sources of
strength. We can SO live that nothing
which happens can be Indifferent to us,
nor merely personal. Thus only does
wisdom come to men. The only way
that nations or institutions grow or
prosper is by retaining what of goou
comes to them in each stage of their
growth. 1t is so in the blessed life of
the Individual. There should be a
steady gain through good and evil. We
should be ever nourshed by those un-
ceasing laws which lead to good. We
should De great in failure as well as in
success. "Our finest hope is finest
memory" Every true thing, because
true, becomes part Of all, and opens
up new fountain, in which we find the
truth that belongs to all The neceS-
sites of the spiritual life are as absolute
and eternal as those Of the lower life.
Live the common life more deeply
and earnestly than ever before. and
you will thus reach the blessed life.
Even our failures are a prophecy.
Presentimento of better things on earth
sweeps in with every force that stir Our
souls, to admiration. self-renouncing
love or thoughts, like light that bindsithe
world i'll one"
AT the close of the morning service
congregational meeting was held to act
upon the resignation of Mr.. CrotherS,
aud resolutions were read by Capt.
Woodman and adopted by the meeting.
The preamble sets forth an acceptance
Of the resignation, and the resolutions
state in substance:
we wish to express our sorrow at
the great personal loss it brings us, and
our deep sense of obligation for what
he has done during the seven years he
has been our pastor. Under his minis
tratlous our society has had steady
and vigorous growth. that gave encour-
agelnent for the present and the great
est promise for the culture. His influ-
ence hassstrengthened those who were
already members of the society. anu
joined to US many vino never before
had been attracted TO the cause of
liberal religion. A number of societies
i'll this ana neighboring states owe their
existence to his zeal. But greater than
the loss Of our pastor do we feel 10 be
the loss of the FREUD who has ever been
ready i'll time Of trouble To speak that
rare word which alone could comfort,
to give counsel and aid To those in need
Nor do we forget how much he has con-
tributed to our social gatherings from
his ever ready store OF wisdom and
humor. 1t will ever be satisfaction to
us to remember that our relations with
Alr. Crotilers were only those OF mutual
cordlaIity and good will, and that they
have been ended only that he may con-
tinue his career in another field of USE
fulnesS to which his duty calls him, and
to which he takes with him our best
wishes and most affectionate Godspeed.
The loss to us of the ministry of Mrs.
Crothers, supplementing as it does be-
neticently the pastorate OF her husband,
will be heartfelt. Our gratitude and
love will go with her also to the new
field of duty.