The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-04

A BEAUTIFUL OLD MAN.

A BEAUTIFUL OLD MAN.
The English are justly proud of Glad
stone. sho Is 81 years old. and who in the
judgment of his political foes never did
better work in debate and parliamentary
leadership than he did last year. The
most interesting old man in America Is
Rev. Dr.. wil!!an III. Furness, OF Phiiadel-
phia. the oldest living graduate of fIar-
ward college. who will be 81 next April.
lie was ordained a minister of the Uni
tasiaa church in ISIS. before Emerson and
Holmes had entered Harvard and eighteen
years before the great DIR. Claiming died.
Despite his great age. his mind and speech
are unimpaircd. and he recently preached
In New York city. reading and speaking
with force and eloquence. DIR. Furncss is
perhaps the best shaksperean critic
in America. and his beautiful hymns
are SO fall of the spirit of re-
liglous desoatuess. so catholic ia
shirt that they have found place in the
collections OF other denominations than
his own, even as Cardinal Newman's
"Lead, Kindly Light is dear 10 the men,
DRY of many who have never read his
controversial writings. Within the last
year DIR. Fairness has contributed paper
20 the atlantic Monthly concerning Emer-
son. which contains q just bat exceedingly
trcnchant criticism of Carlyle. who was
worshlped by the young men of DIR. Fur
ness youth. This hero worship of Carlyle
ended with his publication OF his French
Revolution. which was the last work
which was in touch with popular liberty
and humanity. After that for fifty years,
DR.. Furness points out, Carlyle steadily
drilled In the direction OF absolniism,
hsroiring such ',scourges of God" a. Fred
erick the Great and Gov. Eyre, the muir
derer of Gordon in Jamaica.
The beautiful thing about this gifted
old man Is that, With undiminished in
telleetual vigor at o., he has grown sweet
rather than sour with advancing years;
he is In this respect like Holmes. who at
~ can write tender and beautiful me
morIsl lines concerning Francis Parkman.
Even fennyson in his old age wrote at
times like grim pessimist. but the poetry
of Holmes and the preaching of Farness at
nearly 81 are as optimistic, hopeful and
sweet as the verse and voice of their
youths bright and beautiful morning. IL
IL sure sign of a heaithful aud nohly
rhilosophic spirit when n very old man
ereets the moraing stars aud the MONDAY
saa with hosannas and haIleluishs rather
than tae dismal. croaking voice of rusty
raven complaining from IA eornice.
The text OF DE-. Farness' recent sermon
In New York city was; '6od Is Love. -
and another OF his recent diseourses was
entitled: "fhe Sabbath, Mans Day" An
old man ike pr. Furness might be ex-
peeied 10 deliver defense of the Puritan
Sabbath. which has so many higoted de-
Tenders among elcFgymen that are young
enough TO b. pr. Farness' rfandsons. bat
this sweet and kindly old man seems TO
have always kept abreast of his age. not
"a have halted OF dropped behind it. An
accomplished sud critical Biblical scholar.
nr. fagness shoWs how the sabbath. orr
E.nal!y man dag, became perverted lie
holds thAf the sabbath means rest. cessa-
tson fsom weg<. relseshment Of the weaIied
mind aaa bod made for us "iust rs the
nlghs and 1ne s.eep OF the night. Just as
al othG COED thiuss are made for as. the
sunshine and Summer sights. and music.
and al the beauties Of ratrre and art
whatever glad3ens IS aud Ashsens
care ard laaar. II Is = g.it Of nature
OF God" In as idea she Sabbath is A
sal -
ferm human institution. and all that
man institutes regarding Il il that At ceY-
tain periods anal !dg certain length there
shall be reat fsotu work. and that 40 one
shall adopt Saeh note OF rest as inter
feres With the rest of Others. The rarl,,
CHRISTIANS naturally accepted the Hebrew
division ~ time and distinguished tia,
seventh day, but Christ never Instituted
any sabbath. did 40; create any snssitu.
tions. social OF religious Ike sinnlv
hreathed n new creative spirit into tie
world. leaving institutions "a take care ot
themselves: og. rather. len IL 10 suen In.
sptred by His spirit to accom- MEDIATE fast{.
tationS 30 taslr evev-ehansias condition 50
Since Christ ea}oiaed DO sabbath. the
jewish sabbath gradually died a naturs.
death among the esr,y Christians. py.
Fuguess points out that gals death cf the
Jewish Sabbath aas good thing. because
Il had become perverted from It's sg5-tna!
purpose, which sas 80 relieve and exa5{.
ssale mar. 10 ssnex Ais strength. Aud ia
order - save laeosers from e9press.te
exaotsoas, rest. 30 necessary to man. Vas
made religious duty. IL Was Insisted
upon IS sacred thing. Accordingly tie
ha!loNias 81 she seyea.h dav consisted
not In formal worship. no; in the practice
o. any religious services, ssrscsly -
called, bat in oeaslns fgem work. Rest
MAS the peculiar religious service Of she
day. Tae Eepese which human weak.
ness demands vas represented As
sacred ia she ewes 81 Him ~ha. Ia the
lsaggaes II Scripture, knows ear
frame ssd remembers that ve are 5ast. -
fa!s sas tie es.g saal eaten. q tas Ii ags .