The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-09
DR.. R0BINSON'S SERMON
christians Duty to the Municipal
ity, or Righteousness 10 the City,"
CITY.S OFFICIALS HINTED AT
The Doctor Adr0itly Refrains from Men
tioning Names = Says Witnesses
We're Maliened and Their
Testimony Impcached.


Second Presbyterian church. had his
innings last night. In a sermon, the
phraseology Of which would be too
broad and too suggestive for publica-
ton, If reported literally, he heaped a
vast amount of spitefulness upon
Mayor Connell, Chief Of Police Simp-
son, the rank and file Of policemen, and,
in fact. everyone who had anything TO
do with the recent charges made by HIM
in his pulpit on Thanksgiving Day. 1t
IL a curious fact, however, that DR..
Robinson did not once mention the
names Of the objects of his dislike, nor
did he refer directly to them by title;
he couched his remarks in elegant die
tion and spoke directly upon municipal
corruption Of Biblical times, but his deft
explanatory phraseology left no doubt
as to who was really meant.
DR.. Robinson's time was weA chosen.
Following so closely upon the sensa-
tional hearing in the mayors Office. 1t
was not surprising that all the avail
able space In the church auditorium
was filled. The congregation comprised
a slight majority of those present; the
balance was composed Of non church
goers and members Of other congrega-
tions. men predominating, who were
curious to know what was Chris
tian's Duty to Municipality, or Right
eousness in the City," That was to be
DIR. Robinson's topic according to the
published church notices. but the audi
ence was Obliged to leave the church
without hearing the speakers ideas up
on his advertised theme.
Hc Used Plain Language.
Occasionally one hears minister
quote from the scriptures "thieves,"
robbers" "licentiousness" and more
suggestive, but less used words, which
do not look we'll in print. In his quota
tions last night DR.. Robinson did not
draw the line on the unwholesomeness
of his biblical words nor in the number
Of times he repeated them, but he was
adroitly artistic in applying them to
mayors, chiefs Of police and policemen
of antiquity.
"Cry aloud. spare not. lift UP thy
voice like trumpet and show my peo-
pie their transgressions, and the house
Of Jacob their SINS" from Isaiah lviii:1,
was the text announced by DR.. Robin
son and from which his auditory ex-
pected to learn a Christians Duty to
the Municipality, or Righteousness in
the City"
Gods one controversy with the world,
he said, is sin; according to Gods
word the worst possible heresy is lack
Of righteousness. When a man stands
in unrighteousness he stands against
the whole law Of God who hates the
lying lip and false balances but delights
in an honest man.
The first intimation of a reference to
DR.. RObinson's recent police muddle
was made in his telling Of Luther's
first visit to Rome, which city, Luther
said was full of liars and robbers.
Then the speaker in free quotations
from the scriptures called black "black
and white white" in speaking OF per-
sonal unchastity. degraded creatures
and licentiousness. The auditory was
then prepared for the statement that
princes of the old cities. such as Rome
and Jerusalem, and whose official posi-
tions were the same as those Of mayors
Of to-day. were companions of thieves
and robbers. The watchmen of Jeru-
salem, who. he said. would be called
policemen to-day, were as corrupt as
their superiors, dumb and blind to the
wickedness going on about them.
Jehovah doesn't witness that the
government of the princes was for any
other purpose than to uphold righteous
ness and so God charges the prophet
ito be faithful" fear not" "cry
Worlds Idea Of the Church.
It is q fact, DR.. Robinson remarked,
that the worlds idea of the church Is
often of Its architecture, its good sing
Ing or its accommodations for backing
under sermons platonic. of the past and
not fearless, truthful, Independent ut
terences. These, may be, regret that the
pulpit or the church is ever used to
denounce rascals. or for anything but
quietness and peace. These surely do
not possess the sentiment recorded in
Amos v, 21: II hate, I despise your
feast days, and will not smell in your
solemn assemblies" The truth should
be spoken, wickedness in high places
should be throttled that justice and
might flow more like a
stream. Yet, 1t is natural that the
Elijah, the bold. shrank from
It.
That the complainant's witnesses In
the recent police inquiry were maligned,
that their testimony was impeached
in the headlines of newspaper was
deplorable fact. But wouldn't you, he
asked, II you were their pastor. stand
by them and honor them under circum-
stances whereby they had been forced
to reveal their misfortune and shame?
The Master has said that His faithful
servants would be hated Of all men.
and. as for the speaker, he would rather
be the subject Of their gibes. jeers and
taunts rather than have them slap
him on the shoulder in hale fellow-well-
met fashion because he might be use-
full to them In their political and other
Here inference was
made that the hale and well-met ones
might be more congenia1 to persons
whose character the speakers descrip-
tion makes UNIT for publication.
Good Need Not Fear.
Good and faithful policemen. said DR..
need have no fear Of accusa-
ton. There were some good men, whom
he knew personally, on the police force.
III you or your friends" he asked IN
''wsre browbeaten by those
IN high places, or were the object OF
glbs. sneef and petty Joke from the
public press. would not you with The
love Of God and pity for them llft your
faos 70 ~ measure q lisht a. tfulhS