The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-08-12
REV. DIR. SANFORD breaches
ON EXISTING EVILS AND ABUSES, AT
FIRST M. ~. CHURCH.

DIR. Sanford is Assistant Editor of the
Methodist Review in New York-Man the
Representative of God on Earth-Men
Needed for Reform.
At the First NJ. e. church, corner
of College and Elm streets, last even
ing, Rev. A, B. Sanford, D. D., of New
York, assistant editor of the Method
list Review" preached from the text
Ezekiel 22;SO: And l sought for man
among them, that should make up the
hedge, and stand in the gap before Me
for the land, that l should not destroy
1t; but | found none"
DR.. Sanford in introducing his SER
mon spoke of Diogenes walking through
the streets of Athens of old, seeking a
man, meaning man in the true sense
of the word, who would illustrate the
virtues and goodness of those of that
time. He then said: "The philoso-
pliers wandering through the city was
an incident in the life of a nation whose
glory has fled, but by it we are remind
ed of the searches for real men which
have been going on through all of
human existence.
1t is fundamental thought that God
has chosen man as His representative
on earth, and has put the sceptre of SUI
periority into his hand. We cannot
forget in this connection that man was
the cause of the Introduction of evil
into the world, which was once the
scene of purity and joy. Then came
the tragedy of the garden and the
expulsion of man from that happy
paradise. Man ever since has been a
transgressor. SANDER, robbery and ar
son are some of the fruits grown from
this beginning. In his domination over
the weaker, man has sent them to the
Bastile, and to the galleys and has
marched to cruel and unjustifiable war
fare.
For six thousand years he seems to
have entered into a combination with
the forces of pandemonium for the
worlds overthrow How strange does
1t seem that such a creature has been
chosen Gods representative. Intellec-
tually, man is hardly fitted for this
honor; some, it is true, have been ex-
ceptions to this rule, but man is gen.
orally inadequate to the task. A child,
Just born, knows more of divine things
than the wisest philosopher who walks
this earth.
Wherever the spectacle is presented
of individuals perturbed for the condi-
tion of his fellows; wherever souls are
ready to lay themselves on the altar of
sacrifice, the Lord searches for able
representatives.
W. NJ 70 ba
twenty-second chapter of Ezekiel to
find how grievous were the needs of
those days, as there it is written that
priests, princes, prophets and all
classes were transgressors. 1t reads
like the catalogue of evil deeds in
civil court
Not inappropriately, there now comes
to our minds certain evils of these times
of ours when God needs representatives
on earth to stand for integrity and
Righteousness. The undue struggle for
wealth is a particularly pitiable spec.
tacle. If a man in church were to go
through the actions which we may see
any day in the large stock exchanges
people would think he was insane, yet
how much more praiseworthy and noble
God, and the preserva ton of eternal
life, than for the unholy desire of gain.
This whole earth is a stock exchange
where man is continually struggling
for financial superiority Wanted, men
to stand in the gap and give expression
to the fact that man is what he is, not
what he has; to make it known that
a man may wear homespun and yet
have more nobility than his more pros
porous neighbor.
The Sunday excursion is a thing of
constant practice. The Sunday news
paper is an unspeakable hindrance to
the advancement of Gods truth. The
Sunday bicycle is also another living
evil. In Brooklyn a few Sundays ago
2,700 bicyclists were counted in one
street in one afternoon. Wanted, a
man by personal precept and practice
to perpetuate the law which Moses
wrote, Remember the Sabbath day and
keep 1t holy
DR.. Sanford next took up the curse
of strong drink, and told of it's hor-
rible effects on man, and it's baleful
effects on civilization. '"There is latent
power enough said he, sin the Chris
tian church to rise up and wipe this
curse from the face of the earth, but
at present the few who venture pro-
tests against it, are like few sparrows
chipping against the north wind.
Wanted, men, by voice, example and
personal prudence to stand up for So
briefly, temperance and virtue.
In conclusion DR.. Sanford said that
God ALWAYS finds mon for emerpannieS
and as illustrative of this he spoke of
Wesley, Livingstone and Lincoln.
The audience listened with close at
tention to the eloquent sermon and was
much impressed with the strength of
the thought The church will be closed
during the rest of this month for re-
pairs and no services will be held, ex-
cept the Friday night prayer meeting,
and class meetings Sunday morning