The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-04-20
DIR. THOMAS ]. SAWYER IN NEW
YORK.

NC fChCiuOlC LII odW tOit OCdu VI
Tufts College Divinity school, who is
ninety one years old, preached in the
Church of the Divine Paternity (Dr.
Eaton's) yesterday morning, April
7th. The distinguished name of the
preacher, his extraordinary age, and
the fact that he was pastor in New
York sixty-six years ago, made the
occasion one of rare interest. The
large audience was well-sprinkled
with gray heads, many of them pre-
sumedly his old friends, and some of
them his old parishioners doubtless,
now in DIR. Eaton's church, or gath
cred from other congregations. DR..
Eaton once pupil of his, and always
a warm admirer, introduced him very
handsomely and very affectionately.
My own sensations as / saw him rise
in the pulpit and listened to his
somewhat tremulous voice, | cannot
describe. was also one of his pupils,
at the Clinton Liberal Institute, Gin
ton, N. Y, more than forty years ago.
He was in his prime then. l often
heard him preach. | looked up to
him with deep veneration ever. l
have cherished to this day loving
remembrance of him. What recollec-
tions thronged my mind during his
sermon yesterday. He has lived, as
DR.. Eaton remarked, almost centu-
ry! And for more than half a cen
fury he has devoted himself, with
eminent success, to the Christian
ministry. He has been, and his effort
on Sunday showed that he is still, a
great preacher. He has been highly
and widely honored in his denomina
ton, as preacher, theologian, teach
er, and above all as grand old man.
"We walk by faith, not by sight"
these were the words of his text.
His discourse was logical, doctrinal,
practical, spiritual, and extremely
simple. A child could understand it
and there was thought enough in it
for a philosopher.
l sat far back from the pulpit, but
heard nearly every word. He com
planned to me at the close that bis
voice was not at its best. 1t faltered
little but it seemed to me strong
and distinct for one that has been in
use ninety-one years. Several prom
inent clergymen in New York, hardly
beyond middle life, have given me
much greater difficulty in catching
their sentences. He displayed the
same fine diction that has always
characterized his sermons and writ
ings. His earnestness burned natur-
ally with gentle flame. The current
of feeling was deep but not swift.
He said, we believe more than we
know. We know very little; less, gen
orally than we think we do. We live,
act, walk by faith. An Englishman
said to friend with whom he was
conversing-"I will not believe in
anything ! do not know" The friend
in reply said, "Then you must have
the shortest creed of any man in
England" The farmer sows his seed
in faith-he never knows that it will
grow; that he will reap harvest. The
business man lays his plans, begins
his enterprise il faith, never being
certain of the results. The chemist
knows a few things, but most of the
facts in his science he is obliged to
accept on the word, the testimony, of
other investigators. So everywhere
we walk by faith. 1t is the Chris
tian's privilege to believe in God, in
Christ, in Immortality and to walk by
this blessed belief. We believe that
God is good; that he is love; that all
souls are his; that all good souls
shall enjoy eternal happiness in hea-
ven; that all souls now bad, living in
sin, shall finally, through their own
freedom and the goodness of God, be
converted, and made to share in
endless glory. Universal salvation is
something that all Christians desire
to believe in, to have true. There is
great advantage in that.
l write hurriedly and do not at
tempt to give DR.. Sawyer's language;
nor more than the merest sketch
of his discourse. He dwelt for
little time, very feelingly, touchingly,
on the inestimable comfort derived
from a strong, abiding faith in i'm
mortality. He realized his own near
ness to the other world, and for this
reason felt that he had a right to
speak of the sustaining power he en-
ioyed in his faith that this life is to
be endlessly continued and infinitely
enlarged beyond the grave. His re-
Elections on this point were exceed
inoIv imDressive. and hrouoht tears