The record-union., 1895-12-14

cation" at the 1892 banquet of the Pro-
duce Exchange was widely quoted. DR..
Hall breaches at all times the old
gospel" and nothing but the gospel.
On one occasion only has the doctor in
his sermons even remotely referred to
politics. On November IA, 1894, after
Tammany had been swept from power,
he delivered an address in the chapel
on 1.-The Duties of Christian Citizens"
in which he urged that Christian prin-
ciples are opposed to every phase of
corruption On that occasion he said:
'"The Christian is the man who should
be the best politician, because he is
honest, pure and just. The basis or
true citizenship is that you should do
to others as you would that they would
do unto you That is the true parti-
sanship You are then serving God IN
your day and generation
AT A MORNING SERVICE.
A Sunday World reporter attended
the morning service in DIR. Hairs
church last Sunday. The pews were
well filled. There was nothing striking
about the appearance of the congrega-
ton. The sobriety of the costumes worn
by the women was especially notice
able The interior of a Presbyterian
Church is not the place to go to witness
a panorama of the latest fashion In
wraps and millinery. 1t was difficult TO
realize that, taken in the aggregate,
this is the richest congregation IN New
York, and the names of hundreds OF its
members are in the social lists, and
that many of its male members are
powerful factors in the commercial and
financial life of New York. The names
of the men are better known on the
floor of the exchanges than in the clubs,
and the names of the women are lden-
tilted with the cause of charity and kim
dred movements rather than with the
Patriarchs' ball or the annual Horse
Show.
An atmosphere of fellowship pre-
vailed and welcome was written IN the
face of the ushers as the stranger en-
tered the door and was promptly es-
corted to a seat where he could both
see and hear. Although fancy prices are
paid for the choice of pews in this
church, there is a rule of the Commit
tee on Seating Strangers, which de-
clares all seats vacant after the sing
ing of the first hymn.
At II O'Clock to the minute the tow
ering form of DR.. Hall emerged from
door at the right of the pulpit. He
walked erect, almost briskly, up the
steps into the massive carved pulpit.
He sat for amoment, then rose, hymn
book in hand-they are fat, long books,
with welI-known Presbyterian tunes
and announced the 26Sth hymn: ooh,
God, We Praise Thee"
With a voice of deep, rich and rare
sweetness that at once explained the
hold that this big, brainy man has upon
the hearts of his following, he read the
first verse, and then repeated it. The
choir of young men stood, the congre-
cation followed, the great organ pealed
forth a few Introductory notes and the
singing of the hymn began. 1t was not
the hearty congregational singing of
the old-fashioned Presbyterian sort.
Each person sang as if afraid of being
heard in the next pew, and the hymn
dragged in spite Of the efforts Of the
young men in the gallery, who made as
much noise as they dared under the cir
cumStances.
The hymn ended, the congregation
took his seat A dead hush followed as
the pastor, closing his eyes and laying
his hands outspread with palms down,
said softly: Let US pray" And beau
tiful prayer it was. Not fervent APP
peals for blessing and mercy, but
meek, eloquently and scholarly presen-
tation of the hopes and needs of the
Christian, a confession of his depen-
dence and Qualification of the powers
that rule the earth 1t breathed the
spirit of domestic peace and spiritual
patriotism. There was a word for
''those of our congregation that have
not as yet returned to their city homes.
The prayer was ten minutes in dura-
ton.
Then the divine read the tenth chap
ter of Paul to the Romans, with care
FIJI attention to the elocution, for the
epistles are hard to read so as TO con-
vey the meaning to the hearers. An
other hymn which the congregation
droned through.
DIR. HALLS SERMON.
The text of the sermon was:
"Whomsoever, therefore, shall con-
TESS Me before men, him will l confess
also before My Father, which is in
heaven.
but whatsoever shall deny Me be-
fore men, him will I also deny before
Ny Father which is in heaven. Mat
thew X, 1888.
1t was an analytical sermon, an expo
sition Of gospel meaning, an interpreta-
ton Of the word confess" and deny.
A great literary critic once said that If
Byron's "Senacherib" was read in Eng
Fish to a band of savages who knew
nothing Of the tongue they would know
that they were listening to poetry.
And so it was with DR.. Hall.
The discourse was really homily
It was not flight of eloquence. 1t as
serted in many ways propositions that
have never been disputed in the minds
OF his hearers at least, yet the closest
attention was paid to every word. Men
and women leaned forward to catch the
lowest notes, while the eye delightedly
followed the easy and graceful ges-
lures that marked each change of
thought or fancy.
Much Of the time the doctor leaned
with both hands upon the pulpit. When
he made a point that to his mind was
clear he spread open his arms with the
wondering inquiry Christian, can
YOU then hesitate?" Again he started
forward in an appealing mood. asking:
How can YOU then, fail to believer"
Again, warmed by the fervor of his own
faith. he raised his right hand impress
lively as he said, not in the noisy tone Of
the old-fashioned Bible expounder, but
calmly, deliberately, convincingly: Il
believe it. and will stand by it
The discourse was punctu2ted with
anecdotes. stories that are like the win
dcws in a house. The frequent refer
ence to history, sacred and profane; his
quotation from the doctors of the
church and the laws of the prophets
evinced deep scholastic research and
thorough command of the stored-up
learning of nearly a half-century'
service of Christ.
The forty minutes allotted to the ser
mon slipped away as ten, and came to
an end all too soon. There was brief
prayer, another hymn. and then all
bowed their heads as the benediction
was pronounced. The congregation
slowly passed out. 3 score or so going
down to the pulpit stairs to exchange
greetings with the pastor.-World.
/