The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-15
THE HONOR OF Toll.
Rev. Charles H. McClane Preached at ST.
Stephens Church.

Rev. Charles III. McClanc, who was rec
ommended for the deaconate at the Epis-
copal convention last Tuesday, preached
at st. Stephens Church yesterday. MIR.
McClane x aduated from Brown University
in the class OF lSH3 where he was lead
ing member of the Bishop Seabury Asso-
citation and everyone in this town who
cares anything about athletes remembers
him as the crack outfelder and one OF the
heavy hitters on the Varsity nine.
His text last night was from Genesis
III:l9: In the sweat OF thy face shalt
thou eat bread"
An abstract OF his discourse is as fol-
lows:
In order TO fully comprehend the sig
nificance of these words, we. are compel
led TO cast glance at mans position
when created by God. IL was that period
of mans life when happiness, honesty ana
bliss were enjoyed as result OF inno-
cence. II was season OF self-discipiine
and self-rettraint.
Some of the higher critics, it Is true,
would eliminate this state, the Garden
of Eden, yea, the very origin OF worlas
as described in the book OF Genesis.
But when the philos optical and scien-
tiic scholars have disclosed their views,
when human speculatioDs fall, we are
driven to ADMIT, or deny without proof,
that "In the beginning God created the
heaven and the earth, 'and that "the ord
God formed man of the dnst ot the
ground and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life and man became a living
SOUL" as well as the verify OF the words,
"The woman whom thou lavest TO be
with me, she gave me OF the tres and
did eat," and the woman's response,
"The serpent beyuilod me and / did
eat, land God eaio. for this. I'm the
sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy
bread"
Hence we realize that the words OF the
text were delivered by God to man, as
the result OF a fall from a moral stand
ari, and that their significance was OF a
moral nature.
1t is truly. stimulating and comforting
! to.know why so many conditions OF toll
| and labor are imposed upon us, and the
| only warrant for tlrsrn is TO be found In
! the words Of the text.
When we once grasp the prevailing and
| intended idea OF God in creating man,
| the SHADOWS of doubt vanish, and we
| behold that man was and is experiencing
| tae love and long-suifering of God bis
| Father, to remind him of his fallen con-
| dition and TO prepare him for the recep-
| tion of his Saviour.
But not only to Adam and Eve were
| the lessons CT honor and toll taught, but
| Assyria, Persia, Greece and Rome ex-
| perienced similar discipline, only to
learn that man proposes but God dis
| poses.
Thus, when history reveals practical
| illustrations and examples OF the signih-
| cance OF the text, ought not each one OF
US to honor and respect his vocation in
| life, whether ii be at the bench In the
gloomy workshop. or in some more at
tractive position 10 learn the lesson and
! soarce OF our existence, realizing tue
| sanctity and preciousness of human life
| and labor, "1'o learn to labor truly and
| get our own living in that state of life
unto which 1t has pleased God to call
US"
Philosophy presents us with visionary
| beluties and smooth prophecies, but
| where is yonr soiace or reciprocity?
| Aristotle, Plato and Cicero, concurred
| in the view that ilie OF labor was Tor
the ignorant, and as such 10 be ignored.
What consolation can an aching heart and
poisoned mind, derive from the theory
| OF the "SurvIvsi of the Fittest?' Christi
anity teaches men not only how 10 die,
but why and how they should live as
members OF socie,y. That life OF se-
clusion il not a life of self development
and moral improvement, that man
must support mis- moral constitution by
induging in worthy deeds and noble
thoughts and that life OF labor and
love imply these actions. May we all
labor patiently, trusting that after we
nave done His will, We may be partakers
of the promise.