New-York tribune., 1896-12-07
LISTENING TO DIR. UATSON.
HUNDREDS HEAR THE FAMOUS SCOTCH
MAN PREACH TO COLLEGE MEN
THE FIFTH AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CIIrRCH
CROWDED TO OVERLOOKING HIS THEME.
THE STRENGTH OF LIFE"

CROWDED TO OVERLOOKING THEME.
THE STRENGTH OF LIFE"
The announcement that the Rev DR. John Wat
son dan Macaren would preach at special ser
v!ce for college men NJ tho Fifth Avenue Presby-
tcfian church last evening drew immense
crowd. ali bent on hearing sermon from the Hips
of a man who WAS much better known 70 them
as novelist and lecturer than as a clergyman n
Tho body OF the church reserved. and tho
seats were occupied only 10y those who were
fortunate enough obtain tickets The galleries
were hAod within few minutes OF the tim. the
doors were op, NED. and at 80 o'clock the doors
were closed. ~" church being then fuli 20 over
flowing Several thorsand people turned
away. and the expressions OF disappointment were
numerous and uucquivo- a.. Many OF the people
who held tickets unable 70 obtain admit
iancc or gct near the doors. \ number OF police
men were on hand 10 manage the crowd bur tho
assembly strictly sunday one and easy OF
control Two women tainted in tho crush. but
soon revived upon being iakcn on. into ihr cir.
on th" platform with Dr Watson the Re.
Dr John Han Pr"sidcn, Se,h Low. the Rev. Dr
of New York ana the Rev. Dr W G. Roberts
D- Hall read Il passage OF scripiur, and offered
prayer. nit'r which hc at once introduced DR.
The famous sco,chman took his tex, from Exodus
n. ana announced his theme 70 be The Strength
OF Life His sermon was clear and calm. spoken
with0u' 'Nori and without notes. and vns liiile
spoke substantially ~ follows
~ Moses. and when "" have answered hat question
w. sh.,l know the ~ellspring Of his Power Moses
any Other man not Dy reason OF any innate refine
but because he things that invisible 10 the
blinded eyes OF those about him TO others the skies
to fall from them. To others the rcrk was hard
and dry. but he could see the water gushing from
II TO others the horizon was wl,hon q limit hut
he could see the green fields and the pleasant val
lcys OF the Promised Land. And why were his eycs
opened? our tex tolls us that lie saw that
the burning bush was not consumed and In an In
stan, 1t flashed upon him that behind that bush and
the Mos: High The lows 10 other eyes rs
heliious lot OF mdlconien. ~ II was possible 10
imagine but to th" oyes OF Moses they were Gods
children. Behind them he saw the Spirit Of God
TO others VAS given the power Of sight, but to
Every f- hat can be- called great begins Is
nash arc ifted he curtains thh divide the unseen
from the -ecn and ~" soul s"fs glimpse of the
II may come "nen ,.epp.nr from scene OF gaye;y
into ihe nigh. ne gazes AZ the everlasting
.asi.ng. Every one OF us can remember such 4
mom"ni: rnat sigh, IS bur monetary. We coud
j. aways and live. but T. Is only the memory
of that vision that can make ihe highest iife posi-
ble 10 the sons OF men.
| do not See? I came into The world Of sensIbies
made FOR my realization. wha; see know. what
thlngs ha caHno, be seen. and am sometimes
amized that anybody can deny it,, But 1t IS not so
dlnlcu.' T. a; frs appears. Suppose that this
groat city were destroyed by vast calamity. You
Deeye @lh me tha, It %oqd be reSnt why DO
The enterprise the energy and the brains that have
made IL wha; II Is would repeat the feat were Il
ncedfu.. Bat cannot the brains or IN"
energy or the enterprise. Two have loved through
log years Of sorrow and toll and rial Her hair is
white. and the beauty has long been stripped from
her checks His form IS bcnt and ;hin. al shorn
of pleasant aspect. DO they cease 10 love? Nay.
ra her they love the more: but what they love they
cannot
\ picture OF the Criiclilxicn has been exhibited
IN many OF the great cities Of the world. presume
yCu have II here. for you every picture OF
note here sooner later II shows an ordinary
Cross Of wood. and hanging on II a young Jew
lust an ordinary Jew. I'm appearance. About him
stand the rabble ana the soldiers. You sec the
nails and all the sGualid details OF the execution.
And probably every line Of the painting represents
what actually appeared. But does 1t please you?
Far from it. II rcvolts you. and In some cities
policemen have had TO guard It from destruction
hy n mob. II Is the product of sight But there
Is another picture Of the crucihxon. IL repre-
s. nts such n wonderful cross as never was used
FOR n1Iefactor or for Christ. TIE figure OF the
Christ no longer the simple Jew. seems enveloped
with a mighty majesty All the rabbc. all the
soldiers are gone; all his enemies swept away from
our sight and at His feet kncel Mary and n group
Of mourning Apostles. Behind Is an Italian land
eCapc ''Tis all untrue. Its details are wrong. but
YOU welcome IL and you love TO look upon IT, IL IL
n vision. , =. -.
And This (, IS that must be the strength OF life
tho moments when H. given TO us morns TO pierce
The veII and see II only for an instant what Hes
beyond These little glimpses must support ana
Guido nc through tho mlsts and doubts or ever
dov llfe-thcy only make us confident ard
chco,f,,l in the belief OF the complete final rcvca-
lion of the spirtual-the ultimate triumph or the
good