New-York tribune., 1896-06-01
BENEFTCIIRIES or THE PAST.
DIR. STORRS SHOWS WHY THOSE WHO HAVE
GONE BEFORE SHOULD NOT

The Rev Dr. Richard S Storrs preached Mt the
Church Of the Pilgrims last night His text was
taken from the fourth chapter of ST. John. 'Other
men labored and ye enter into their labor lie
said In part:
In our Indebtedness to those who have gone be-
fore us to those who gone through the battles
in our wars IL may be well for look at the
text in a general way. and 20 mediate upon two or
three thoughts that suggested by IT. In the
texts OF the Scripture. there are none more ire
quently called to our attention than this one from
the lips Of the Master. We cannot look into the
windows OF our big stores ride in the cars send
a telegram. write letter or cross the bridge WITH
ont being constantly reminded OF II. But simply
look at the result OF what mas gone before us We
take up the morning newspaper. which comes to us
regularly. and If think OF II at all, 1t Is a
wonderful illustration OF what the Master says N
the You go back In history to the invention
Of the alphabetical writing. to the first effort to rep
resent an articulate sound by mark You go on
to the time when paper was made. You trace MS
tory in the Of print from Its beginning up to the
present iime. All these implied In the modern
newspaper The commerce making the different
countries neghbors: the implements OF the tele-
graph with its wonderful operations making distant
places near us enabling to look at the Russian
coronation. the scenes Of the deVasta'lohs at
s.; Louis; all these Imply in the modern newspaper
And implements OF Christianity behind II all
In fact the history Of The world is involved in any
rapidly ard consign 10 the wastcpaper basket
and 50 T. r. with all the books that we read, ana
hehind II is the multitude Of mind We are debtors
for all this - those whose names We nave seen OF
hea-i We 4 debtors for A. benefits we nave re-
ceiycl from those who have long ago gone out
Of this life into iha. which Is beyond ara of whom
no record remains 70 ia .Xrep, In III" dement's 'hey
have left.
''Wc should then not crliicise those who have
gone fore IL We are hcnehciarie' not bene-
factors We nave no, made ourselves others
have op'ncI ~ the things We are TO pursue
50 the deck of thc steamship should noi cast con-
iempt upon the null. bectus" II uphods the POI,
lshc! brass # tho decks upon its sollilty ana
sfralinDss Tho flower cannot cast contempt upon
The root and seed ont OF which it grows. 80 the
river which "mptcs into the sea. cannot trace l's
own source among the hills
We should never criticise tho past therefore,
and there comes - MS also a s13rp lesson ailnoh-
lsliuc us to 10 our duty toward he future 20
maxi. n brighter for having ived IN H. others
have iasprcd. and inter INTO Their laDor rs
others give" - receive. ana nothing can De
more contemplate than = receive much ana give
li,tl. 20 accept much and inphrt notnlng Make
ih. citv h~iior I'm witch you I've. Make -" corr
muuiiv ami ne.ghborhooi better ana napier ioi
,our having h"en in Il Help every nioN"mriit
f,r 4 wider creation OF christianity in m" "ord;
aul f,r philanthropy. Make the present better ana
nDhlcr than n IS. that those who com" ai'er may
receive a richer benefit than We nav" rr'elV'l
4 a.. have received from others ana "nt'ftl lh'o
o,h.rs lahors ". should h" our generosity s't
forward 20 others others who have goh" before
have a.t forward TO us