Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-01
IN THE LORDS HOUSE.
,rV. SPARKS W. MELTON PREACH
Is on RELIGIOUS ETHICS.
BEY. NR. LACYS FINAL DISCOURSE.
y..dnr of the Methodist sunday
school tsSociation-Ncws of the
catholic Observation-Disclosures OF
Mass Here by'a Coiorcd Priest.

...I BAPTIST ChuiCf curing the ltflpu III,
er.-a the pastorate Of that sanctuary
remains vacant. preached Sunday TO a
,,-,e congregation on the Christian
rs5o Of Ethics" He took his text from
LIKE r.. 21-"Thon shalt love Lord thy
cod With an thy heart. and with all thy
e,al. and with an thy strength. and with
all ,hy mind. and thy neighbor as thy
slE"
I'm part he said:
eve are prone 10 think that Chris
tariy came IN contest with all previous
ethical thought. but It makes no such
claim Tor Itself IL docs not claim to be
an entirely new force let down from
Heaven. AS the Founder. I'm His death.
brought about a reconciliation between
God and man. SO in His life He brought
about "a reconciliation between the ethi-
cal thought OF the ages.
.Tt found three systems I'm the earth
The Epicureau. stole. and Platonic With
che F,ulcgreaHs SELF was all. Tire universe
and God were uOthing save when they
could suhscrvc Individual interests. II
r.f-bt or might not be essentiyey sem
s.al according 20 IDEAS Of what happi-
ness consisted in. = wcll-balanced mind
was the motto Of the former However
This might be. everything moved around
sef as the pivotal points II was the
source Of an human actions.
WE MUST ENDURE IT.
"1r sharp contrast with this was The
system OF the Stoics. This system held
lat the individual was nothing, only so
f.~ as DE could serve the universe. Plea
sure ana pain must be endured 10 reach
.his end Plato said: Love Cod But
pqto's God was an abstract IDEAL with
r, connection with the universe. Christ
saws. with the Epicureans Love your
s.Ir and the St0ics. Love your neighbor;
Owe your God Christian ethics then
lel that first a man must love himself.
Tts must precede the love Of the neigh
tr Tor che love OF the neighbor is the
measure FOR the love Of self The same
idea s found In the Golden Rule.
.If W-e have any end IN view Ia our rela-
ton 90 our felow-men. 1t must be an end
which has been reached in our own per
erual experience. II I snatch a friend
from the Jaws OF death e is because /,
myself have tasted life and its joys.
This view does not contradict the Scrip
tlra. Paul said. Set your affections on
things above. but not 70 the extent OF
lebas.ng or degrading self This is the
feaching Of some heather religions. Nor
least covet the Epicurean. that self
should be- so supreme that a man will
De- changed INTO a specie or metamor-
Lhosed into a be- nix note. II IS loving self
N a nobler anu higher sense.
THE TEMPLE OF GOD.
"The body IS the temple OF God. Nor
does il antagonize the command OF the
Master 20 deny self. The self We are 10
deny IS not the self we are 20 love. II
love is honoring that body which Christ
honored. II is honoring that mind which
Christ honorci Il is placing the indi-
vldual on a pedestal Ear above the de-
grading tendencies Of this world IL may
moan the accumulation OF wealth the
attainment - honor. or the acquisition OF
r1yrcr. which ga themselves are noble.
and If used Alright viii add 20 the dignity
% self-the uplifting Of man. the glory
az Cod
THE next step laid down is. Love thy
reighh0r Man may love himself but
De cannot attain the highest satisfaction
lr DTS own individuality. and so this is
provided for IN the love for the neigh
Dor Plato would say; Love God or the
hstract idea. and descend. n possible 10
shy neiehbor. and from this fellowship
arise into communion with God. 4 man
must enter into this relation with ths
image before he arises into communion
with the reality. John saws: II a man
love not his brother whom he hath seen.
how can be love God whom he hath not
SEEM
The question propounded 10 Christ is
tre question Of to-day who is my
rtirhbcr9 and must be answered as
Christ answered H. Who is willing 10 be
Odd ghb0rly2 Would you forever bride
the ~ r-h0rse7 Then let the natives OF
tho giobe gr9sp this principle. Love thy
reIrhbor as myself Would you adjust
social relations? Then teach this lesson
fr capital and labor Would you suppress
anarchy and discord? Then teach this
principle 20 the swarming hosts OF immi-
grants. and you Will accomplish what
human theories. human laws. and hui
wan philosophy can never bring % pass.
Mr.. Lacy Final sermon.
Rev Horace Lacy. Of Alabama. whose
sermons have been greatly enjoyed by thc
c9rrresation Of the Second Presbyterian
church. preached his last sermon TO That
..1rrerat.on Sunday morning He re-
-.rns to his own field Of work, ia Ala
lama. in a day or two. His text was.
'La 7 am with you alway"-Matthew.
18Th chapter. 10Th verse
This promise" said Mr. Lacy. was
frst made 10 Chrisrs disciples. and az
time when they sorely needed it Shut
.r and ramned IN on an sides bv diff
ccltos prosecutions. and oppression.
having iust lost their dear Master. they
could see nothing before them. ana.
,...-..-.r.-,.rt md doybts bar1 10 be
larr. D, y,.. ,.,s. in tbfs hour ~ need.
I'll. .r..r,-tir.. s.,stofri,r strengthen