, 1896-12-18

very best facilities for music and per,
petuatfng the maintenance of the SER
vices on a basis commensurate with
the dignity and importance of eternal
verities.
Not long since a popular writer did
not hesitate to begin what he thought,
no doubt. a severe indictment against
Christianity because its devotees spend
so much time and money in the mere
accessories OF worship. He could see
what he called the practical side OF
Christianity and recognized its tremen-
deus power in the world as a friend to
suffering humanity. He praised it for
its hospitals. for It's asylums. for its
houses Of mercy, for its tender minis
tries to the poor and neglected. This
he said, is true Christianity. Its vast
network of organized charity appeals
to him. and here he said is the true
mission of the Christian church. In
short, from his standpoint, the church
existed. and had a right to exist, only
40 al vi Swiftly III DtltSOielCe
and charity. The answer to this line
Of argument is not difficult to find. As
none of these charities existed before
the advent of Christ-as they are the
direct product Of His gospel. the crea-
ton Of His church-so they are the in
evitable consequence wherever men are
true to Him. In proportion as men
love and honor and worship Him, do
these beneficient results spring into
form and practical activity. They are
not the object of Christ's coming, but
the inevitable sequence and result OF
His coming. The great object of His
advent into this world was to reveal
the iovo of God, and through the love
of God our relation to our brother man.
ed a civilization whose redeeming feat
ure is love to our fellow man. Hence, IL
We strike a blow at the church's wor-
ship, for which such a structure as this
cathedral stands, we kill and destroy
the very roots that feed the tree OF
Christian benevolence and protects un-
der it's sheltering branches the family
of God. Men sometimes speak of phil
anthropy as though it were a natural
virtue. What, let me ask, did it ever
accomplish for mans amelioration be.
fore it was reinforced, invigorated
and guided by the gospel Of the Son OF
God. Left to itself 1t never built a hos,
pital, nor found itself able to do more
than rbemoan with pathetic lamenta.
ton the misery and wretchedness OF
humanity. Only, my friends, as man
keep to the spirit and person OF
Christ, mans great Emancipator, does
philanthropy cease to be a beautiful
but unavailing sentiment and become
a strong and irresistible enthusiasm.
knitting the human race into n great
brotherhood. Our land, thank God,
abounds in perfect palaces Of mercy
and refuge that make America philan>
thropy the wonder Of the world. But
who butlt them and who sustain them!
Take away from their maintenance the
men aud women who believe in God
and f4is Son Jesus Christ Our Lord and
they would ere long crumble to the
grounds. Neither the enthusiasm OF
humanity nor ethical culture, nor an
enlightened selfshness, nor any other
OF those panaceas which are offered for
our acceptance in exchange for the faith
of the crucifed world sustain them for
a single generation.
1t is in the house of God that the spir-
it to accomplish great things for man
Is born; and / maintain that that struc-
ture which stands for influence so
patent and SO supreme, can not be too
stately, too spacious or imperial and
cannot be out of place in any age or any
lard. 1t is a kings house. Nay the
house eli the King OF Kings. 1t is the
virilr.e home and symbol of all those
forces that are mightiest in history and
most indispensable in our civilization.
Shame ON us if we 'belittle it's object or
begrudge Its splendor. Well has 1t
been asked, Shall men dwell in ceiled
houses, ,decked with cedar ind vermtl-
lion, and shall the ark of the Lord
dwell in tent" Shall our princes and
mobiles. our successful men, our hoard
ers OF capital, and our accumulators OF
vast fortunes e their stately and re-
gal palaces; and shall we. and they
disparage the building of a palace
statelier still In which to worship God?
Again l say, God Forbid.
But fair as is the house which art
has reared here in our midst may Gods
abiding presence make it fairer still.
May weary souls waken out OF
their sleep of sin and learn to cry with
Jacob, when he came to Bethel, "Hie
is none other but the house of God,
this is the gate Of heaven" And when
the end shall come then may the Lord
rehearse 1t. when he writeth up the
bead-roll Of His Saints, that many souls
were ripsned here for that more ,glort.
Gus house not made with hands. eternal
In the heavens!
And now my friends l have but q few.
more words to say. II anyone should
ask me how this result-this poem IN
stone-has been accomplished, l could.
in all honesty and humanity, only an
swer. that a power far beyond any mere
human instrrmentality has been vouch.
aafad. 80 frn~ Nc tncention ~ AkA