The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-06
DR.. DRIVERS SERMONS
BRILLIANT MARION DIVINE PREACH
les TWICE AT ROBERTS PARK.
Man with an Interesting Career
and Sweet ReasOnabIeness."

DR.. John Merritte Driver of Marion. Ind.
preached to two unusually large audiences
at Roberts Park Methodist Church yester-
day. One of the most widely-known men
in his denomination, he is especially popu-
lar in Indianapolis. His appearance Is at
once striking and Impressive, being over
six feet tall every inch an athlete. and
in the very flower and perfection of health
and strength Though born at the out
break of the late war he has had varied
and dramatic career. Boston university
man. he has read Blackstone, studied medi-
cine, edietd a paper written poetry widely
read and music everywhere sung, Travelled
extensively. won fame a lecturer and
post-prandial orator. and is a passionate
preacher and reformer His sermons yes
terday were of special interest to the peo-
pie, as he may be the next pastor of Rob-
erts Park Church, though the members
have several distinguished divines in view.
In his happiest and most ad captandum
mood he discussed, at the morning service.
the ultimate Doctrine" incidentally plead
ing for sanity. generosity and sweet rea,;,
great doctrines. His ultimate doctrine was
centre sanctitication, which he declared
to be the holy grail of ardent quest, the
keystone to the royal arch OF faith and
hope. and the all-appealing and transhg-
uring apex of Chrst's redemptive work.
But though a SanctiticatiOniSt he was OPP
posed to standardization; warmly, yet tell
derby, pointing out the errors of fanatics.
He told them that perfection OF conduct
in this world, exemption from temptation,
and deliverance from struggle and con-
flict were ''Utopian dreams inspired by the
fumes of the caldron into which Satan casts
He then passed to- the consideration of the
current objections to his ultimate doctrine,
showing that il is the one doctrine that
or q nj oh n ff
harmony, consistency and continuity to the
Bible that it is attainable here and now,
and that even the punctuation marks or
Holy Writ plead with men to be Sanctlned
to God, and dedicated to His service.
Turning TO the positive side OF his theme.
his contention was that sancthcation IS
an instantaneous work of God, sui generls,
apart from conversion, but that maturity
Is the growth of the centuries and of the
eternities when a man is sanctitied he Is
indeed perfect, in the sense that a babe
is perfect. He can never be any more per-
feet, just as the babe can never be any
more human But he can rpen and richen,
magnify and intensity, take on more and
more of the beauty of Christ, more and
more of the glory Of heaven, forever and
forever, as the grape ripens under the
kisses of the sun. as the fruit takes on a
richer and diviner hu1 down in the orchard.
as the wine grows rarer and Tarer in flavor
as the years go by
Like the swell of some sweet tune,
As morning rises into noon,
AS May glides onward into June
the soul, beholding as in a glass the glory
of the Lord is changed into the same image
from glory to glory, even as by the spirit
of the Lord"
The sermon abounded throughout with
sudden and unexpected flashes of telling
wit and satire which were often responded
to with "amens" and hallelujahs.' The
illustrations were drawn from every source
philosophy, science the poets and history,
with splendid quotations from the Scrip
lures. Only whole-hearted and thorough
going extemporaneous orator, with
boundless vocabulary, rich, varied and dra-
matte, and countless illustrations within
easy and instant call could have held such
time in such a happy and obivious cap
tivity. Among his hearers were James A.
Mount Governor OF the Commonwealth,
and his family. DR.. Driver was the guest
of Mr.. E. j. Cornelius and family, at 1905
Meridian street. The Doctor returned to
Marion at 6:35 this morning.