The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-12-24
TIME CARD o. 5. l.. Ry.
A CHRISTMAS SERMON.

The highest 'ermon in eighteen hun
bred years is the following aye since
the sermon on tie mount with IT'S infinite
tenderness and infinite sympathy, no SER
mon. written or spoken. has rver equaled
H. when It's surroundings are imagined
aud considered. Imagine bishop Of
the mighty church Of England, walking
into his pulpit on Christmas morning,
facing such AN audience OF the wealthy,
fashion and mobility such as can only be
found In the mighty metropolis Of Lon
don. and preaching the following DIS
course:
Text; "Go TO now, We rich men, weep
nd howl for your miserics that shall
come upon you. Behold the hire OF the
laborers who have rraped down your
fields. which Is of you kept back by fraud
crieth; aud the cries Il them which
nave reaped aud entered into the ears Of
the Lord OF Sabbath. We have lived in
pleasure on the earth and been wanioL;
We have nourished YOUR hearts MS In
day OF slaughter We have CONDEMNED
aid killed The just. ard he doth not res
list you. - James 5;l-0.
Fellow citizens, the text which lha,e
just read YOU, aud from which shall
preach the last sermon as bishop that
shall ever deliver from this pulpit, IS one
which Is probably as unfamiliar TO you
comfortable, wcll-to.do people as It is
familiar 70 all those who since it was
originally penned have toiled aud suffer
ed for humanity. Although it is read
some timrs in the ordinary course Of our
church service, yet judging by your con-
duct, your ears have been deaf To its
terrible dcnunciations. From the days
when was an humble curate until now
! have had a large aud varied experience
of cathedrals churches. preachers and
sermons. but | have never yet heard a
discourse on these words, and | can not
learn from any of my brother bishops or
priests that they have used them. or
heard them SO used.
eau see by Your uneasy demeanor
that you are asking yourselves why, on
this Christmas day. when, In accordance
with custom. ! should be preaching
smooth things to you. ! should be made
10 offend your delicate susc capabilities
by quoting The sayings of one OF the com
mon people words written eighteen CEN
urles ago--which might have done very
well then. but which cannot possibly be-
applied to you aud your class today YOU
who are here clad IN purple and fine
linen. who. some of YOU. live IN king s
houses. who fare drlicately every day,
and who consider that YOU have fulfilled
every moral obligation when YOU have
dropped "A coin In the collection box,
before YOU step into YOUR carriag, To be
driven to your luxurious home. 1t is
because that not only James but Jesus
Christ himself. II he could stand in my
place today, would hurl THESE words at
you with force aud passion of which
We in the nineteenth century have bul
little conception. Not as bishop. bul
as man. ! repeat them TO YOU. hardly
hoping that they may touch your hearts
but more as a Justification for my new
and strange position.
For years have been one OF YOU. NJ,
home has not been where Christ's hom'
was-with the masses-but with th'
classes. | have an abundance of thi
Worlds goods. have been dignitar,
of a church which IS the church OF Nh
rich. and not the church Of the poor
Without "A protest have mixed IN societ
with men and women whom Chris
would have denounced AS Scribes an,
Pharisees. In the house Of lords hav
Sat side by side with del we'd wretchss
and silently have | welcomed as my pei
sonal friends highborn women some q
whom ! see before me- tolay-with whor
no decent workinrman would allow hi
wife or daughter to associate.
nave seen among you spreading liz
caLcer, The lust + the flesh and III