The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-04-05
At Trinity Nj. Il. Church.

Trinity M. e. church was filled with
large congregation last evening to hear
the farewell sermon of the pastor, Rev.
Dr. Kidder The topic was "a Final
Word" Mr. Kidder said that in these
days old ideas and theories are being
cast aside as new ones are being re-
vealed. But some principles have stood
the test of years, as for instance Cali
leo's astronomical theory. In religion
as in moral and in scientific things all
that Is not founded on truth falls, while
what Is founded on truth remains. The
Copernican system of astronomy fits
Jesus Christ fits into the facts of mans
spiritual life. He as the Divine Son of
God, with power to forgive sin meets
the condition and so the religion of
Jesus Christ remains in the world
"Some theories we may not be able
to understand, but the beauty of the
life of Christ is as patent as the sun
shining in the heavens Our conscious
souls are witnesses of the fact that to
as many as receive Him, He gives pow
er to become sons of God. If men give
up this, all the theories of the world
cannot save them. The foundation Of
truth stands sure. He who is founded
on truth is founded on God. 1t is a
very dangerous thing to oppose the
truth. He who does so Is kicking
against a two edged sword, and if he
perseveres long enough he will come
to realize his folly. The weakest child
with the truth is stronger than a whole
army without the truth because God is
with him.
"Pope says, AN honest man is the
noblest work Of Cod An honest man
is one who says what he means, and
means what he says. He gives you the
truth. There are business men who
say they don't believe that honesty is
the best policy, that they can't do bus
mess now on that principle. If your
neighhor says this, would advise you
to lock your chicken coop. The man
who says so is an outcast from earth
and from heaven. The man who Is
honest Is on the straight and narrow
way that leads to heaven.
God is the Judge of all that is just,
and what Is not just falls under his
condemnation. The man who is able
to go along and cover up much Of his
inner life is the one that the world
praises usually, but God don't. There
is in this city tonight many a man
who, IL stripped of what money brings,
and were judged by the public con-
science would not hold the position he
holds tonight. Only the pure in heart
shall see God.
Character, of course, is everything.
but character will have reputation
sooner or later. Reputation is one of
the most valuable things to have in
business. The reputation that a man
has is large part of his working
calibre, and this is especially true in
the church of Christ. People take us
for what we are. Nowhere is reputa-
ton so wide reaching as in the church.
Unless your life is pure you are han
dicap to the church life. If you are
not pure in heart an angel from heaven
cannot do the work with you that He
could If you were pure. The standard
bearers of the church should be men of
real Christian lives and experiences and
unless they are so they have no moral
right to represent the church before the
world. If a time comes when a man
is unwilling to bear the standard as
Jesus Christ wishes, then we must part
company with him, If we would be true
to Christ. We must sacrifice one or the
other.
81 make no personal application of
these words except in one case. and
that is my own. During the year that
1 have been here I have sought hon
estly to go by this rule, to be faithful
to this great commission. I am not
conscious of having said a word that
lies outside the kingdom of God No
one prays more earnestly than do that
you as individuals and as a church
shall receive the divine crown. My