The Portland daily press., 1897-09-13
AT ST. STEPHENS.
Rev. John De soyrss of st. John, n.
Offciates.

Row. John De Soyres, rector of the
Stone church" in st. John, n. 3
preached all able sermon yesterday morn.
ing at ST. Stephens church. AS h;
name indicates. he is of French descers
but English by birth and education. He
was graduated at Cambridge University
and while in England was occasional
lecturer and preacher and at one tt me
was chaplain at Cronstadt, Russia; he
spent several years in study in Germany
and is distinguished as general scholar
Us wei. as theologian, and was offered
nigh position in tho old country, bat
preferred the new.
Mr' ooyres took the thome CT his dis.
course IRON Luke, 10Th chapter and 2atn
verse. A nd, behold. certain lawyer
stood uR and tempted, him saying, Master
"has snail do to Inherit eternal life"
ihe central idea being the story OF tina
good Samaritan.
The speaker said: First: the seeno;r,
harshDess Of the lawyer is owing To the
word tempting" which is used in two
very different senses III scripture. The
question seemingly having ono sirniflca-
ton, end the end another and less harsb
Interpretation.
Second; but the sequel proves the flaw
in the questioners character. He tries to
undo the force of his own splendid defini-
ton Of the law of God which purpose is
happily defeated by the parable which
follows.
Third; this beautiful parable has been
rightly called ''the gospel within the
gospels" its most. important teaching has.
however, often been ignored to wit:-the
sympathy which should exist between
different Mathematics. the common bond
which unites lthem and /. ought sto
regulate their intercourse with each
other. Their true relation is one of friend
illness and should lead to helpful acts
10 this true relation however. all an
tiquity was quite blind; of old the word
stranger was current synonym for
the word enemy. Christianity correets
this perverted view and would unite
different races in the bonds of brother
hood. Their aims and ambition should
be to cultivate peace and good will on
earth and among men and thus realize
the song of the angels at the announce
ment of Jesus's birth.
But though this is the teaching of
Jesus, nations have been slow to follow
or understand it. Nineteen centuries have
passed without a ,thorough appreciation
and appropriation of our Lord s doctrine
10 this day men of different races who
should live together and love as brethren
are arrayed against each other, often in
deadly strife.
And as with nations, SO with classes.
The priest for example was meant to be
aud has always professed to be a servant
of all and especially of the unfortunate
and afflicted, but, alas, how often does he
pass by on the other side, averting his
face at the sight of distress. The Levite
too, who should minister to the spiritual
in man often is more concerned with
tithing, anis, mint and cumin than with
the weightier matters of law, laying more
stress on forms and ceremonies, the letter
which killeth than on the spirit of the
parable which alone giveth life.
The history of nineteen centuries shows
how hard it is for human nature to con-
form to the teachings of Jesus and to re-
duce his ideas to practice. His spirit of
life, of compassion for all those who are
fainting under their heavy burdens was
the most striking characteristic of his
ministry, and though his own examples
conforms to and corroborates his teach
ings, too seldom is it followed by his pro-
fessed disciples, yet, probably all feel and
must acknowledge that this spirit is the
hope of the future, as it has been the
principle of all progress in the past
individuals and races, communities and
countries look upon each other as neigh
bors whose duty it is, and whose privi-
leges it should be to befriend each other.
Thus and thus alone can the intent of the
parable be fulfilled in the true neighbor-
hood of nations.
In conclusion the preacher dwelt upon
the application of the parable to in
dividuals and the need of harmonizing
our Christian profession with Christ's
teaching and practice, and in nothing is
this more needed than by making an
earnest application ofrshe Christian law
OF neighborhood and neighborly. kindness.
Don't hurry. Take time to examine