The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-10-25


influence of Christianity, but the charm
will soon pass.
zone hopeful characteristic of the
moral influence that proceeds from the
throne of God through the church of
Christ, is that it is perennial. per-
ennial stream. There are no breaks,
no Interruptions! no movements in
which the currents of influence are ar
rested in their onward course.
'In this there Is lesson for Chris
tan workers.; our influence for good
should be perennial
This moral influence that proceeds
from the throne through the sanctuary
is destined to enrich the world, to
ensphere the globe. In opposite
directions God is moving to reach
all people. Along parallel and longi-
tudinal lines the power Of God moves
to encompass the globe.
"God is pressing the battle eastward
The forces of truth are gaining vast
conquests in one direction. What about
the other points of the compass?
"The river of God deepens and wild
ems as it progresses. The moral influ-
ence of Christianity is increasing in
volume and in intensity as it goes
forth to bless the world. The power of
Christ must be acknowledged in every
modern estimate of the worlds trans
forming agencies. We may still set
ourselves against the increased and
ever increasing tide OF religious infiu-
ence. No person will be borne into
heaven against his will on the deep,
strong waters of the river of life that
flow through the world. The influences
of the the spirit are persuasive, not
coercive.
1.-THE moral influence of redemptive
agency will not carry all men before
it, but it cannot be arrested in its for
ward movement. We fall by the way
side, but the river of God rolls on. We
cannot drop this symbol of Gods re-
demptive work without comforting our
minds with the thought that the river
of God also bears healing and nourish-
ment.
1.-THE Christian religion when received
in it's simplicity and integrity is Won
derfulIy adopted for sweetening and
strengthening human life Leaves for
healing and fruit for nourishment are
always needed in this earthly life. We
know not what the hext life may need,
but we are very certain of some things
that are needful for this life. What
ever sweetens and strengthens life con-
fers untold blessings.
with the conception of the relation
of the church to the manifold needs of
man and to the merciful purpose of
God, began my ministry in this place.
and with this conception enlarged and
confirmed lay down this social trust.
The following words spoken by me at
the time of my installation indicate the
spirit and purpose with which / have
endeayored to perform the duties of
this sacred office:
eff, during my ministration here,
which, be it short or long. / shall be
able to deepen the joys Of those who
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and
to awaken joy to the hearts of those
who are not protesting Christians,
will then consider that my ministry has
not been in vain. On the other hand,
shall care but little for the confidence
you repose in me as your pastor, for
the comforts with which you surround
me and mine in our home life, for the
delightful friendships formed during
our association, unless this confidence,
these comforts, these friendships enable
me to magnify the name of the Son of
God in the midst of this people. I en-
joy the comfortable and agreeable
things of this life as much as any who
occupy the pews in this church, but
there is one thing that gives me more
Joy than all these and that is to behold
men, women and children rejoicing in
the personal knowledge of Jesus Christ
as their Lord and Saviour. This is the
Joy I shall seek to bring to all. Need
I assure you to-day that my concep-
ton of the pastorate of church,
whether it be a small church or large
one, is one that involves the pastorate
of the whole church and not merely of
some part of it. In the
spirit of the covenant am the pastor
of the whole church, the rich and the
poor, the sick and the well, the strong
and the weak, the young and the old.
Those who attend upon the services
and those who do not attend; those
who have lost their joy in the Lord and
feel they have forfeited the confidence
of the Christian community and those
who abound in joy and rejoice in the
Christian confidence of their neighbors.
and those who are only members of
the congregation all look to the church
for whatever of helpfulness the church
can render; these. each and all of them,
come within the scope of the pastoral
relation. Whenever I cease in some
real and true sense to be the pastor
of the whole church you can rest as
sured that the time is drawing near
when in the interest of the church and
in the larger interest of the kingdom of
God l should cease to be the pastor of
any part of the church. Another field
should be sought by me and another
pastor should be sought by you; for
in the unity of the parish lies the pow
er Of the pastor. A division of senti-
ment that manifests itself in an I'M
willingness to cooperate in Christian
activity will paralyze the best effort of
either pastor or people. If our rejoicing
in Christ Jesus inspires our united SER
vice in behalf of the church of Christ,
we need not fear
ut is not for me to say with what
measure of success I have realized
those ideals The work iS done The