The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-17
REV. BULGIN WROTE
THE SERMON HIMSELF
Pastor Of Christian Church Denies Any
Divine Help 10 the Work.
SAW IT ALL IN A VISION, HE SAYS
While seated in His study, He
Leaned Back, Aweary, and Before
His Eyes Came Four scenes--These
Are What He Depicted to His Con-
gregations--Faisc Report the Do.
ings OF sore- Heads .. Why He
Resigned.

Rev. r. r. Bulgin, pastor of the First
Christian church of North Scranton,
admitted to q Tribune reporter yester-
day that he didn't have direct COM
munication with Heaven in composing
much talked about sermon, preached
one week ago last night in his church
on North Main avenue. 1t was only a
dream, or more properly, VISION"
as Rev. Bulgin termed 1t.
II thought 1 was at the throne OF
the God" said the minister, but the
idea that was there in person is rldicu-
lous." His explanation was sought for
by The Tribune because it had been
publicly stated that Rev. Bulgin
preached a certain sermon which he
assured his congregation In all earn
estness had been written in heaven"
This claim of divine collaboration, il
was said, has caused a stir in Rev. Mr..
Bulgin's church.
Why" said Rev. Bulgin yesterday,
as he opened the door of his cosy home
at 1903 North Main avenue, certainly
I'll talk through The Tribune-come in
enter into the holy of holies.' For"
he said, after reaching his study, this
is the very place where that heavenly
sermon was written"
Rev. Bulgin is young man, tall,
serious and pious in appearance. do
l look idiotic?" he demanded good
naturedly as the reporter surveyed his
person. The reporter re-assured him.
NO" continued Rev. Bulger, "Pm not
i don't believe I've gone that far"
DESCRIBES HIS VISION.
Rev. Bulgin proceeded to tell what
he thought of the accusation. "All
there was in it, he said, ''is that sat
here in this chair and being weary
fell back and reflected and then my
mind fell into reverie and / thought I
was before the great throne. And l
saw Gods face and l spoke to Him;
and 1 saw the child in the manger-
and 10! it was face filled with sorrow
and again I saw His face in joy. 1t
was simply a vision and that is what
l gave my congregation. I understand
where the sting in the paper came from
it was spite work. And as for my
resignation, the fact is that l only
asked to be released from the church
so that could accept a call to a pas
torate elsewhere. There is no dissatis-
faction in my church. Only this morn
ing the board of trustees met and ap-
pointed a committee to demand that the
article in the paper be retracted. No,
there is a perfect feeling in my church
only few soreheads who are not
| regular members, but what / call the
rif-raf.'"
"Will you prepare for The Tribune a
synopsis of your sermon, Mr.. Bulgin?''
81 will, tonight, myself: yes, 1 will"
Here is the remarkable sermon in
brief, as written by Mr.. Bulgin:
The angels have left us but their song
still fingers with us. The Saviour has
gone back to His Fathers home but His
| influence still sways the destinies of men
and nations.
Whilst seated in my study with the
| materials gathered for sermon, my
mind became fatigued in searching the
| thoughts of other men on this burning yet
| gladstone theme, and as / leaned back
| in my chair Tor rest and meditation |
| fell into a reVerie and vision passed be-
| fore my mind. 1t seemed ] was seated in
| front of the throne of Jehovah. He baGe
me look WI on this world and this is
what ] saw:
WHAT HE SAW.
Scene 1.-The earth turning on it's axis
| every twenty-four hours. The time was
| tnul DeTlOu DtlOre tIle DlTln Oh CnrlSl.
| As the earth revolved L saw America
with her Indians and cliff dwellers
searching for God. Then Africa with its
| darkness as black as night. Then Asia
and Europe. l took a look at cultured
and philosophical Greece. l beheld Solon
| Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Their
| thoughts were startling the world
| Though they startled the world they did
not satisfy. They delighted the mind
but the soul still yearned for some one
| to come back from the grave. Amidst
| the teaching of Aristotle and the specu-
| lative theory of Socrates sceptism took
root. / beheld Pyrrho the great sceptic
of Greece. Then beheld Rome with its
| Caesars and Cicero and Seneca. 1 heard
julius Caesar discard the doctrine of the
Immortality of the soul, On the grave
stone of young lady 1 read the epitaph
Cursed be the gods who took my young
life away" and upon another Eternal
| sleep"
The people of both countries were in
the slough of despond. Why not? Re.
move the thought of eternity from the
mind of men and they became despond.