The evening times., 1898-10-05

WILLIAM CRANE GRAY, d. D.,
Missionary Bishop of Southern Florida.
After the communion service the Rev.
DR.. McKim, rector of Epiphany, an
nounced the presidency of Bishop Whip
pie. owing to the absence of Bishop VIII
liams, and the sermon, to be delivered
by Bishop Tuttle. He notified the mem
bers of the house of delegates to assem-
bic in the church at 3:30 O'Clock this aft
ernoOn to begin the first business session
of the convention.
During the communion service and pre-
ceding the sermon the musical program
arranged by Secretary Charles r. Hutch
ms, was rendered by the choir. The num-
bers sung were "Kyrie," in A, Elvey;
Gloria Tfbi," Pleyal. and hymn 4gl
AT the Conclusion OF the hymn, Bishop
Tuttle ascended the pulpit and began his
sermon. 1t was impressive and elouuent
iy delivered, and held the attention of
the congregation from the start He
possesses kindly features, his long gray
beard giving him a venerable appearance
and his earnestness and force quickly
wins him place in the hearts of his
listeners.
The Opening Address
Bishop Daniel Sylvester Tuttle of Mis-
souri, delivered the opening address. His
text was: Isiahf liv:2. Enlarge the place
OF thy tent and let them stretch forth
the curtains of thine inhabitants; not
lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy
stakes
Bishop Tuttle said:
The opposing forces of progress and
conservatism are presented to our minds
'Lengthen the cords is the motto en-
blazoned on the banners of the one and
strengthen the stakes on the banners
he. fuFh Il,
Church of God. and in the history and
nature Of the human race, they have al
ways manifested themselves opposing
forces set. not to destroy each other, but
TO complete and strengthen each other
The church OF God is the divine iustitu-
ton set TO declare the will of God, and
the truth of God and the duty OF man.
On earth at first ii was wrapped up in
the family as was also the state. After
10g0 years the patriarchal church fur
nished the means of divine revelation
and fixed the standard of human duty. To
Adam and to Noah, TO whom the divine
command Of progress was given, ''be
fruitful and multiply and replenish the
earth and subdue it,.
But the tine came when the men Of
the patriarchal church thought too lit
tie of SenGthening their cords, and too
much Of strengthening their stakes. They
were Of one language and OF one speech.
They came 10 the Plain of Shisar. II is
O. good place to be- in this day. Let US
not allow ourselves to scatter over all the
earth. Go to: let us raise a power and
raise and fortify city that we be not
scattered But Babel-buiIding conserva-
tives must not block progress that way.
The Lord himself came down and by the
confusion Of tongues dispersed them
when disobediently they had refused to
disperse themselves.
The Mission of Abraham
''The cord-lengthening went on for $50
years. Then the time came for stake
strengthening. The Lord Jehovah chose
out Abraham and inducted him into
special covenant relationship. whereof
circumcision was the seal and pledge So
the Jewish church arose the successor
and heir to the patriarchal II lived
about 1000 years, as the patriarchal
church had lived about 1909 years The
patriarchal church had been busy in
the main with lensthening cords. though
there were times, as We have seen. when
conservative instincts asserted them
selves in sort of self-willed way.
The Jewish church busted itself mainly
with strengthening stakes. 1t drove tent
pegs deep, and did not want them moved.
II Turned its back upon outsiders and
raised up hedges against them. In the /
polytheistic beliefs and undisciplined prac-
tices prevalent one can see how necessary
such conservatism was. There were prose |
lytes Of the gate.
In Abraham and his seed all Of the |
nations OF the world were TO be blessed. |
There was to be circumcision by faith |
wider and better than by the knife Then, |
in the fullness of time. Christ came and 1
founded His great church-the successor |
and heir Of the Jewish church. 1t, too. |