Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-03-08
FRATERNITY.
Closing Thoughts of Rev. A. G. vii.
son's Sunday Morning Sermon.

The subject of the morning sermon
at Unity church last Sunday was
Fraternity" 1t was an eloquent ap-
peal for unity Of purpose among
Christians everywhere, and we regret
that we are unable to publish it in full.
However, we have obtained the clos
ing sentences and reproduce them
here. Rev. Wilson will leave Decorah
next week for his new passionate at
Janesville, Wis.,, and he leaves behind
him these thoughts and sentiments
that will live among us as remenl-
brance Of the man:
"'rhe largest word ,on the human
side of life is Brotherhood and it is
from the heart of all the churches that
these cementing bonds must come.
The church has forged her fetters. Let
her now weave chaplets of uniting
sympathy, for may we not in har-
mony declain: Il believe in God the
Father Almighty and in the COM
munion of saints, amen
And in saying these things am no
dreamer of an impracticable union Of
all Christendom. We need the
churches. We need them all. Unity
in variety is the plan of God every
where. Cooperation is the sentiment
of the heavens and the earth. But
sectarianism finds no apology in either
sands or stars. Let every man be
loyal to his church and steadfast to
the truth as he sees it. Let him keep
an open mind and sympathetic out
look. All honor to the sacred memory
of John Wesley! Out of his influence
has come the largest protestant body
in Christendom. About her alters
gather most of my best and dearest
friends. shall never forget her foster
ing care. Let her distinctive phase of
Christian thought and spirit go on as a
mighty army. Remember John Wes-
ley, and don't forget your neighbor,
John Smith, while you are on the
way. All honor to the Congregational
churches! This spirit of democracy
has broken the fetters of vast ec-
clesiasticism, and liberated the church
from the domination of priestly rule
and dictation. Let them hold fast all
that which is good, and take the next
logical step, and make every man re-
ligiously free.
All honor to the name of Martin
Luther! He stood like q rock against
the worlds anathema as the champion
of religious freedom. Let not his fol-
lowers forget his spirit, and let them
do for the twentieth century what he
did for the sixteenth. Over all our
churches may there come the halo of
his influence who prayed the Father
that there might be one fold and one
shepherd-that all might be one In
spirit as he was with the Father.
There is no longer time for strife, and
very soon there will be no need. We
shall reach common level ina little
while. In the silent city there is
social and religious democracy. The
same wintry winds will breathe a
solemn requiem to our sleeping dust
and the flowers and frosts will be q
common coverlet for every one. Be
fore the Judge and Father Of all spirits
we must stand as men and women,
and leave outside the door our divid.
ing names. And, my friends. will not
our me- mories of earth be dearer II we
aim to make the human world nobler
kinder, sweeter. This was the aim
and spirit of Jesus. May we be his
followers.
/ believe it was Francis Havergail
who made this her life motto:
"I expect to pass through this w0rld
but once. Any good that ! can do
any kindness / can show q human be
ING let me do It now. Let me not de
| fer It, for I shall not pass this way
|again."