The times., 1899-10-23
YACHT RACES HIS THEME
i Spiritual Lesson Drawn From
the international Contests.

Rev. Thomas {. EnSton shows by
Analogy How They Bear on the
Efforts OF Man to Reach IA Heaven
ly GoaI-Christ the Pilot to Help
Reference to Otis Campaigning.
Rev Thomas Chalmers Easton, pastor Of
the Eastern Presbyterian Church, at the
corner of Sixth Street and Maryland Ave-
nue. northeast. preached yesterday to d
large congregation. The recent yacht race
between the Columbia and Shamrock was
used as an instrument to teach a spiritual
lesson of much significance. The text was
taken from Hebrews xii:1-2, Let US run
with patience the race that is before US =
DR.. Easton spoke in part as follows:
Most of the greatest nations in the
world have been deeply interested in a
race between two famous yessels-the Co
lumbia and the Shamrock. During the past
forty-eight years some public-spirited
American citizens have spent vast sums of
money in building yachts which could out
sail all competitors Briefly stated, there
have been ten match races for the Amer
ica's Cup
The recent race between the English and
American boats possessed a strange fascina-
tion for all classes, and was entered into
with all the zest and enthusiasm OF which
human nature is capable. The race course
was short, yet long enough to decide the
merits of the boats, the seamanship OF
the crews the splendid qualities Of the
masters and the heroism of all concerned.
Impartial judges decided the award. 1t is
to impart some spiritual lessons that We
have chosen the race as a theme, showing
by analogy how it bears upon the heavenly
race where an immortal destiny is to be
decided, and where the award is not sill
yer cup. but a golden crown-a crown of
glory and an eternal recompense. The sea
of human life is our course. be it short or
long subject to adverse winds, storms, and
Gains, ana testings of all kinds to prove
our fitness and endurance to run the race.
-As a vast host Of millions representative
of two worlds had their eyes fixed upon the
race of the yachts so in the souls race
three mighty empires watch with intense
gaze this spiritual contest, heavens battle
ments are thronged with eagle-eyed watch.
ers, and even hell is anxious to see some
soul defeated that il may claim another
ruined mortal. God has planted in human
nature, for wise purposes, a desire 10 aim
at the highest excellence, and to gain tins
greatest rewards. In the recent race ii
was again and again declared of as result
Of no wird. Every inch of canvas was
spread, and every device of man was with
out avail. Nature manifested her suZe-
rainty and the race was given up until
better conditions prevailed. Wind is the
type of the holy spirit all through the Bible,
and here we see the sovereignty of grace
no one car win the goal and reach and
possess the prize without the aid of the
holy Spirit which is within. The breath
Of God is the life OF the soul. God has
recompensss for the successful racers.
In the yacht race the desire for the cup
was the spirit which animated both parties.
England desired it and America was deter
mined that il should not leave our shores.
Yet the race had TO be run to win it. The
cup did not possess much intrinsic value.
but it was the glory of winning it that
appealed 10 the devotees of the contest.
So in the heavenly race over the sea OF
life there is something beyond being ex-
cellenL and true. This is precious. but
God has more for US. There are plaudits
that sound along the corridors Of eternity
There are marks Of honor to be given out
which shall be as valuable as the character
which they adorn. Salvation is a free gift,
bat God assured us that there are recon-
penses for faith. self-denial spiritual
strength. and conservation to God. There
was a great mistake made in selecting
mixed crews in years gone by.
-Four years ago none but American sea
men were selected to sail the Defender.
Most Of this years crew was from Deer
Isle Maine. Captain Barr selected his
thirty-eighJ men from 400 applicants None
was over forty years Of age and ali were
Americans There was q sovereign seIgc-
uon. and so God calls souls into his king
dom in sovereignty Of grace. The heav-
emily race can be run only by saved men.
I II the prize is won it viii be the reward
Of self-denial and hard work This is true
OF all competition. whether in brain work
or in spiritual living, and there is q call for
something 10 be sacrificed and laid aside
if the race is TO be won. A soul bent on
4 indulging natural inclinations cannot make
headway in the heavenly race. The great
sins are not the ones to be most feared,
but the small offences that concentrate
their power for evil in our Iives-the many
little sins which fasten themselves upon
US and waste our strength. Such sins are
TO be overcome by repeated attacks.
The great wars are not won by battling
all over the land, but are usually deter
mined by one great victory. The fighting
Of many small battles in the Philippines
/ has been the weakness Of General Otis.
and al the rate he is fighting if will be
Ntwenty years before the war is brought 10
q close"
In closing his discourse the minister
again referred to the boat race. He ikeued
Z Christ 10 the captains Of the yachts. when
/ Captain Barr walked on board the Colum-
/ bia, continued ne minister the sailors
were not responsible for the outcome of
the race, and al they had to do was TO
/ obey orders Pilots are given grave re-
( aponsibilities. So Christ comes down to
walk unto us as our helper and director.
nay more, comes 10 dwell within us. to be
the life IN our blood and the fire in our
! thought"
TEE EVILS nE INTERPRETATIONS