The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-15
THE GOSPEL OF LUKE.
Rev. Wallace Radcliffe ON the Beauty
of the Apostles Teaching.


of the ApOstIe's Teaching.
In his opening prayer at yesterday morn
| ing's services at the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church Rev. Wallace Rad
cliffe invoked the divine blessing and pro-
lection on all children at school, and espe-
| cially those who are attending schools, col
| leges, and universities away from the
| beneficent influences Of home and the
| watchful and loving eye Of parents. The
| text of his sermon DR.. Radcliffe took from
| Luke i:3. He spoke throughout his SER
| mon en- the literary ability of Luke, his
popularity of style. and his vividness In
! depicting scenes and incidents in the life
Of Jesus Christ, his birth, death. and as
cent to heaven. DR.. Radcliffe said that
Luke was also physician. and that even
| in his gospel terms and words were used
| by him which are characteristic of his pro-
fessional calling. In the course Of his ser
mon DR.. Radcliffe said:
ITO every, man his work. Every man is
| his work, and his work is the revelation OF
the man. We know Luke by that which
| he did. He never mentions himself by
| name. His special mission was the proc
| lamation of the gospel to the Greeks and
| through them to humanity. Literature. art.
statecraft, education. all tended to one
| ideal. This ideal was beauty. Beauty and
| thought were supreme. and all things must
| tend toward the development OF that ideal.
the perfection Of beauty. Greek history is
evidence of this cult and thought. There
was duty unattained which all Greece
could not accomplish. 1t was Jesus Christ
who met the Greek idea. she perfect d.
vine. beautiful in perfect human forms.
Not only physical beauty, but also spiritual
and intellectual beauty. 1t was Luke's
mission to reveal this to the Greeks He
was particularly fitted for this mission
His home was in Antioch; he was a ply
stefan and literary man. He was man
of peculiar culture. which fitted him for
the chosen field. He placed his spiritual
and intellectual ability at the disposal OF
the Master. 1t was his to preach the Cos
pei as taught by Paul; II was his to demon
strate the friendship OF Jesus Christ. We
recognize the very time when he Joined
Paul. His associations with Paul can be
traced throughout his writings. His style
is unusually accomplished, picturesque,
and fascinating. There is a variety and
distinction In technical and characteristic
terms and words and expression in his gos-
pei denoting his calling as physician
"Luke's gospel" DR.. Radcliffe said. lis
in the first place a gospel OF worship. It
Is he who gives to us the hymn of nativity.
OF the Gloria in Excelsis.' the Ave Maria
In words of song the angels announced the
advent OF the Saviour. When humanity
comes nearest to divinity and divinity
comes nearest to the human heart II is
through the medium of music. 1t is but
hitting that the birth of Christ should have
oeen announced through song Luther
WINS the hearts Of the world more by his
songs than by his speech. When Christ
comes near the human hearts then song
song in the heart. song in the Church-is
supreme; prayer will cease preaching will
cease: song will never cease Song is the
supreme power in the Church.
Speaking of Luke's works. DR.. Radcliffe
said: 1T is Luke that tells us that when
Jesus was baptized he prayed: that at
the cleansing of the leper he prayed;
that at the cross Christ prayed, and Luke
gives to US the closing picture of Jesus
Christ as he ascends to heaven Luke's
gospel is gospel OF humaneness. He
brings as no other evangelist, the very
infancy of Jesus Christ before our eyes.
1t is Luke who brings to US the story of
the youth Of Christ, and his appearance
in the temple when twelve years old.
Every child at Christmastide reads Luke's
story Of the birth of our Saviour. II is
Luke who teaches US ChrIst's relations
woman who came and touched the hem of
his garment: he showed us Mary and
Martha in their contrast; he IL is who
again and again. as no others do, fills the
term of women with tenderness and
thoughtfulness; who elevates them to
their proper plane. We needed again and
again to teach the revelation of Jesus
Christ to women. They were endangered
by the scribes and pharisees. But the
v,a1 Nf OF =
home with its joy; it has broken the
superstition and idolatres CT other days.
While the whole gospel speaks in words
of affection and glistens with gems of
sympathy. Jesus Christ comes forth re-
Numbering the poor and the outcast He
always finds time to stop at the funeral
of the only son of widow and give con-
ISOLATION and help. He turns to those who
are hiding and shrinking; to those who
are neglected and suffering The gospel
of Luke is eminently one Of tolerance.
The gospel of tolerance is consistent with
the gospel of justice. Such gospel. then,
is OF necessity a gospel of universally.
no 'pent UP Utica 1t is gospel Of uni
versatility that breaches until the ends o.
the earth to all, to the lowliest as well
as to the highest"
Dr. Radcliffe announced that the Synod
of Baltimore will meet at the Eastern
Presbyterian Church tomorrow. Wednes-
day. and Thursday. Tomorrow at 1:3O
o'clock the Womans Presbyterian Foreign
Missionary Society will meet in the West
minister Church. Dr. Brown a missionary
recently returned from China, will speak
on the conditions in that country at
Thursday evenings services. The Young
Mems Bible Glass. which is in charge Of
Justice Harlan of the Supreme Court. will
again resume its meetings next Sunday