New-York tribune., 1900-07-09
DR.. SHAW on Providence.
A SERMON PROMPTED By RECENT HAPPENINGS
AT HOME AND ABROAD

AT HOME AND ABROAD
The Rev. DR.. John BaIcou Shaw preached yes
terday morning at the West End Presbyterian
Church, Austerdaul-ave. and One-hundred-and-
hfth-st., on Providence" He said that he had
tried get away from the subject, but recent
happenings had affected him that he felt i'm
PEELED to preach on Divine Providence
DIT. Shaw took his text from Psalms ciu 70. And
his kingdom ruleth over all" The doctor said that
recent happenings. at home well abroad
tended to shake the confidence OF many persons in
Providence. Just a few weeks ago two homes in
his own congregation had been bereaved through
a calamity which none could fathom. the reference
being 10 the loss by drowning OF two children at
the church's Sunday school picnic. Then there
were The HOboken fire and the dreadful happenings
in China After reading or the scenes on the burn
ing steamships woman had said 10 Dr.. Shaw
How can you believe in Divine Providence now2'
Her mother heart yearned over the sufferings
OF those who met dreadful death" said DR..
Shaw. and her sympathy went TO the mothers
and widows and children in Germany bereaved in
that catastrophe. And what shall say Of the
awful happenings in China, which seem as though
We We're reading chapter out of The Middle Ages
And the question will come up, How God toll
crate such things, II He is indeed omnipotent?
How can He permit the sacrifice OF those young
men and women who have gone to that land in d
spirit of such splendid self surrender? For answer
there appears u be but one word-mystery.
Yet ours are rational souls. and We cannot sep
I feel impelIed to Try TO answer these questions
there is q God there is due Him at least some
degree Ot blind faith, and, further, God only
other name FOR Good We must also remember
that as regards omission commission. all dif-
ferentiatiOn regards responsibility is trihing II
God is able 70 prevent a thing and permits II 10
be done, He is Just much responsible as though
He caused ir be done. There is refuge there
fore in the thought rnat God did not cause a par
ticuar thing
but catastrophes are often really consequences.
What Is said be the act OF God may be simply
the act OF man. When only persons
suffer. do think much about it, II is only
when a great many people suffer that We begin
murmur and question the wisdom Ct II all God
allows His 10 operate because OF larger good,
VIXEN His heart is bleeding because OF the suffering
they cause individuals. The president o. one Of
our leading colleges once had TO discipline a num-
Der OF the students for some offence. and II turned
that his one or the number. DID ne
shield his SON. The president said IL would break
heart OF the boys mother. and IL would humiH-
ate himself but for the sake OF the whole college
his son was disciplined with the rest
Just so. the laws OF God cannot be turned aside
save individuals. As necessity is the mother or
invention pain is the parent OF progress. II IS
the great catastrOphes that have brought about
improvements railroads and steamships Do you
suppose that the night OF superstition IN China Is
10 corrinue2 II is still true that the blood OF the
martyrs Is seed OF the Church Believe rather
that after this carnage and murder there viii come
an upbuilding such was never seen before IN
China And although the writings of those dying
men on the burning ships indeed pitiable,
heavens eternal bliss viii pay for all We may have
TO suffer here And must also remember that
II our hearts 20 out 10 the suffering, our feelings
are but the reflections OF Gods own heart