The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-02

Some Presbyterian weeklies have
lately published a sermon by the late
Rev. VIM. s.. Lacy. d. d. whose pass
ing away not a few weeks ago awak-
ened such a profound sense of bereave-
ment, for he was a sweet, lovable man,
full of good works and OVERLOOKING
with 1.-THE milk Of human kindness"
He was a gifted man and accomplish
ed He was a delightful preacher and
wrote with excellence and
elegance and purity of style. We have
not known but two other native North
CaTolinians whose names come to US in
associGc-on with his as probably the
best writer's of our acquaintance among
North CaroIinians past and present.
One f these passed long g out of
this bourne Of time" and one fingers
yet awhile. DIR. Lacy was beyond fair
question a writer Of fine taste and lit
erary gifts. He had style, ard it was
a good one, full OF beauty and grace
and charm. Put we are not essaying a
criticism upon his gifts, but to refer
briefly to the sermon printed, and
which was preached or the Thanks
giving Day of 1898, in the First Presby-I
terrain church of Norfolk, Va. 1t is
par excellence the very best of all SUCH
sermons TO which we nave listened, or,
so far as we remember, ever read. |
We cannot recall as we write any pa
per, essay, address, or sermon by al
North C~arolinian so replete with a cha
stity and beauty of thought, almost DO
etical in it's tone and sentiment, and
every where impressive, wise, thought
full, tender, graceful and elevating,
even inspiring, hat equals this produc-|
ton of the lamented divine. 1t is so
full of a tender grace and beauty that
it seems like the last song of the dy-
ing van" 1t is a very handsome spec
linen of his refined scholarship and
reading, and of that pure jove of the
beautiful, the good and the wise, that
so distinguished this admirable Chris
tan gentleman. We desired to makeI
some heightened extracts, but our spaceI
now is nearly filed, so we can only
give a few specimens of the fine marbleI
wrought into this temple of the mind:
Fortunate is that state and thatl
nation the bulk of whose people liveI
in the country and are engaged in SCI
curing the products of the soil. 81
simple pleasures are food andI
sleep! Carnal, fieshly~. unworthy, do wei
say! They were not beneath the noticel
and Thanksgiving of the Lord of life.
"AO a gauge NE HpOnQerdDIe SlOryI
or sun or star or dew, or calculate theI
ETHEREAL and subtle delight they af-
ford. The personal comfort, thel
widening horizon, the accessibility of
the best education, the advantages of
Christian civilization are ours for thel
effort. We are the heir of all the ages.
Never were there such opportunities
of personal development, of general
usefulness, of national evolution. A twoI
cent stamp may take good news tol
your far distant brother. A five cent
may purchase the New Testament, or
send it on it's mission of light. = e
The gift of His Son fills angelic hostsl
with adoring wonder and all heaven
with praise. The sweet and familiar
story 1 shall mot tell. The hallowed
names of Bethlehem and Nazareth, of
Calvary n Olivet, the record of thosel
crowded years of serious teaching, gen.
tie ren1onstrance, loving service, won
derful compassion, patient suffering.
perfect obedience. the picture of his
bleeding feet and bleeding face, thel
darkness, the despairing cry, the tomb.
a story of unmingled and ineffa-t
BILE divine pity they all relate. What
heart thrills not at the thought r
This grace-this gift is the divine al
chemy that transmutes our trials into
triumphs, our crosses into crowns. tt
is because Jesus has come into the
heart, that the tear of sorrow is wiped
away and tn" anguish of bereavement
is assuaged. 1t is because He is given
that thanksgiving n the voice of
melody can burst forth from the lowli-
est cottage in the land. Yea, the heartI
is untaught indeed that ecogniz notl
that all our blessings, uncounted and
aforementioned, are irradiated by His
love and forever ha1lowed because they
come to us through His pierced hands.
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of ALL"