The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-06-11

be called Biblical philosophy. / have
always preferred to confine my thoughts
/ to the Bible. And / believe that men
are getting more and more to refer to
the Bible for words of comfort and ad-
vice. l think, if I had any advice to
give to a young man entering the min
istry to-day, should say Read the BIZ
BILE and all pertaining to It," 1 have
| tried also to follow what may be called
ethical theology, and to bring the great
truths Of the Bible down to help me in
my every day conduct I have always
tried to preach rational religion and
rational theology. Nationality is the
very work of that scripture. God wish
es us to believe nothing not rational.
Along the great lines of reason our
| theology must lie. Some people get con-
| fused when they try to understand how
theology Is a progressive science. Re
ligion Is always the same, they say.
Religion is like the earth The earth
has always been the same but it was
not until the biologists came that we
came to understand it.
I all my teachings l have striven to
be practical I have never tried to
tie curious ito know Just how sensa-
tional minister would be received in
New Haven I think he would go away
a wiser and soberer man than he came.
| think that the great necessity of to-
day is to preach the Christ of to-day
to show that Christ Is not dead Christ
but living Christ, who is constantly
calling to us as He called to His dis
ciples Of old, follow Me-"
Now having preached 50 long j cam
not have preached without having said
some foolish things That Is the great
cry of the laymen, that we ministers
say too much. But / trust as much to
your forgetfulness as to your charity
that nothing I have said ranked long
in the mind of anyone. The city I
preached in before ! came to New Ha-
ven was much different from this city.
There everybody was engaged in a dis
cussion of the sociological questions of
to-day, and I myself had entered large
ly into their discussion. 1t was a great
change for me on coming to Trinity,
and 1t Is small wonder that if at first
/ did not adapt myself to the new COM
munity. But people of Trinity church,
/ thank God. that we have got along so
well together. OF this church / must
say that it keeps right up to the point
In efficiency. The methods of the rail-
road are displayed 1t it's government
and have often spoken of it to west
ern ministers to their amazement.
have tried to make the church believe
that it has future and think it has.
There has been little too much ten
dency to look backwards. You have
had great men in the past, but / trust
other men will come to carry the church |
as impetuously onward.
1t is sometimes said of minister |
that he cultivates the society of the |
rich. I can conscientiously say that I
have never done So l could not re-
spect myself if I did. l have visited
every class of people in my church |
alike and I can say that have felt my
self blessed In all these visitations. You
have permitted me to come into your
home on all occasions feel your sor-
rows and enjoyments. oh. what should
we not be, when we are so blessed. And
tonight it gives me the greater joy to
say that we part without luminosity,
and not alone with my own congrega-
ton but with the whole community
have | enjoyed the same relations.
| was rather puzzled on first coming
to New Haven a the Puritan spirit Out
west everything was so different, every
one seemed the same But here the So
eial lines were, more pigidly drawn and
it puzzled me considerably. But / soon
discovered that of all things bordering
on an arlstocracy, l preferred the aris-
tocracy of brains. 1t is so different
from the aristocracy Of birth. And be-
fore long i grew to love the city After
one lives in New Haven for several
years it rather spoils him ] think, for
any place else.
During my residence in this city l
have been we'll received at public func-
tons as well as at private gatherings
The press l have found universally
fair and it has done full justice to the
pulpit. For this l pray God to thank
them. / have been connected as you
know with your twentieth century move
ment, which is to place all our churches
free of debt. l shall always follow the