The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-14
The Rev. F. E. Deyyhurst.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
The acceptance of a pastorate in Chi
cago by the Rev. F. E. Dewhurst, of
Plymouth Church, removes from Indian
apolis man who will leave the community
poorer by hts going. This for several rea-
sons, but one reason in particular L wish to
emphasize.
Ihere are many ways In which men
lapse from their integrity, some of them so
fine and hidden that lax conscience hard
ly notes them. Among such derelictions
not the least common is the loose valuation
put by pulpit speakers upon their utter
ances-the putting of perfunctory thoughts
upon the market without nice regard to
ones real thought as it grows and
changes. The preacher with his barrel
Of stale sermons has long since become
subject for jests, but little, so far, has been
said about the ethics of the question
The quality of rigid honesty, of a perfect
sincerity, shown by Mr.. Dewhurst through
out his seven years service here Is a thing
that should not escape notice and appre-
citation. His whole mode and theory has
been radically different from that of ..the
man with the barrel" To quote him as in
substance, he would express himself to the
present writer: 81 find always. in referring
to sermon of the past. that since it's writ
ing my angle of vision has more or less
shifted-it does not accurately represent
me at the present; hence old sermons are
practically useless to me-"
1t is this guarding as something sacred
ones conscientious opinion in its every
stage Of growth that makes all the value
Of man who aims to stand for truth. II
is as much matter Of honesty as the
things that the statute law takes cogniz-
ance of. and. repeat the quality is so rare
that 1t should not pass unnoticed when IL
does exist. And 1t is by virtue of II that
Mr.. Dewnurst, In long series of sermons
among the most remarkable preached in
this city. has revealed a never-failing fresh
ness of thought that has been a matter Of
comment to the last In addition perhaps
1t should be said that Mr.. Dewhurst's DO
sition as minister In this community has
his predecessor, Mr.. McCulloch His atti-
tude and that of his church has been es-
sentially that Of the Unitarians in their
emphasis of the rational element In re-
ligion. This rigid rationalism carried to
the spiritual plane, In the nature of things.
becomes subtle and abstract. and for that
reason many who heard this preacher felt
that his addresses were cold and ultra
intellectual. but those who were in SYM
patty with his thought have found not
only unsual pabulum for the mind, but a
fine fervor born Of that feeling which is
the final breath and spirit" Of thought.
and which transcends the merely intel
lectual.
In theology" If It may be so called. Mr..
Dewhurst has. from first to last stood
ardently fer the broad and comprehensive
thought OF universal divinity--the divinity
Of the universe in all its parts To him
and to those who think with him this has
meant much, and whether or not one
chooses to regard this doctrine OF HIGHER
naruralism as advanced" thought, Il GER
tsinly represents 9 great ana -earnest
GSoR0E 8. GOTHAM.
vmetons Ind. July -