The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-30

Rev. DR.. G. T.. Robinson preached his
farewell sermon last night to the con-
gregation of the Second Presbyterian
church, which was augmented by the
congregation of the First church. The
ediflce was filled with listeners who
deplore the departure of the pastor so
beloved and the benignity of whose
presence will be missed.
Previous to the sermon Dr. Robinson
made brief remarks, in which he spoke
of the farewell, which he had said at
| the morning service to his own people,
and at other times to the Sunday
school, the clergymen and others. He
| dreaded the separation and the break
| ing of ties which had been so close
| and tender. He hoped the church
| would be as kind to his successor as
| it had been to him. He was certain
| that those who had been his best
| friends would be the best friends of
the new pastor. He knew not yet
| whom the man would be, but some
where God was preparing him for this
| service.
| At the conclusion of his address, DIR.
| Robinson declared the pulpit empty.
| Throngs of people tarried to express
| their regrets at the necessity for say
| ing good bye TO their pastor of four
teen years. Much emotion was appar-
ent in the congregation during the
entire evening. A special musical pro-
| gramme was given under the direction
| of Professor Chance. The sermon he
delivered last night was the one he
| delivered on the first sunday he ocCu-
pied the pulpit of the church. His
| topic was "Sin Blotted Out" and he
| took his text from Isaiah, xliii:25, 81,
| even l. am He that blotteth out thy
transgressions for mine own sake, and
will not remember thy sins" lie said;
DR.. RoBINsoN's SERMON.
The very first thing that attracts our attcn
tion in this passage is the distinct, emphatic
| recognition OF the personality Of God, 'l-cNer
l." 1t reminds me of that sentence whicE
sometimes seems to be the greatest of all
| am'--vhen Moses asked to have credentials witt
| which 10 appear before the Egyptians Goo
simply said II say unto them, that 4 am
| sent you.' When men think that there is M
other God than the force which carries the star
along and which appears only in nature, thc'
say "lt" instead of "iIc." When they spcl
matter with big "M" it is all the God tho,
want, or recognize. Ii in reading scientific treat
isc. you observe that the writer uses persona
| rronoun when he speaks of God, when HI
writes "He" in referring TO God, Nou may h
pretty sure that hs Is reverent scientist, Wit
secs through nature. natures God.
But when you detect a studous avoidance o
the word God-snd frequent reference 10 tn
| great lie OF the universe, correlating forces
| rolling the stars along, under the indefinite
| neucr pronoun "lt," you need have no d'ftcult.
| in knowing where TO rank the writer
| man. who in wandering through the great ave
| nues Of thought, who in all his study OF tn
| universe measuring and weighing the stars an
| noting the balancings OF the clouds, and OF th
| greater forces of the solar and stellar systems
| has not attained TO the belief in an intsllieen
designing cause, a personal creator, and doe
| not hear the II am Of Jehovah, thrilling
| through the music OF the spheres-he does no
see the glory OF God--hc il blind and canno
see afar off. 'The invisible things of Hir
for the creation of the world are clearly seer
being understood by the things that are made
| even His external power and God'hcad '-c
| Him-IIim" All blessed be the soul that moi
| ing the daisy, or the lily of the field, can Sc
| through it something of the mind and head {
God Blessed the man who can feel the "scn'
of God slide down in thrills through all thing
, made through sight and sound and everything
lie alone can comprehend words worth meaning
when he said .'ro me the meanest flower thI
, blows can give thoughts that do often lie to
deep for tears
WHOLE SYSTEM OF MORALITY
On the doctrine Of the personality of God,
: plainly taught in Scripture, so conspicuousl
revealed on a fcd and in the sky, hangs III
> whole system Of morality. Deny that, and yo
, DENY all. Ii there is no God, there is no siI
, what seems so is simply the effect, the imperfec
: effect of nature to reach perfection. But son
one may say that at least there would be ga
there, if men have no judge to render up Il
accounts 10. But with no personal God there
5 no Immortality and do You kno" what th'
9 | means. Not only that this conscience eXisten'
or personality which, amid all trial and sorro
, YOU would not be deprived OF, ceases iorev
al death-not only that, but also all that
: | involved in that the total, irreparable, etern
separation at death from all light and frien
ships Ii there were no God then when yc
2 stand by a dying father or mother, or wife
4 child, and see them laid away in the grav
e you could only say, at is the end It'll II
. J heaven be no more they shall not awake, n
a be raised out OF the Sleep
, Have you any idea, can you gain any ad
ouatc idea what this conscious immortality hi
done for man? What effect it has had upc
{ his sense Of life and character? and what
T has effected in the recprocation Of thought ar
] | feeling in the household? Take away from pa
= cntS and children, from brothers and sisters a
4 hope of living beyond the grave, all hope
= meeting in heaven, and need You reason long
: become convinced that the best and noblest pa
= | OF life would be gone, and that human Ii
u degencrates to life like the hearts who perS
) All thought Of immortality ceases, or all bell
:. IN existence beyond the grave is abandoned wi
@ the abandonment Of this doctrine of person
h god,
CRY GOES Up TO GOD.
gtI
with the authority Of supreme voliion supren
power and supreme loye-there Is no Proyiden
l. J over us. We are driven along, simply as m
chimes. there is no help, no pity, no power