The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-01

\ the divine kingdom shines forth at tn,
end of the nineteenth century as nevel
before. The goodly fellowship which
we are enjoying here together make!
us glad that we are living, and WI
should be glad to remain here for fur
Their communications of the same kind
1t is pleasanter on this mount of privi
lege than it is down in the valley in the
dust and the smoke of toll. Sordit
though we are sometimes we do prefer
the heavenly place and the heavenly
things to those which are of the earth
and earthly.
| Let us make the most of this day
while 1t Is here, but we can do that
best by remembering that there is an
other ind a different day coming
That coming day is not merely another
yesterday. AS the glimpse of the Mas
ter's glory made all coming days diff
ferent from all former days both for
Him and His disciples, so this day will
mark an epoch in the life of this
church, and the days of the new centu-
ry will be different from those of the
old. Not merely is it because we have
passed from a period of growth to Pc
Rod of action. 1t is like the transition
from youth to manhood-not marked by
any sudden transformation, and yet the
twenty-first birthday is a landmark not
to be lost sight of.
After graphic description of the glo-
rious scene on the mount of transfigura-
ton, Luke follows the natural order of
his narrative by saying that it came to
pass, on the next day, when they were
come down from the mountain, when
the heavenly vision had passed and
they must return to earthly things,
when the hours of special privilege had
gone and they must return to the bust
ness of life, when Jesus Himself had
been treasured before His final labor
and testing by the heavenly voice say
ing: This Is My Son, hear we Him,
the first circumstance that is related is
SO suggestive of His work, that We have
also taken it as the key for our own
hand as we approach the threshold of
the new century. A great multitude
met Him.
Multitudes of people are no strange
thing either then or now. But there
was a multitude moved by a common
purpose and interest, and Jesus coming
down from the mountain in the morn
ing and meeting them in the mood they
were in is significant of His mission
and of ours. 1t had been scene for
themselves and was not to be talked
about to others. John, the only wit
ness of it who writes does not mention
it. While they were in the secret place
of the most high the people below had
been busy with their tolls and worries.
The other disciples had been tried by
difficulties which they could not solve.
The worlds tumult was driving on the
same as ever, and the Master was need
ed below even While He was receiving
spiritual 1efreshment above.
While we sit together in pleasant fell
lowship there are evil spirits torment
ms the people even nearer to us than
down the hill. Men and women from
that multitude are vexed by children
possessed with evil spirits which they
are not able to cast out, nor can the
doctor nor the teacher nor the minister
nor the officer do anything which shall
calm and sanctify the vicious and ma
lignant spirit which rends the child in
character if not in body, and makes
him terror to his friends.
That vicious child was only one sam
pie of the troubles of that multitude
which met Jesus, and hayward chill
drenare only one of the sorrows of the
multitude which surround us. There
are evils for which the people are not
even sorry, and these are all the more
sad. We cannot even enumerate them
here: but yet they are for our present
serious consideration. We are here to
minister in. Christ's name and in
Jhrist's stead to just these troubled and
We come into our comfortable church
and our pleasant fellowship merely to
enjoy these things in forgetfulness of
Ill the troubles which humanity suffers
about u.s. then we are initiating the
disciples who wanted to build taberna-
lies and abide on the mount of trans
1guration, instead of going down into
he world where they were needed. OF
course it is pleasant to have a nice
east shut away from so many things
which are troublesome outside, but is
hat true church? If so then we are
wrong in saying Christ is the true
model for a church; and we are wrong
n founding the church on His word.
lot to be ministered unto but to minis
err.
The thirty-fve years that are past
ave not been without their ministry
rom this church to the multitudes who
well about us; but we have of necessi-
y given much effort to the work of get
ing ourselves established, and of |
rowing to full stature. Our minds |
nd hearts have been so much occupied |
With devices and contrivances for keep |
ne ourselves alive as church, that |
1e had little motive power left to ex-
end In that real spiritual ministration /
yhich the multitudes about US most |
eed and which we ourselves and our
WIN families most need. We have been
rorking on the plan of the roadroller |
ather than the locomotive; our
trength is spent on ourselves and not
n the multitude.
AS we come down from this high
lace of privilege there meets us a
whose call is insistent and
Inpatient. Sometimes it is the mute
ppeal of stolid Indifference that
nows not what it wants, but we know
hat it needs; sometimes it is the scott
conceit and ignorance, oftener 1t is
lie discouraged wall of beaten human