The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-02-21
DIR. HUGHES
is GRATEFUL
Church Of Redeemer Appreci-
ateS Firemen'S Heroic Work.

Friends in Need are Friends Indeed
Difficulties Attendant to Location
of New Building Site-Other Par
ishes and Business Conditions will
be an Important Factor-The Parish
Contributed over 100000 to
"Works of Piety and T1ercy.
The following is a somewhat full
abstract of the sermon preached by
the rector of the Church of the Re-
deemer on last Sunday morning, in
which DIR. Hughes referred to the fire
of last Friday. THE text was from
jeremiah vii 12.
"To some who are present this
morning it seems providential, and
to others, at least, remarkable, that
this seemingly frail structure should
have come out unscathed from under
the fiery trial of Friday last. For
this all, trust, are devoutly thank
full but in the midst of our thankful
ness. let us not forget that others, as
blameless as we, have felt to the full
the fierceness of the storm which
passed so near our own habitation.
"It is not for us to decide upon tie
moral bearings of extraordinary cases
like this and plume ourselves as es-
pecial pets of Providence because we
-, ffnrn6
only remains for us to thank God for
our own safety to quicken our sym
pathy towards those who did not es-
cape; and to use it as an incentive
to higher duty and service. p"
Further than this; we should seek
to discover the rational causes that
led to our preservation and offer our
discriminating praise and apprecia-
tion. There were not lacking certain
features in this calamity which call
for equally discriminating criticism
for the purpose of future safety, but
this is not the time nor the place for
such comment. But it is the time
and the place to express publicly and
in behalf of all this parish our praise
and appreciation of the unselfish and
effective work of the firemen who,
when at last, they got fair oppor-
tunity, stood like wall of defence
and tower Of strength and, with ut
ter self-forgetfulness fought off our
destruction. l myself was struck
with the fact that for hours, on cold
and biting day, these men, at one
moment deluged with water. and
swept the next by waves of the fer
cest heat, did their part like fearless
soldiers on dangerous duty. 1 want
to dwell for a moment on this fact
because these men are volunteer fire.
men and this service to our commun-
ity, so vital, so elemental and so apt
to be taken for granted should be
rated at it's most honorable rating.
True, these men. if asked why they
put their lives and certainly their
health and ease at such hazard
would probably laugh it off with a
careless reference to the excitement in
it; but it is for us to look at the re-
al risks, the hard work, the uncon-
scious daring and drilled ability
which have saved many house and
home and much business property
from devastation and destruction. AS
long as a volunteer fire department
can demand the devotion to duty and
the sensible daring of such men as
myself carefully and critically
watched, with a thankful heart, last
Friday, so long should we, who are
saved and protected by them. be glad
to bear our tribute of praise. DR..
Hughes also made grateful allusion
to the many personal instances of
friendly help and offers of assistance
He expressed his especial thankfulness
that the old church remained stand
ing precisely as it was and made q
full statement why he refused to ac-
cept the offered comments that the
destruction of the present wooden
building would mean gain.
He would, of course, like to see 9
building erected under his admins
tration that might stand as a monu'
ment for the years to come. Thai
would be legitimate and natural
ambition for man and he would not
disclaim it. If that had been the only
question in the destruction of the
present modest structure he might
have found cause for rejoicing if al
unseen Providence had swept away
the present house in order to put {
greater in it's place. He had no doubt
that his people would meet any sucl
crisis without finching as he hat
every confidence in their ability.
But, he added, there were certain
features in the present position O
the parish which would have mad,
any such steps both too intricate an.
too difficult for wise solution of I
permanent character. A church ade
quate for the permanent future o
this parish meant necessarily larg
and costly equipment.
That which might be useful and sen
sible for the next ten or twenty year
would with the inevitable growth o
Morristown, in his estimation becom