The Republican journal., 1903-01-29
PHILIPS BROOKS.


Rev. Geo. S. Mills gave the third of his
series of monthly addresses at the North
church last Sunday evening. His address
was on" Phillips Brooks-After Ten ears.
The order of service was as follows:
Prelude, Largo" Handel
Miss Amy E. Stoddard.
Anthem, ''The Golden Threshold LOhr
Chorus.
Duet, morn of Endless Light" Cowen
Mr.. and Mrs. E. S. Pitcher.
Prayer,
Rev G. S. Mills.
Solo, "Here and There,
Z. 5. Pitcher.
Ofertory, "Pensee Religieuse, Lebau
Address. "Phillips Brooks-After Ten
Years.
Rev. G. S Mills.
Mr.. Mills said, in part: There are some
lives gloriously outstanding, like majestic
mountains, to which we come back again and
again for inspiration. Phillips Brooks was
pre-eminent among these heaven-towerlng
peaks. He was not only wonderful in our
own generation. He was wonderful for all
time, and can no more slip out OF the
worlds memory as a great preacher than
can Shakespeare in letters, Michael Angelo
in art, or Lincoln in craftsmanship. Mr..
Mills said he would not attempt to muster
events and dates in the life OF Philips
Brooks or attempt an extended analysis OF
his greatness, but would simply bring to
them the total impression which Phillips
Brooks had made upon his own heart This
was that of Il pI acher supremely great
"a preacher of righteousness and hope
who brought by his life and doctrine fresh
faith to people fresh meaning to ancient
creeds.'' There have been other preachers
equally great with Phillips Brooks, and some
who surpassed him, if one judge by some
particular quality or power. For example,
Edwards in originality and profundity of
intellect, Charming as a humanitarian teach
er, Beecher as the flaming platform orator
and reformer. Bushnell was more Sugges-
tive and stimulating as thinker to his
lesser brethren in the ministry. and Moody
was the more persuasive evangelist to the
common people. But this was Phillips
Brooks high distinction. his uniqueness-
through his personality seemed to flow direct
ly from the divine sources such beauty and
richness of spiritual life as no other reveal
ed. He seemed filled with all the fulness of
God, and poured it forth unstintedly. He
lived on the highest tableland of the life Of
the spirit day by day and continuously
through the years. He was always preach
ing out of himself, the thought he himself
had thought through to its end, the feeling
he himself had felt burning as a fire in his
bones, the life he himself had lived out. Y ct
Mills alluded to some Of the very human
traits of Phillips Brooks, his boyishness and
humor, his cheeriness and sympathy, his
likes and dislikes. He spoke also of his
courage which some have thought was his
most distinctive trait, but he treated him
mainly as the preacher who glorifed the
pulpit. One great service he rendered TO
the whole Church of Christ was in staying
the tide that was setting, especially in New
England, towards negation and unfaith,
and swinging the current of intellectual
thinking on things religious not back upon
itself, but in a new approaching direction
SO that men might still be true to the
highest reason and find and know God.
The speaker believed that to Phillips Brooks
more than to any other man in hundred
years of New England history was owed
the salvation of the Puritan Churches from
agnostic blight and spiritual DEATH He
closed by saying that the world needs the
preacher 1t cannot have another Phillips
Brooks. But that it had him once, and that
he lives still in the memory of men loved
and revered, is an inspiration to the pulpit
for today and tomorrow.