Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-12-15
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ENTITLED
::'KNOWLEDcE OF CHRIST"

The Rev. Winfield Scott Baer Te1ls Those
Who Would Receive Light That They
Must Exercise se1f-Control and Sacri-
flcs Pleasure to the Work.
BROOKLYN, n. Y.-The Rev Winfield
Scott Baer, rector of St. Georges Church,
preached Sunday morning on knowledge
of Christ" He took his text from Philip
plans iii, 8: Il count all things but loss for
The excellency of tie knowledge of Christ
Jesus my Lord" Mr.. Baer said among
other things:
A quarter of century had passed since
Paul on the way to Damascus saw great
light, since he who was the prosecutor Of
the church became Apostle to the Gentiles
They were years of mental and spiritual
| growth, of missionary zeal and activity, of
suffering and privation, and beyond that of
| JOY and gladness which no man could tell.
| Now. looking back over his life from
his gain and loss. There was no tinge of
dependency which might have come from
! age or weakness no touch of bitterness
showing that the iron might have entered
! into his soul. but with the calmness of
judge and the fervor of seeker after
| truth. he cried: II count all things but
loss for the excellencv Of the knowledge OF
Christ Jesus my Lord.
! There are many kinds of knowledge,
gained in different methods and ways.
Some comes through exercise Of memory;
some through careful observation of the
laboratory; some bv careful reading of the
past and wise Judgment upon it; much
from the careful study of ourselves. In
varying degrees, these all are precious, and
they are given only for price. The school
system of which we are proud is costly.
item in the cost. Energy, time, thought
of myriads interested in the work Of knowl-
edge and in training those committed to
their care harder far than hearing lessons
from a book. Yhe years Of school. the
hours Of study and practice, the physical
be on the street or In the field, all these
must be counted in. We are almost disaD-
pointed when we do not read among the
| honors of college commencement some men,
ton of gifts Of money to enable the col
lege to pursue truth, and give it out to
those VINO seek it; and here also, are time
and labor and research. So those who
would receive the full benefit of the prof
fered knowledge must exercise self-control,
sacrifice play and pleasure to the work.
This is but the beginning of knowledge.
In every realm Of life men seek if happy
they may find. The borders of the IN
and the light Of truth is seen and known
over ever wider tracts In scientific re.
search, invention. exploration Of the
earth. knowledge Of society. knowledge Of
mind: 1ren are thinking. working, gaining
knowledge. They pay the cost. The ice
of the north. could it speak, would tell Of
they might know: the iungles Of Asia and
the forests of Africa are known to us from
the traveller; missionary, scientist. soldier
seeker after gold, with their different NO
tiyes i!,apel9!ing lin + them, & they & bring t;t fortt
privations and death have been paid FOL
that knowledge. Few as they take it
think Of the price at which it is purchased
, There are degrees of worth in lSnowl
edge. That which has most of the human
iii it contains most interest for us. Per
: sons are the highest facts; the KNOWLEDGE
Of persons js the highest knowledge. It j.
wonderful story which science tells us O.
the development OF the world. It is a more
living story for us TO know of the develop
} ment of mankind; hence, history, biogra
ply and social matters have a deeper in
terest for us. Nor is it an easy matter tt
read the past or the present. From tht
, same chemical ingredients we expect tn,
same results Personality may conceal o.
may reveal itself by its words and deeds
None of us needs to be Jekyll and HYDE
| to appreciate that he is not always clea
, as crystal, to be read by all the world
Deeds may belle the heart. None of u
, knows another perfectly. perhaps we d.
:, not know ourselves. The mathematical
table we know, but the knowledge of man
kind is higher, and more secret and diff
5 cu1t to gain.
If study OF man be our true study, the1
the study Of the best is our wise part
5 How foolish for the student in art t.
} study the chrome when the masterpiec
is before his eve! Why strive to read b,
: light Of lamp when the glorious sun in tb
heaven floods the earth with light? Seel
4 the noh1est and learn of him. It was tn;
which Paul was doing. The desire of hi
heart, the end Of his thought, the goal O
his purpose was that he might know
Christ, and for that he would count al
r things but loss.
: There has been loss in PauPs life as h
gained this knowledge. Loss of money
position, friendship; bitterly hated by hi
S peonle, and now loss of liberty as captiv
Q at Rome. But these he counted loss 10
the knowledge Of Christ.
This was more than knowledge Of th
e facts of Christ's life; more than an at
2 acknowledgement of his past and present hig
! dignity In the spiritual world; more tha
. a recognition of the place Of Christ i
Gods work for man. One might know a
!. this, yet not know Christ, as Paul longe