The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-12-08
SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE ENTITLED.
."KNOWlEDCE OF CHRIST"
The Rev. Winfield Scott Baer Tells Those
Who Would Receive Light That They
Must Exercise Self Control and Sacri.
fee Pleasure to the Work.

fce 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: II count all things but loss for
the excellency of the 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 a 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 tel.
Now, looking back over his life from
prison in Rome, he passed judgment upon
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 a
| Judge and the fervor OF a 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
facts OF nature: some by experiment in 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.
The vast expenditure Of money is but an
| item in the cost. Energy, time, thought
of myriads interested in the work of knowi-
| edge and in training those committed to
their care harder far than hearing lessons
| from a book. The years of school, the
hours OF study and practice, the physical
confinement when children would rather
be on the street or in the field, all these
| must be counted in. We are almost disap-
| 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 who 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-controi,
sacrifice play and pleasure to the work.
This is but the beginning of knowledge.
In every realm OF life men seek il hapiy
they may find. The borders of the un-
known are being pushed back day bv day,
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 men are thinking. working, Gaining
knowledge They pay the cost. The ice
Of the north. could it speak, would tell Of
these who sought the pole. merely. that
they might know: the junsles Of Asia and
the forests OF Africa are known to us from
the traveller; missionary. scientist. solder,
"a t,atr Il
tives imDe,l:ng them, they bring forth
knowledge for the world. Human trials.
privations and death have been paid for
that Knowledge. Few as they take it,
THINK OF the price at which it is purchased
There are degrees of worth in know.
edge. That which has most OF the human
in it contains most interest for US. Per.
sons are the highest facts; tie knowledge
Of persons is the highest knowledge. 1t ia
wonderful story which science tells Us OF
! the development OF the world. 1t is more
living story for US tn know nf 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 to
read the past or the present. From the
same chemical ingredients we expect the
same results. Personality may conceal or
may reveal itself by its words and deeds.
None OF us needs 70 be Jekyll and HYDE
to appreciate that he is not always Gear
ss crystal, to be read by al the wop.d.
Deeds may belle the heart. None OF ns
Knows another perfectly. perhans we do
not know ourselves. The mathematical
tab'e we know. but the knowledge OF mar.
kind is higher, and more secret and diff
cut to gain.
II studv CT man he our true study. then
the strdy nf the hest is our wise part.
How fools, fo- the student IL art to
study the chrono when the masterpiece
is before his e-r, Why strive to read by
light Of lam, wnen the g,or;ous sun in the
heaven floods the earth with light? Seek
the rob'est. and learn OF him. 1t was this
which Paul wss doing The desire OF his
heart. the end of his thought. the goal OF
Christ. and for that he would count al
things but loss.
There has been loss in Pauls life as he
gained this krowledGe. loss OF money,
position, friendship; bitterly hated by his
peonle. and now loss Of liberty as captive
at Rome But these he counted loss tor
tbo knowledge of Christ.
This was more than a know edge of The
facts OF Christ.s life: more than an ac-
krowiedgment OF his past and present high
dignity in the spiritual world; more than
a recognition OF the pace OF Christ in
Gods work for man. One might know all
this. yet 10: know Christ, as Paul loneed
to Fnow, in the communion of friendship.
in the inspiration OF Christ within. in the
power of Christ raising him from sin to
Righteousness, making him a apartatcr O.;
His own life, so that nc could say: Il live,
YET not 7, but Christ liveth in ne"
We may not follow Paups intellectual
fights, Dor caze with his vision at the .T'ys.
teries which are unveiled. But we nay
know the purpose OF God for us. which is
that We shall seek the truth of life. This
is found in Christ. To know Him is the
privilege OF ALL There is no exclusive
c.ass OF rich o. poor, but the knowledge is
open to all who are willing to take it as it
can be taught, and are willing to pay the
price.
This knowledge OF Christ can be Known
but partially through reading of the skies
above o: the Scriptures beneath. Many
through these come to & knowledge of Gcd.
But such study is too easy school for
character, cs we strive to know the living,
loving God.
One has told OF tha scacch for the SNOW
white bird Of truth. How, after weary
journeyingj. tolls. temptations, struggles.
at last IN the hour of death q glimpse or