New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-24
BLESSING ON THE PROSECUTED.
Dr.. Huntington Says Physical Torture for
Christians May Be Revived.

The Rev DR. W r. Huntington delivered ths
eighth in the series OF talks the Sermon on tho
Mount MONDAY service Grace Church yes
terday. He said Blessed are they which
prosecuted for righteousness sake. for theirs
kingdom OF heaven
Readiness 70 suffer persecution is the supreme
tgSt az ndeHiy InSt, perhaps, i the reason why
ChrlSt puts u az the very topmost round OF MS
ladder OF perfection The special passion that dis
figure is that OF a bloodhound on the track of his
victim Earnestness turned 70 n bad use, describes
earnest is ne to be feared. Curiously enough, the
bafeU them undsr the so-tliiaI ..sood aTrnsTo-s
The good emperors were given their epIthet because
they dtgent IN attending 10 their business or
governing They saw that ne new religion was
eating tnJo the very yijals q ne Roman system
throw the empire. Therefore. they prosecuted the
death dsT reS'0" a''e'e"'' prosecuted 'aem 70 'ns
The modern church ought 70 be no, little NOR
Hons ny supreme dsnty IL utv We nteTpr1
lasts. but there time when the words bore
The Church OF to-day very much in the post
ton Of a man living on an inherited fortune; hs
measre knowledge Of the toll and struggle that went
goodly heritage call Christian civilization were
written in blood and in the place OF the seal
sign Of the cross. Whether the days OF active
persecution for conscience sake have passed never
10 return is question upon which only a rash
conceivabIy come when Christian minority may
jority that there Will be Il renewal o. physical
fivorite word; IT may not be tomorrow. As things
than surrender what they know 70 be right. Under
popularity IS the nearest approach 70 persecution
that Is 2HoWed Tn age OF the Lag9t ana the Ne
those kinded by hot burning words IL IS with the
the modern Hctor does his work The desire for
popularity is a natural instinct The man never
stres popularity with his playmates. tie coISS9
ar the man Of business WITH the public tha
seeker after social promotion with the particular
- Dc Gf E' III nTs but II poison.
H. vsrv sprinEs If life christ dreaded il and Sad
ana ied' But the Beati!gde is not for me
popular merely as such We may not make our
selves disasreeahle 10 our uViShbors and then. on
Judge and claim the blessing. No, the unPopuarity
mus ma sI have been FOR rishteousness sake
The young man who cheerfuily faces the Iidicule
whsn Ne KNOWS 20 % PSI ' ne her rsliSos duties
paIenty anu 9nt' ~ dtt S 20 Ss nj hfts~
remarks, the man of letters who is wilkins TO let
his reputation for viyacity suffer rather than pan,
an irrevereat rit-'hssA Win the Beatitude .. she
klned nm, Rejoice and = 7g7ns, glad: prophets
rs = ftr tbf fashi6n r., proud that YOU are
counted into their go2dly fellowship
Last week DR. Huntington spoks on The Bless
irs; the Peacemaker,' He said IN part.
The Old Testament frequently the New ies,a-
warrior. The Jehovah OF the Psalms is mighty IN
battle The Son ~ God i'm the Apocalypse goes
forth to war And the face Of such utteTanceS-
yes even in the face of His own decltrg ton that
He has come not bring peace but sword christ
speaking from the Mount, published His blessing
upon the peaCenaIeTS
How can We reconcile such conflicting utterances:
In this way: Bv notirS that the end toward which
God is perfect peace. whereas the means
which He employs must often involve conflict II
fails out in history. il does nature In
nature the movement IS steadily toward equinn-
rum. First last. nature always balances ner
books. The violence OF the lightning stroke = but
effort Of an OveTCh3rgct atmosphere To oriug
itself to a God OF peace does all the while
ride in the whirlWiUd and direct the storm -
history, il do but take the religious view OF
its dimly understood movement peace Is the far
goal toward which. through struggle and cOmmO-
ton. the eager race Is pushed. There are times IN
q nations history when only such peace may
be rightly called peace with honor Is desirable.
There conflicts Of opinion in which peace
through the truth Is the only ustifable cry. But
when contention is nj its worst. the children
God must keep IL printed their remembrance
that peacemaking. not fighting. is their true en-
plOy