Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-06-07
MEMORIAL DAY SERMON

Rev. Shaw's Definition ol
Observation-Disclosures fol
Humanity" --Serman Preached
in Congregational Church.
Sunday Morning. May 29.
In his Ecce Homo. Sir John Seeley
has fine phrase which perfectly
characterizes the spirit of Jesus, he
speaks OF him as having an "enthu-
siasm for humanity" We do not
often see this, but it is a wonderful
gift and works miracles wherever it
is present and it's power is felt.
Read your gospels and watch how
Christ acts in the presence OF a man,
what an extraordinary interest he
shows in him! What a strange light
beams in his eyes! What wonderful
pity and sympathy brings him near to
men! How he longs to say something
or do something to make them
happier! And that was how he
touched life and had such marvellous
influence over it. Sceley was right
when he said that the 'ssecret OF
Jesus" was his enthusiasm for hui
manity." And Paul caught the
contagion OF that enthusiasm.
It has been said that no one hates
like an apostate: but this man did not
betray his nation; he did not betray
their religion. He saw the good in it,
and it's defects also, he had
outgrown them, he had seen a clearer,
fuller light and he followed it's lead
ing. but he did not denounce or revile
his early religious teachers, he owed
something to their influence, but he
had gone beyond it now; he had seen
his life and duty in a new light and
he would be faithful to the larger
revelation.
He had become an apostle to the
GentileS. He was sent by God to
preach in far off lands; yet, wherever
he went his eyes turned homeward:
amid all the triumphs of the mission
airy field he still thought of his own
people and prayed constantly for them.
He could think of nothing better for
them than that they might be saved.
Let us test ourselves by this passion
Of panBS Hovo wo onvfhinn <o
compare with it in our modern life?
We have the passion for wealth-for
power-for Observation-Disclosures, and
to some extent, we have passion for
knowledge, but can it be said we have
a deep, intense, supreme interest in
man-which rises into q noble enthu-
siasm for his highest good and is
manifest in constant activities for his
elevation? We are proud of our
country, but patriotism must take on
a practical form and be seen ia deeds
OF loyalty. Love Of country must be
more than vague generality.
Patriotism must be more than
rhetorical phrase. The true patriot
ism is to be found in this prayer of st.
Paul's, "my hearts desire and prayer
to God is, that Israel might be saved. !"
The patriot prays for his country?
Do: you believe that it's well-being
depends on your recognition OF God
on life of obedience to his will: Do
you desire that it may rise to real
greatness and abide in true strength
and stability? Then you must have
an enthusiasm for humanity, men and
women must be sacred in your eyes,
human life must be precious, you
must seek the salvation OF life before
all other things.
That word has had a too narrow
meaning, but it applies here, only we
must enlarge its meaning. Salvation
is bigger word than we have ever
thought.
There is salvation for nations as
well as for individuals. Nations have
their sins and weaknesses as we'll as
individuals. Nations have decayed
because they have not seen their
weakness and repented of their sin.
They have been content with
ignorance and superstition, they have
opposed progress, or they have been
boastful and egotistic, when they
have risen to power it has been
abused, selfish and aggressive policy
has exhausted their resources; In the
years OF prosperity they have given
way to habits of self-indulgence ard
luxury which have Sapped their
strength and drained away their
vitalities.
The patriot is anxious for national
salvation-a deliverance from the sins
which are causes of weakness, and ii
not seen and repented of, will work
the decay ana overthrow of the
Republic. This supreme interest in
man-this love Of him because he is
man, is the first essential to national
salvation.
Wordsworth tells US that it came
upon him with sense OF awe when
he realized that his wife was some
thing more than his wife-more than
a woman whose only purpose was to
wait on him and help him that she
vas an immortal being having an
Of docfirv