The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-05-29

An Eloquent Address-Draws Picture
 of Christian Life-Thoughts of the T Past and Of the Future-A Realiza- ton of the Unfailing Love of Cod A Constant and Ever Needed stimu- Ius.
 Rev. Dr. Frank Woods Baker preach ed his farewell sermon at Trinity P. E. church yesterday morning to very large congregations. Many of those present were deeply affected by the words of their retiring pastor. Dr, Bakers pastorate ceases on June and this week he and his family will leave for his summer home at Castine, Me, where he will spend the summer, af- ter which he will make further plans for rest about a year in all.
 The sermon preached by Rev.. pr. Baker yesterday morning was substan- tially as follows: .......
 .aThe grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God. and the commun- ion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."-n Corinthians, 1914. ..,..5.
 The present occasion might be used in many ways. One might draw viv- i'd picture of the real conditions which exist in this parish as from the most intimate experience one has come to know them One might point out the many virtues and the failings, the great possibilities and the seeming diff faculties which one has experienced in an attempt to actualize at least in part those possibilities.
 Or one might indulge in introspection, and speak of the honest and earnest attempts to do the things which were in accordance with ones conscientious judgment for the best interests of the whole parish; of the dreams one has had for the parish, for the development of the best spiritual life; of the person. al achievements and of the personal failings, of the helps and hindrances to the complete shining of Gods light through one's own life for the benefit of those entrusted to ones spiritual care
 Or one might dwell upon the most precious ties and affectionate relation ships which the mutual sympathy in joys and sorrows have welded into deep and lasting friendships that naught can break, that will sweeten all the days to come, and which leave, to my best knowledge and belief, united parish. s*s
 But, as enticing as these aspects are, believe it to be most in keeping with the dignity of the occasion and with the spiritual purposes of public wor- ship, to try to draw a picture of the Christian life which I hope will al ways remain with you.
 I have chosen the words of the text because they seem to me one of the best and most concise interpretation Of Christianity. After warning, argu- ment ane etlcoUra cement St. Paul ends his second letter to the Corinthians by g valediction, a bidding farewell, "Fi- nally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you" Then follows as his last wish for them the beautiful words of our text, which our church Tses to close the morning and the even ing gray CT, The grace of the Lord Je- sus Chllst, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all" They are inc blessing which the great Apostle nronounces upon the church. Like all blessings which man pronounces upon his fel. lows, they sum up both his own belief and also express his best wishes for those upon whom he bestoWs his bless ing. In this spirit let us examine these words, and let us make them our own blessing pronounced one upon the oth- CT this morning.
 How clearly and wonderfully St. Paul here states what Christianity is! It consists in the recognition If the love of God; revealed to us through the grace or favor of Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord; worked out through the power of the Holy Ghost. Think of these three parts of his conception of Christianity! "
 First, Christianity is the recognition of the love of God. It's essential caaf- acteristic is it's revelation of the infi- mite love of God. Without the recogni- tion that God is love how barren would human life become. St. Paul means by 'the love of God" not the love we bear toward God. That is quite a different revelation. That shows the nobility of man as made in Gods image, his pow CT to apprehend, to some extent to ap- preciate and love all true and noble things; especially his capacity to love God, the Pure and Holy One. He does not mean this, but he does mean our recognition of Gods love for you and flor me, in all our weakness, our incom- pleteness, our sins. That is the marvel of Gods love. @
 When man stands entranced before a beautiful landscape, or has his soul stirred by the strains of some noble harmony or expresses his appreciation of some delicate attention, it shows that he has a sensitive and delicate makeup which enables him to recos- nizef and to appreciate noble things. But when a great artist tries to make 8 child see and enjoy what he sees and enjoys, the artist shows that he not only loves his art, but also loves the child.
 2 When we realize that God, our Fath- CT, the infinitely great as we'll as good is bending over our lives, believing in us, helping to attract us to the fulfill u1ent of the noble nature He has given