Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-05-25
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
: SUNDAY SERMON :
y y Y = z q
q A Discourse By the Rev. q
b DR.. Nehemiah Boynton.
Observation-Disclosures

Brooklyn N. Y.-A large audience
greeted the Rev. Dr. Nehemiah BOyn-
ton, the pastor-elect of the Clinton Ave-
nue. Congregationalist Church, Sunday
morning to hear his first sermon in
his new pulpit. The subject of the
sermon was: "Christian Service" The
text was from Mark X:4344: "Whoso.
ever would become great among you,
shall be your minister; and whosoever
would be first among you, shall be SER
want of ALL" DR.. Boynton said:
Jesus never questioned the PROPOSE
ton that it was a fine thing to be
great. He had no small jealousies to
nurse. But He continually cmpha
sized the declaration that it was finer
thing to be first. and, to His thinking,
greatness and primacy were not SYN
onymOus terms.
In our clumsy English it is not easy
to indicate the distinction in the text
between the minister who aSpires
to be great, and the servant of all"
who becomes first; it is the difference
between the mere waiter who serves
with one eye on your need, the other
on your tip and the bodyguard, who
has committed himself unreservedly to
your interests and who is happy alike
in life or death if only. like the Japan
csc. he can have the honor of serving
the Emperor.
SO Christian service is the first thing
in the world; it is greater than the
great thing.
The outstanding characteristic of our
age has been and is the realization
that the universe is one: it is Gods
world. it is Christ's world: that the
spirit is one; it is Gods spirit it is
Christ's spirit; that the Christian ser
vice means nothing less or more than
taking Christ's spirit out to Chrsts
world and installing it. All that is in
volvcd in this mighty conception we
do not yet comprehend. for "the new
age stands. as yet half built against
the sky but it is easy enough to see
that the struggle of the day in pres
cncc of the mighty and impressive
changes which are transforming mod
ern life is to match the growing world
and the widening universe. with gen
uinc. circumferential Christian spirit,
putting the noblest Christian science
in play far as the course is found
Beyond this. it is equally evident that
the supreme challenge to the church Is
to accept and TO appropriate, faithful
~ and fearlcssly. all revelations and
rcvisiOns, which the many sided truth
of the unity of Gods universe illu-
mines and instals, for the church will
have lost her mission and her influence
when she is content to be Il camp fol-
lower trailing along in the rear OF the
advancing lcgionS of the Lord of Hosts.
The peril of small conceptions of the
superiority of Christian service is
many times most imminent where His
presence is least suspected. A brave
and aspiring spirit will pray most ear
neStly for delivcrance from this peStl-
lcnCe that walkcth in darkness ana
destruction that wasteth at MONDAY.
Ones spiritual ability is bounded by
his horizon and his service is init.
matcly related to his sight The soul
which has settled into the comfortable
conccit that the faith has once for all
been delivered to the saints, thar spirit
ual ministry for to-day is but repro
ductiOl of the type and method of yes
tcrday, may indeed be cOntcntcd with
its conclusion, but its ability to min
lister effectively to the present day
kingdom of God is ShOrn of adequacy.
Little conceptions make little Chris
tians; large conceptions make large
Christians. Dr. Peabody is voicing
ringing truth when he declares that a
great hCreSy of modern ChriStendom
is il residence in the belief that life
is Il ship composed of watertight COM
partmcntS, in one of which we work,
in another study, in another play and
in another worship. The great III
cluSon of life, the permeating power
of the divine spirit, the Wilderness of
Gods mercy. the depth of His love,
the breadth of His interest, the incvit-
abcnraS of His will. the absolutcnesS
of His law, these furnish Il perSpec-
tive for an attentive spirit, in the Wis
ion of which the meager and petty are
overlooked and the promised won
drous things of Thy law" Gleam and
giStcn like the flash of the harbor
light against the blackneSs of the
night!
Christian service needs the snap and
stimulus of The great idea of the unity
of Gods world to get it i'll possession
of its comprehensive chance. so that
while we feel kindling sympathy
with the wide viSioned martyr, pray
ing as the flames licked his feet, Lord,
open Thou the King of EnGland'S
eyes, it is in order for us to pray for
ourselves the heroic petition, Con
slider and hear me. o Lord, my God;
tighten mine eyes
If, however. the time of Christian
service is related to small conceptions,
the prerogative of Christian service
is certainly to introduce the same 10
great and masterful ones, and to teacll
it to find its choicer fellowship rs it
does it's mightier inspirations here.
Pilates question, "What is TRUTH is
pertinent to-day. Is it mere cumming
assembling and formulation of facts!
There it is a cold, inert. useless thlnS,
Is it n glowing faith, a vital, personal,
obsolutc experience? There it is warm
with divine fire and instinct with Il
glowing anticipation.
Henry Drummond marked that day
with a red letter when he ceased to
ignore truth rs mere propositional wis
dom and began to realize it as per"
ceptve wisdom. He declares that he
had almost finished his college course
before he had any other conception of
Christ than that He was theological
conscience in the interests of the Trim
ity. But the day came when the eyes
of his understanding were opened, and
he came to know Christ. Not as alb
stract but as concrete truth. Not as
related to life philoeophically by a
series of drcaly propositions. but rs
implanted in his own life vitality by a
personal friendship, which deepencd
with every trial, widencd with every
experience and heightened with every
aspiration. Then he was recognizing
truth as a spirit that Drummond began
those tirclcss, fearless. splendid ser
,.inns (which made more tlIn one dis.