Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-12
TRIN|TY'S RECTOR
Rev. Granville n. SheFWood's
First Sermon is on Sub.
ject of Unity.
PRIEST is A MAN OF GOD
Not Simply a Hireling-Appeal for
Unity, Liberty and Charity
Among His People.

81 know of no more fitting theme
FOR my message to you as your new
rector than unity said Rev. G. H.
Sherwood at the morning service at
Trinity church yesterday morning. He
took his text from st. John 17:21 In
opening his discourse Mr.. Sherwood
spoke of the feeling of the church
members with regard to a new rector
and priest. You have a feeling of
strangeness. of doubt and fear, but in
addition there is a feeling of hope and
determination. he said. In comment
ing on different classes of church mem
bers. he spoke of those who are at
tracted for a few Sundays, merely to
see what the new rector does, how he
conducts the service, and what his
personal appearance and manners are.
We thank God he added, that there
are others, who. through their love for
the church. are loyal to the core. in
times of parochial prosperity, and in
all times"
Man of God.
The people of the congregation
should regard the new rector not as a
hireling of theirs, but as a man of God
and His minister. rather than as a
public servant. Many look beyond the
pulpit, and see the true aim of all re-
ligion as expressed in the command
to Love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and thy neighbor as myself" He
mentioned the sympathy which exists
between the rector and the earnest
: members of the congregation. and of
the encouragement the pastor receives
| from the cooperation of the members
of the church.
| Unity. Liberty, Charity.
| He suggested as fitting motto for
the parish the sentence, In things
necessary. unity; in things secondary
| liberty; and in all things, charity
| Enlarging on this sentence, he urged
the congregation to bear in mind that
| ii is God, not the minister the church
should follow, and that the members
are copartners in a vast religion, not
in a man-made institution. AS the
things that are necessary he gave the
duty of the individual members to the
| Church. He said idlers have no place
| in church work, and charging said
that the spirit of work must permeate
the church if it is to accomplish its
aims. There is no more potent inAu
ence in unifying a congregation than
work. and if any influence is as potent
or more potent, it is prayer. Work is
powerful to unite a congregation, and
prayer to accomplish what we work
for. There must be a willingness tC
work for what we pray for and work
and prayer form a strong COmbina
ton"
NOlehiI of RitunI.
AS secondary things he cited the diff
lferenceS in ideas as to ritual and
lchurch practice. Mountains are made
of the mOlehill of ritual" he said. and
continuing he stated that if the minds
of the church members were more Civ
en- to the high christian aims, the minor
matters would assume their proper
proportions. A vestment of silk does
not hide sinful heart. and the most
humble prayer from a hoveI or noun
tain top is as effective if given in the
| proper spirit as if offered from the
most grand cathedral with burning in
cense. If there is liberty in things
on secondary matters. Nevertheless
the rector said he believed in the soul
inspiring. heart up lifting effect of form
and ceremonial as taught by the
church.
| In concluding, DR.. Sherwood urged
that there be charity in all things, that
the church members overlook the little
faults and mannerisms of each other
and that the peculiarities of person and
habits be not allowed to affect the
unity of the congregation.
1t was an able and eloquent dis
| course and was highly praised by the
! large congregation present.
| The rector preached to another large
congregation in the evening.