Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-28
SERMON BY BISHOP COLEMAN

! an aIucht Noikcf IN tine cnufchs
Behold the handmade of the Lord, be
i unto me according to Thy word" St..
Luke, I 80.
Among the many dangers besetting tho
| Christian life is that Of unduly magnify
ing our own agency in the accomplish
! ment OF what may be credited TO us by
others. The rightly minded are those
| who are quick in ascribing the results Of
/ their efforts 10 the grace Of God. and in
rendering TO Him the glory Of their deeds
and gifts.
Remembering this essential relation
! between the Divine Giver and the human
agent, we run but little risk in reviewing
and even eulogizing the lives Of those who
themselves are conscious of the source Of
whatever in those lives may seem worthy
OF general consideration.
Indeed, there may be in such COM
mcmoration an opportunity of so em-
| phasizing our dependence upon this super
human aid, as TO help some souls TO %
truer appreciation Of its necessity and
value.
The biography Of Christian men and
women thus becomes q successive record
OF Gods immediate presence in the world.
and AN Illustration OF His manner Of deal
ing with those who yield themselves 10
His will and guidance.
10 is record as foar removed front
monotony as Life ITSELF On this page
or IN this chapter, we many read of one
who has been called TO engage publicly in
the strife, never ceasing for the preserva
ton OF the Faith, whose battles in this
behalf have about them the constituents
OF the noblest form of Constancy and
Courage.
In another page or chapter, we may
read OF some one else whose calling has
been to engage in the accomplishment OF
magnificent schemes for the removal of
the Ignorance and destitution with which
the world is still so grievously aiilictedj
and in the perseverance and fidelity with
which such an one labors, we are moved
to emulation by the example Of his or her
unselfish diligence.
The distance from our own days at
which such worthless may have fought
and toiled lends in many instances, doubt
less, a halo and influence partially. at least,
the effect of such mellowing distance.
And yet, except in few instances, COM
paratively speaking, there is, as it seems
to me, a forcoful influence in the example
of those Of whom We ourselves have known
that is more appreciable and efficient than
than that which results from reading or
hearing of the heroes or heroines that
belong to former generations.
For If the personal knowledge of our
own neighbors as TO their limitations and
imporiections does not obscure their
virtues and grpces, and we do chartably
and Justly weigh the former against tho
latter we certainly are swayed in our own
lives by an exhibition Of the Divine grace
with which we ourselves are familiar.
II makes more real the possibility Of
such manner of life as at once appeals
lavorably to our conscience, and yet seems
TO be SO far beyond our reach. Faith
even here and now becomes the substance
Of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen. If we are taught Of things to
believe and to do, things which at first
appear only mystical and visionary,
these very lives OF people with whom we
ourselves have lived prove TO us the practi-
cal character OF such religion, and rebuke
us for our faithlessness and sloth.
Ii is, my dear brethren, with Some such
view of life as to its responsibilities and
privileges, its objects and results as re
lated to mans insuihciency and the pro
visions of Divine grace, that / have under
taken TO deliver this memorial discourse
as to one who in very ripeness of years has
lately been buried from the church in
which we are now assembled, and whom
] had the privilege Of knowing for over 40 |
years.
She cxemplfed the character Of one
who continuously labored at the call of
her Master, but who, ever recognizing her
own unworthiness, depended humbly and |
confidently upon His all-suiiicient favor
and gladly ascnbed to Him the praise of |
all that she was onablaed to do.
Mnna Chandler was born of Dell and |
Elizabeth Noblitt on the 1lth of April, |
1915, in the city Of Wilmington, in the |
same house on Market street in which she |
lived for 60 years.
Her parents were worshippor at the |
Old Swedcs Church until the formation, |
in 1897, OF st. Andrews parish, with |
which latter parish they then connected |
themselves. Ii was not until st. |
Thomas Day, 1929, that she was bap- |
tized in st. Andrews Church, by the first |
rector, Rev. J. Howland Colt.
OF this most important event. we have |
q record in her own diary, which l have |
been kindly permitted to read. Her /
mother and Miss M. Johnson were the |
witnesses of step which she took with /
a consciousness Of its significance un- /
common to girl not yet 10 years of age. |
After entering the record, she adds the /
the iervent prayer TINT God may give
her grace to keep the VOWS which she had /
so solemnly made, and then goes on TO say
81 am but young, and If left to myself will /
fall, and disgrace that holy profession
which this day have made. o for grace
to hold out faithful TO the end.
The date of her confirmation is not
given. Her first communion was on the
2lst of February. in the following wear.
The text OF the dear pastors sermon. 4"
she writes. ''was from the 2Sth verse
OF the 73d Psalm: Il is good for me to
draw near to God. 81 think " she con-
tinues, that felt it good to draw near to
Him in His holy sacrament. although |
felt myself unworthy to gather up even
the crumbs from under the table. o
what an awlully solemn transaction /
have been engaged in this day. O. for
grace TO keep my VOWS. can't OF myself
keep them. Lord help me
This same reverence for this sacrament
IS very noticeable throughout her diary
which she continued for three wears
There are many references to her reception
oi q. Indeed, they form the chief ma ,
teual OF which she wrote; and there Is
always record either of her thoughts In !
anticipation OF Il, or Of her thoughts after
she had received It.
In every case there is the consciousness
Of her own irailty and unworthiness. and 81
oi Gods forbearance and mercy; as also H
Of the tremendous solemnity Of the feast n
10 which she was invited, and to which a
nc. always felt that she must 90. not i
her unitness. y
! would that all communicates might
nave some such views Of this holy sacra- o
nent, as TO the careful preparation for its N
tue reception, Of the blessings which it has +,