New-York tribune., 1906-12-03
CRAPSEY'S FAREWELL.
breaches Final Sermon at st. An
drew's Church, Rochester
BY Telegraph to The Tribune. l


Rochester. Dec 2-The Rev. DIR. Algernon S.
Crapsey, of St Andrews Episcopal Church.
preached his farewell sermon this morning a
congregation that could disguise its grief at
the breaking OF ties that have existed for twenty
eight years. Women and throughout the
church sobbed. At the close of the sermon the
choir, which usually goes out singing marched out
in silence and with bowed heads The church was
far too small for all who would liked to have heard
Dr. Crapsey's final sermon. Mrs Crapsey con
Quoted the Sunday school.
The rectors text taken from Matthew. xxi. 3:
Tell the daughter of Zion Behold thy King
ccmeh unto thee meek. and riding upon
and upon colt the foa of ass
These words" he said. which found in the
gospel for the day one Of the many adaptations
OF ancient Hebrew prophecy TO the life Of Jesus
for which the final gospel Is distinguished. They
are a quotation from the prophet Zechariah. AS
we listen to the people that throng the way Of
the King we learn from them that this King is
Jesus, the Prophet from Nazareth and we won
der why men call Him king For to all external
appearances He is king than are
He was just such a 10 the outward seeming
as are the millions of workingmen who. with
dinner pals in hand, go forth every morning to
their daily task. For thirty years he lived as
child and lad and youth and man with others of
his age and station. and there nothing dis
unguish Him from His neighbors At the age Of
nTty IN fSac5e lie entered upon pgbc career as rabbi
to indicate that he was king. And vet men
seeing this life in the perspective of history agree
account for tfiS strange nhenon1enor nc we sPa have
to divest the kingly conception of every outward
symbol by which It has been known and find, if We
continuing DR.. Crapsey said
Jesus was king, because, in the first place. he
was an able man. man in spiritual strength and
a king is the ablest. wisest man in all the state.
though he sits upon the throne he is not the king
some wiser stronger man than he behind the
throne is the real king The kngship of Jesus was
IN Jesus himself. in the might and the majesty OF
his soul He exercised his royal power in subduing
He not his passions. reigned supreme in his nature.
lie exercised dominion over every foul lust and
every base fear. He put dcat th every unholy de-
sire and every unclean thought. He did what
the great territory OF human nature which was his
70 rule and brought II into subsection TO the royal
And then, having himself b. experience mastered
the royal law and found it the of life he gave
his peopIe He did nor besitste to reDaai All ancient
has ever put forth such claims this and had
Jesus gave has been the law by which countless
millions have striven 10 order their lives, and
10 sec IN the keeping Of that law the salvation OF
But another. function of kingship is that of
the ToyatY W of a jesus 50 ' was the 6TaT e Of S
government Able to control Himself, He came to
majesty of His own righteousness by the simple
t VET tI oI MS ms own I I4w oI love he mas su1dued
for its peace until the Kingdom of this world be
comes the kingdom of the Lord and His Christ
And Jesus reigned and reiguS every
man. Royalty is not the preTogative of One-it S
the duty Of all. Each must rule his
spirit. Each man must he a law unto him
self. Each man must aspire TO leadership in the
great struggle for truth and righteousness which
Is forever going on. Each man must long for
active service in the army of the Lord.
There be in these days many who stand in the
streets and cheer the King he passes by. many
that wait for his return, that they may the
KING table; nVt there be few that ready to
so forth with the King to battle 1t is we'll To be
of the Kings household. but II is better to be of
the Kings guard There are many that find Christ
and in finding Him ind the JOY and peace that He
has won for them There be some. however, that
follow Jesus and find struggle and conflict and
blood and tears. To find Christ is to find salvation
tor ones self; to follow Jesus is to win salvation
Tor others. Let those who viii find Christ let us
follow Jesus Let deSpise any salvation that
does not come to us by way of the cross e will
not enter into the kingdom of heaven except We
may take II by violence. and when strife is
fierce, the warfare long. steals the the
tant triumph song. and then know that
fare IL conditioned on victory And If we are COM
mended TO go forth alone. a fnrlOrn hope into
the hottest Of the fight then let strengthen our
souls with prayer and say: 20 Lord, We pray Thee
thdt the thought of the victory before lis
may make us forgetful Of the ferCeuess OF tho
battle, ana II Thou Callest pass through the
valley of the shadow Of death let not our souls
he afraid. and grant to know that. though we
uie We shall live again in Thee. who Iivest and
reigneth over all, world without end. Amen