The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-02-03
ThrOnged Congregation Hears
Minister of "Old First" Repeat
His First Sermon There.
PULPIT SENSATIONALISM
STRONGLY CONDEMNED
Application of Discourse to
Present-day Conditions-Trib-
ute from Paternity.

the First Presbyterian Cnurcn, last
night at the services commemorative
of his silver jubilee as pastor, when
he repeated the first sermon he made
in the historic edifice, a quarter CEN
fury before Some who did not know
hat the ermo was an old one made
comments on the pertinence of the dis
course to present-day conditions in the
pulpit. Some few who heard the pas
tor when he first came to the city re-
called the sermon. 1t was not printed
when first preached.
DIR. Frazer affirmed that those minis
ters who preach for popular fame or
sinister motives reenact the treachery
of Judas. Nevertheless, he said, there
is a class of What might be called
moral or bible politics." but they
dealt with principles, not men.
The celebration of the silver Jubilee
began yesterday and will end Thursday
night with a public reception to DR..
Frazer and Mrs. Frazer at the church.
The first exercises were opened auSpic-
iously yesterday morning. There was
special music under the direction of
l.. Carroll Bcckel. singing in native
tongues by members of the Tabernacle
and Olivet italian Missions, offspring
of the First Church. The church was
beautifully decorated with palms, flow
ers and greenry, n the pulpit was Il
Veritable bank OF richly perfumed roses
and carnations.
The Lords Prayer, set to music by
DIR. Thompson Frazer, son of the pas
tor, was sung, as also was an anthem
especially composed and arranged for
the silver jubilee by l.. Carroll Beckel.
DR.. Frazer chose his text from Phil.
l., %. His sermon was most inter-
esting and included references to the
condition of the church when he first
assumed the p~astorate and its deyel-
opment, growth and accomplishments
during the last twenty-five years.
The members of Corinthian Council
No. GA, Royal Arcanum, of which DR..
Frazer is a member. attended the serv-
ice in "a body. There were seventy
present. A magnificent bank of flow
ers in the centre of which in immor-
telles was "Corinthian Council No.
GA, Royal Arcanum," was set in front
of the pulpit, and at Zach side was a
large bouquet of American Beauty
roses. NThe tall chandeliers at each
sid of this pulpit were almost con
cealcd behind smilax. They bore the
legend "1sS3-19OS,'' the date of the insti-
tuition and continuation of the council
to the present time. coincident with
the pastorate of DR.. Frazer.
There vas scarcely a seat vacant in
the church when the service began.
The members of the counci sang the
opening ode, and there was special
music and singing by the choir.
1t was announced that f. w. Bald
win, who became a member of the
church a half century ago, would have
charge of the special Tuesday night
prayer meeting which will consist of
short talks on the work done in the
several departments of the church dur
ing the past twenty-five years.
DIR. Frazer's sermon of twenty-five
years ago and last night was from the
ext !. Corinthians H., 2, For / de-
termined not to know anything among
you, save Christ and Him crucifted."
The Rev. DIR. Frazer said in part:
Beneath the surface of every great
historical movement there lies inn
bedded some mighty controlling
thought. and all the varied phases of
human living are due to changes in
humna thinking. Not men but ideas
govern the world, and principles, not
princes, are the true and regnant SOW
ereigns.
Living above their fellows and in
advance of the times; trying calmly to
fulfil a special mission in educating
the race up to the views of their stand
point; having outlived the SCOTS of
comrades; having overleaped every
barrier which malice or ingenuity
erects, and having advanced the vita
interests of the race, men find the re-
ward in the hallowed remembrance OF
n grateful posterity. The so-called one
idea men are the living men of his
tory.
sour text presents to us a man who
in absorbed and controlled by a mighty
principle; q man who is to us the
greatest one-idea man the world has
ever seen.
"On coming to Corinth, the apostle
Paul as his fixed, deliberate
resolution, not an accident, not a whim,
but as his settled purpose and deter
mination to ignore everything in the
interest of gospel truth. Coming not
with worlds of human wisdom for in
tellectual triumphs, he shuns the con-
ficts of the schools.
"He has no desire to be a profound
or scientific scholar. Coming not with
excellency of speech, he aims not TO
please the throng. He came not to
seek his wi emolument. He had but
one aim. lie mao Out one liked puT-
pose, not to know anything among
them a V Christ and Him cruciied.
GAS the apostle, he has laid down the
true platform for the Christian min
istry. Let us analyze Paurs determi-
nation and inquire what it is to preach
Christ and Him crucified. Since Paul
did not employ the wisdom OF the
schools, preaching Christ is not sclen-
tific preaching. BY his statement we
have reference to every style of erudite
preaching which displays the man al
the sacrifice Of truth, which seeks pro-
fundity in preference to the simple
gospel, which reveals in new doctrines
the startling hypothesis rather than
in the preaching and exposition of di-
vine truth.
"A clear and exhaustive analysis, a
thoroughly scientific treatment viii
generally give greater force, beauty ano
simplicity to discourse. Neither can
any objection be made to the introduce
tion of scientific truth as a part of q
sermons material. provided it be sub
ordinated to the great end of preach
ing, for as the Saviour drew lessons OF
practical worth from surrounding OBJ
jects and circumstances so the preacher