Catoctin clarion., 1908-10-01
THE PULPIT.
4 BRILLIANT SUNDAY SERMON BY
Or, CHARLES EDWARD LOCKE.
Theme: Doing the Impossible.

BROOKLYN, N. Y.-The Rev. DR..
| Charles Edward Locke, pastor of the
Hanson Place Meth odist Episcopal
! Church, Sunday evening, to large
audience, preached on "Doing What
Cannot Be Done" His text was Mat.
thew 1920: Nothing shall be i'm.
nossihle unto YOU" DR.. Locke said
| In the course of his sermon:
That is a most exquisite moment,
when in the midst of rich treasures
of the Art Gallery of the Vatican, one
stands for the first time before Raph'
ael's masterpiece of "The Transfiura-
ton" 1t was the great artists last
work: and before its pigments were
dry It was carried in his funeral pro-
cessiop. This masterful genius defied
| a we'll known canon of art in attempt
ing to portray two distinct themes on
the same canvas: but Raphael was a
good theologian as we'll as an un-
rivaled artist. He caught the double
meaning of the TRANSPORTATION and
saw in it not only the Glorification OF
Jesus, but the emancipation OF man
kind.
When Jesus came down from the
radiant mountain summit an anxious
father met him with the earnest re-
quest, "Lord. have mercy on my son, :"
bumhly explaining to Jesus that he
had first taken his afflicted boy to the
disciples, hut they could not cure him.
Jesus said: Bring him hither to
Me-" and the child was cured that
| very hour. In perplexity the disci-
pies asked Of Jesus. "Why could not
we cast him out?" and Jesus replied,
because of your unbelief: for verify
say unto you II ye have faith as q
grain of mustard seed nothing shall
be impossible unto you." In casting
out the worlds devils and in alleviat-
ing the woes OF humanity. nothing
shall be impossible-and this is the
program OF Jesus. "Doing what can
not be done" is the program Of Jesus
"Faith as grain Of mustard seed. !"
"All things are possible to him that
believeth."
Faith laughs at impossibilities,
And cries it shall be done.
"Jesus never despises little
faith" On that late afternoon on
the banks of Galilee, when the multi
tude was hungry and the town was
far away, Jesus, to test Philip. In
uuired: "Whence shall we buv bread
that these may eat?" and mathemat-
ical Philip thought that two hundred
pennyweight would not be sufficient
Then Andrew for brief instant had a
vision Of faith AS he suggested that
there was a lad there who had five
barley loaves and two fishes: but An
drew. too, quickly adopted the arith-
metical process and discorsolate.y
added "But what are thev among so
many?" Jesus, however, did not dis
count or overlook Andrews mo-
mentary vision and faith: and on the
basis of Andrews little faith" the
miracle OF the feeding OF tle FIVE
thousand was performed. IT was
faith as a grain Of mustard seed only,
but 1t accomplished the impossible.
Tertullian once said OF an event:
1T Is certain because 1t Is impossi-
ble." and Richard Golden. when told
that certain thing was IMPOSSIBLE
replied: "If that is all. let us set
about 1t at once" General Arm
strong. OF HAMPTON, said: Doing
what cannot be done Is the glory Of
living" and his great schools for In
dian and negro youth became posi-
BILE. Carlisle impatiently wrote: I'm
possible! 1t is not lucky word!
Who Is 1t says there Is a lion in the
way? Sluggard. thou must slay the
lion: the way must be travelled! "
Mirabeau shouted: impossible, that
blockhead of a word!" And the great
Napoleon characteristically declared:
impossible! 1t is not French word.
Genius is the art Of overcoming the
tmpossible!"
Christianity is the art of overcom-
Ing the impossible. Impossible Is not
In the vocabulary OF the Christian.
! This Is the program of Jesus.
Christianity has already achieved
the impossible in the overthrow Of
the vast Roman Empire. To destroy
the power and glory of Rome as they
appeared two thousand years ago in
trenched in impregnable fortresses
and defended by ever victorious
Roman legions, seemed an impossible
result.
Christianity has achieved the i'm
possible in the final eradication Of
human slavery, a diabolical institu-
ton eliminated in the customs, for
tunes, constitutions, conscience and
| u oullIoHo vi Iutu. OO, lhuCSu, oudll
the day surely come when nations
shall not learn war any more. And,
when that prophecy Of Isaiah shall
have been fulfilled, which commands,
Loose the bonds of wickedness and
ando the heavy burdens then the
accursed liquor traffic will be over
thrown. and the deadliest thraldom
which has ever blighted manhood will
/ be ended. This damnable traffic in
ttrong drink fills the prisons with
criminals, the hospitals with the in.
sane, and the poorhouses with pau
pers. Recently a great brewery com.
rany of this country has published in
its paid advertisements libelous
t:atement that the founder of Meth.
Ldism favored the manufacture and
tale Of liquors as beverage. The
statements are mischievous lies. The
,reatest total abstinence society In
Christendom Is the Methodist Church,
Such demoniaeal lies will only hasten
the downfall OF old Gambrinus In
this country. The devil Is a liar, and
the father OF lies, and we would ex.
pect him to defraud his Internal bust.
ness by lies and Misrepresentation
Lincoln's great prophecy OF February
20, 1910, has been partially fulfilled
and will surely be completely real,
lied, when there shall be neither
slave nor drunkard upon the earth!
Then, too, the brotherhood OF the
race is to be established. "Whosc
hateth his brother Is a murderer.
Whose hath this worlds goods and
seth his brother hath need, and
shutteth up his bowels OF compassion
how dwelleth the love Of God IN
him." Some one has recently said.
"No man ought to have anything
until every man has something" Il
this savors of anarchy, 1t is at leas
true that many of us should have lesl
until many others have more. Their
! 10 prpaf Social and industrial unres