Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-19

princes. Dignity, did l say? Follow
the bishop of London some night into
the crowded slums, hear him preach
on the street corner, see some little
girl come Juggling at his arm and lead
him off to pray by the bedside of her
mother Dignity? Aye! the dignity
of st. Christopher, carrying the weak
s1d the faint and the weary, old men
and little children through the river
of death.
Away with false dignity! 1t be-
longs not to thrones nor to princes, it
belongs not to creed nor to caste, it
belongs not to any Office no matter
how exalted it may be, unless the man
in the Office dignifies it with the dig
nifty of usefulness, the dignity of
mighty service, the dignity of minis
tering love.
THE EARLY PRIESTHOOD.
There was a priesthood once Or
dained of God. 1t had great history,
noble past The oil that eonsecrat-
ed Aaron filled with fragrance all the
generations, descended to the last
and lowest sons. This priesthood
stood face to face with mighty kings
and rebuked them. 1t confronted peo-
pies and reproved them. At a time
when there was no king and no gen.
stood forward TO be hammer of God
and break into pieces the oppressor
and set the people free.
1t was a glorious history, splendid
| past. The members of this priest
| hood at the time of Christ could look
( back and claim a memorable ancestry.
! But when the Saviour of the world
Hooked around among men for the
| foundation stones of the Christian
church he looked this old and digni-
! fed priesthood in the face and turned
sadly away Why? Why, because
/ theirs was a false dignity. He want
ed disciples, and there was no man in
that priesthood humble enough to be
a disciple. He wanted men who would
love their fellows, and there was no
man in that priesthood human enough
to be shaped by His love. They had
lost their humility, they had lost their
humanity-all that they had left was
the false dignity of power and authori-
ty. How helpless was that false dig
nifty when this Jesus whom they turn.
ed over to death to save their order
and who went as lamb to the slaugh-
ter, stood on the mount of Galilee-a
risen king-and said to His disciples
All power is given unto me in heaven
and in earth!"
TO THE DEACON.
My brother, you are about to re
ceive the lowest Office in the sacred
ministry of the church. You have
come to this point through conviction
through sincerity, through sacrifice
If, after a long ministry in another
body, this seems q humble step, be
Comforted, for they that have used
the Office of. deacon well. purchase
TO themselves good degree. and great
holiness in the faith which is in Jesus
Christ"
1t would not be becoming for me
whose experience by the side of yours
has been most meagre and limited, tt
give you either caution or counsel as
to the conduct of your office.
| am here but to welcome you and
to wish you we'll l pray that thi:
step may bring peace 10 your heart
. and that your ministry may be bless
ed beyond all measure.
TO THE PRIEST.
= My brother, you are about to be ad
= mitted into the sacred order of priests
= The dignity CT the Office originates il
the fact that upon you is conferred
; the power to be the representative o
God. But on the other hand the dig
= nifty of the Office ceases when thu
i power given you by God is used onl!
! as a rod of authority and not as /;
J wand OF love; when you By Arrogance
: or self-will cut yourself off from tn,
! congregation of men and choose t
stand before them merely as Cod
} representative, and cease to be In an.
real way their representative befor
: God.
; We belong TO church which pride
2 itself on its apostolic succession AM
s is thankful for it and for the tru
Y priesthood which It insuTes to US. Blu
: it is we'll for us to remember that cor
I Ceit Of gifts and pride OF power ar
+ hardly proper feelings for men who's
S spiritual ancestry begins with III
c humble fishermen of Galilee.
+ You will soon be clothed with tn
i Vestments which no other but a prizes
[ can wear. You will soon hear thos
D awful words, Whose sins thou do:
:, forgive, they are forgiven" giving 70
e a power, my brother, belonging to n
/ other office upon earth. That powe
: ii wrongly used. can utterly dehumai
ize you, or that power can make yo
: great in sympathy, in, tenderness,
L charity
y Remember when you hear thoi