Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-18
Today's Sermon
at Washington
SUBJECT: "IF CHRIST CAME TO
WASHINGTON

passed through Joricho.'
THE announcement OF the coming of
any historic character to Washington
would arouse deep interest II 1 could
announce that Shakespeare, under the
alchemy of whose brain all classes and
races and all institutions gaze up their
secrets, were to speak in this tabernacle;
II could announce that Milton whose
blinded eyes seemed but to give his soul
chance to see more; II could announce
that George Washington,t the Father of His
Country. first in peace. first In war and
first In the hearts of his countrymen, was
to honor this city with his presence, eX-
cursions would run from every section Of
this land, and no building has been
erected by the hands OF man that would
hold the crowds that would gather.
But 1 need not argue that the an
nouncement of the coming Of Jesus to
Washington would awaken an interest
and send thrill of expectancy beyoad
that of any other character of history.
The concern we would feel would be diff
ferent, not only in its magnitude, but in
its essence as well.
I'VE instinctlvely feel the difference and
We account for 1t. This is true because
His name Is inseparably associated with
religion and, after all has been said, re-
hgion is the measure of concern of men
Men may revile It, ignore it and mis-
represent 1t. but in their hearts men feel
that in religion life finds its highest eX-
preston.
HAS GREATEST INFLUENCE.
MANY types of men challenge our in
terest. but 1t is the apostle of religion
and the herald of Christianity that has
the superlative influence. The merchant
prince is known in all markets where
men buy and sell and the crowds ap-
plaud him and his millions. He is
useful man to his age; but he dies, and
In few years no one would know
where he was buried, or remember that
he lived, IL 1t were not for the costly
monument erected by his family.
The soldier makes and unmakes the
map of the world at will and empires
tremble at the glance of his eye; he, too
may do a divine work, but he dies and
clowns handy his name across the foot
lights.
The scholar concentrates the essence
of his life In a book that soon grows
yellow In the dingy corner of a library
f1e may be a faithful servant of high
ideals, but he dies and only few stu
dents remember him and enjoy the re-
suits of his labors
But Jesus actually lives the moral law
and serves His generation forgetting
Himself IN the immortality and we turn
to Him for spiritual authority as natural
as a flower turns toward the sun or a
lily lifts its immaculate lips to be kissed
by the sunshine and the dew
Beauty may please us, truth may
strengthen us, but goodness commands
us. genius charms us, a philosopher
instructs us, but saint feeds us.
Art makes the world attractive, learn
ing enriches the mind and dignifes life,
but religion regenerates the soul.
But the fact that Jesus was a spirit
ual genius is not an adequate explana-
tion OF the unique interest His coming
to Washington would arouse.
HOLDS GRIP ON MEN.
There have been other spiritual gem
iuses who incarnated the good and the
great. but the grip which Jesus has upon
the heart and consciences of men is diff
ferent from all these,
aristotle was a genius, but his infu-
ence is scholastic. He influences the form
of mans thought.
Mohammed was a genius, but his in
huence is disciplinary. He drives men into
new habits.
"confueius was genius. but his in
nuenee is didactic. He simply teaches
men formal plan OF conduct as a teacher
might teach geometry.
"Buddha was genius, but his lnfiu-
snce Is exemplary only. He tells us to IL
lustrate the attitude of self-forgetfulness.
"Mr Froude has made an extended COM
parison between Jesus and Caesar.
Caesar crystallized into Institutions of
government theory of statecraft which
made Rome the dominant force in that
generation and pushed humanity forward
IN The march OF progress. He stamped his
genius upon the life of his time and to this
day In our political and economic life we
feel the influence OF the Roman law de-
veioped under his inspiration.
''rhe ghost of Caesar stir stalks In the
council chambers OF Europe. but no priest
~ order like the Jesuits has made Caesar
its master His memory has produced
no churches and no creeds. No phIloso-
pher has found in him a key 10 the riddles |
ef life and death His name is not chanted |
~ vanited eathedrals nor fingered over by |
the peasant In his cottage. nor Isped by |
little chiidren-'Now l lay me-
II could draw comparisons between the |
influence OF Jesus and the influence of /
every great character in human history, /
just as Mr.. Froude has with the name of |
Caesar. and II ! did 1 would but add evil |
depee 70 the argument you are ready to |
fdmft, that the Influence OF Jesus Is diff |
ferent from the influence OF every other |
character IN history, that II Is a per- |
sonal ana intimate influence.
''Let me try to describe the unique |
appeal OF Jesus Whenever men look |
Al Chflst they feel themselves under OBJ
legation to have reproduced in them |
selves the character He expresses. This /
moral compulsion Is indestruotble. Men 1
may dent the historical Christ or the /
Haetaphysicai Christ and leave only the |
APPEAL OF CHRIST.
ideal and they have still TO reckon with
power OF the frst magnitude, the 1
Christ ~ human experience survives
mems doubts Of the Christ OF history /
aud Htlli under the name OF Jesus some
teIn8 cails out 20 our spiritual capaci-
Iies - awake. The very name makes US /
d stizhed with evil IN spite OF our
lcf1 for it Il shames us out of PETIT /
hess into largenesa. Out Of sin into sal
t4I|Qr. out Of vice Into purity No man
taa esad ihe ifa9mentary description Of /
4s 81 the New Testament without \
IInE Iald upon him A. obligation 20
n1er BIS l.tile and iEnohie life 70
i|fe tHaf q lived more sbsn-
~ lae ~ tnIa fIlf Whea
W a H4 rll1 "a