The Alaska daily empire., 1916-07-03
BISHOP DELIVERS
 HOUSING SERMON
 TO CONGREGATION
Confirms Large Glass at Trinity; Says Nation which Neglects the Spiritual Preparing for
 Its Own Downfall,

A large congregation listened yes. terday with rapt attention for an
 hour or more, at Trinity Church. to sermon by Bishop P. T. Rowe,
 which was eloquent, thought.proyok.
 Ing, and heart-stIrring
 The music was hearty and inspir-
 ing. and the ceremony of Laying of
 Hands beautiful and touching, A large class was presented by the priest in charge The Bishop present. ed each one with the usual cross. re- ferring Co 1t as the symbol of their religion and reminder that they
 were bought with it.
 After speaking of Confirmation as taking one back to Christ, and as an occasion of strength to go on in the Christian life, and appealing to Chris
 tianJ to surround those just confirm. ed with prayers and love that they
 may grow. and decrying the spirit
 of petty criticism and Pharisaic self.
 righteousness, the Bishop explained
 the teXt-"Ye search the Scriptures, which testify of Me, yet ye will not come to Me, that ye may have life '
 ''The Confirmation service" said the | Bishop. reminded one that life is a
 serious thing. if 1t Is of any value. lt | Is not mere taunung jest. and
 thoughtful people consider that We need ! help.
 People are searching for life-search- ' ing the Scriptures and their hearts. | Man is ineradicably religious. and must
 have some religion-truc or false. And We wonder there are quaclt rengions | and dry-as- dust -philOsophies. which lock
 up the Scriptures Instead Of being
 keys" and dry up the springs ot lie
 instead of opening them. While hag- ' gling over difficulties in Scripture. peo-
 Die are missing the heart Of it all Christ Those who do not see below the letter of all Scriptures Him who caused them or Co Whom they testify. have missed the whole point. and are
 twentieth century Pharisees.
 "ThC New Testament as we have lt
 was not settled for nearly zoo years ] after Christ and it was then the Church
 of Christ which (after having written the Eoobs) stamped them with Her ou- thority as witnesses Co Her truth. Don [
 you think then. that She knows best
 what they mean? They testify or Her ! Christ. ! itusl truth Every one knows anything
 i'm part. but he knows that part and more The surgeon doesn't nave lC ! bleed man to death Co know all aOout his blood The scientist doesn't have 10 weigh the dust of the stars to know ] all about competition of matter. They 2 know in part ANd we Christians know ] what we know. The Scriptures are words of Gods love indeed but Christ | has written Ills name across them m ! letters of blood and deeds ot love our | religion is no Eucss-work. Christ mas come. and He has given us lie
 Has God provided for, mans physi- cal and mental life, and not for any | hIgber spIrituaI life? It is just as pos ] sIbIe 10 starve the soul as the body. "If life consists in nothing more tn3n ! what we see. and if as we climb the | winding path towards the unknown, no ! Iigbt from above beats upon the way ! then life Is poor indeed. But christ ,5 rS ! yeaIs. enriches. ennobles energizes' ana purifies life. He Is life. and gives us [ true life. ..,..,, nm,
 ,,s t, tbe atmosphere of the Divine life. | and it ought never be too hot or too wet to come to church. We come 70 ! church not to hear a man preach mere | I,, but to worship the great God. Any nation that relies upon i's "n-