Year: 1869

SoIomon's Temple and the Pacific Railroad


Sermon by Rev. DIR. Chaplin.


Rev. Dr. Chaplin, after several weeks illness, re-
sumed his ministerial functions his church yester-
day morning. The genial sunshine Of the day drew
thither large number of the rank, beauty and fash
ion of the Fifth avenue, and the church was well
filed The preacher took his text from the First
Book of Kings, sixth chapter and seventh verse;
$50 that there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor
any tool of iron heard In the house while 1t was In
bulldine.n The preacher said the house alluded 10
m the text was the temple built by Solomon. II ap-
peared that the materials for that great work had all
been shaped and prepared Tor putting togetner oe-
fore they brought to the spot where the temple
was to stand The tumult OF the labor having
been left to the forest and the quarry, that
glorious structure rose silence. There was some
tmng peculiarly impressive in that magnificent
piece of architecture rising thus-beam uniting Win
beam and stone growing to stone wltnout trip or
lar or any sign OF workmanship, until 1t stood forth
the comp eted temple OF the living God. But that
idea OF building and Of building In silence was
were appropriate to that occasion, he now proposed
to call their attention 10 them. There were other
structures than temples which were Duit up anu
were really built up without hammer or axe or tool
Of iron. He asked them TO consider the Oldest tem
pie of ALL that in which all earthly and visible tenn
pies are contained, the great temple OF nature.
What vast process what enormous work was per-
petualy going on there And yet now mucn
OF 1t was done In silence Someuines m s., tnere l.,
cauo burst. There might be an earthquake
by which the rock was loosened from the mountain





then the stiffness Of the forest might be startled by
the fall of some majestic tree but how silent was
the working OF the great whole. Let them wa'cn
the great constructive and conservative course OF
the universe. and they would find there was no dln
OF labor no sound OF manner or axe or anything In
s eont'naay 9 with what senteness % seas subside
How calmly the celestial hosts fulfill their missions
perpetually working and accomplishing cycles tnat
bewlder the human mind. Consider the numerous
transformations now gong on around us IN the pro
cess OF the spring season. but especially Tor one VINO
been shut In from the free light and air. To such
one on first going forth, the glorious season OF the
spring awakens the delight and wonder OF
fresh creation. To-day the world Is changed. Inc
leaves put forth their frst beautiful greenness, the
sea IL stirring with its mysterious Developments
and all the womb OF nature groans with mighty liie
was this not also suggestive Of the effect Of the
greatest works OF individuals that the more trenen-
dous forces were sients What contrast was that
to mans feverish and sounding endeavors. should
recognize relation only In one formY Were there
those tnat could discern the word OF God only in
religions Man was likewise o temple OF divine
worship That also was built up silently Let each
one ask what the purpose OF that temple OF the
human body. The answer would be, Not TO be tne
abode of discordant or rebellious spirit but
to be the abiding place OF the Infinite Spirit. The
mgntest influences TO construct human character
were secret and silent influences. There was also a
process for building national character which was
sure to tell on humanity, which was 10 contain ue-
yelopments OF the future which no man could see:
We mad been building national character certainly
not without the noise OF the hammer and the axe,
and tools OF iron; and II was a wonderful achieve.
Uent W Cohsiuci III W ha shoI. sPacS Va .u.
mighty change was caused How marvcllously states
had sprung up in the lar OF homes Of the savage.
We mad built up nationality upon saclcia bones
and cemented II with the blood of heroic men.
Here, TOO, there was an inner temple. Nationality
did not consist In material things; not In wealth oi
territory, or In Its political expressions or name
The evidences OF nationality were character, moral
force, love honesty and these te essentials
OF humanity. How II with us In reference to faih
TO justice, to truth and purtyp Were We as Q
people possessed Of any or all OF these? Were oui
men and women purer, holier and stronger IN virtue
than formerlyY Or were they really as they seemed
TO be- more wicked and declinin29 He did not stoI
to answer that question. He only Indicated wha
constituted nationality and virtue. But let hlm say
tha to-day u great work stood compcted-a wort
that bound the Continent together In great bond
of iron. Certainly that work had not been accom-
piished without the sound OF hammers or axes, OF
tools OF iron but by all the energies of the splendid
mechanism OF our time. We might express ou
ADMIRATION for that material achievement which
have crowned with the crown OF civilization TN
waste and solitary spots Of our Continent. IN