Year: 1879

THE DOOM OF sECTARIANIsM-sERMON By REV.


T. DE WITT TALMAGE.


The Brooklyn Tabernacle was throngcd with people
eager to welcome their pastor his return. and
profusion of flowers graced the platform. The sub
jcct of the sermon was 1.-The Doom Of Sectarianism"
and the text taken from Romans. xiv. 5-"Let
every man be fully persuaded In his own mind
The religious world, said Mr.. Talmage, is divided
into o great variety of parties and sects. Between
Of these there is only difference Of words be-
tween others there is difference wido between
truth and error between light and darkness between
heaven and hell While our conscience will not allow
us to choose some of these beliefs must allow to
Others the liberty of conscience which demand
for ourselves. remembering that they more differ
from us than differ from them.


wish to advocate the very largest liberty in mat
ters of religious belief and discussion. In all qnes-
tons of art and social life and politics and religion
let there be no intolerance. no moving Of the pre-
vious question. no gag law, no persecution You
know that the air and tho keep pure by constant
circulation. and there is a tendency in religious dis
cussion toward purihcation and moral health. am
not afraid that in this contest between truth and
truth will be worsted. not afraid of error
if We place close beside it the truth. thank God
that do not all think alike religious subjects.
You cannot see through my eyes. cannot hear
through your ears. No shall lord 1t over our
conscences. propose to speak Of secarianism. its
causes. its evils and its cure. Men have tried to
make US believe that this monster with horns
and hoofs is religion. We shall try to
hunt it down and drag it out of the
cavern of darkness and rip off its hide.
Distinguish between bigotry and lawful preference
for any religious belief or form have faith in
a nothingaran. That man who has religious
preference is mad Here is a man born an Episco-
palian and he can be nothing else but an Episcopa-
liam. Here is man born Methodist, and he can be
nothing but Methodist. Here is man born
INV lori and hA In hirn nlsA fnr


born so near the line that feel at home in any
thing. Great laughter


BrGoTRy


Now, having shown the origin OF bigotry. just
look abroad in the Church and see what damage it
dices people against Christianity. The churches of
God were not made tor war barracks. This perpet-
ual bombardment of other sects dives away
from religion. People are afraid of riots You go
down the street ana you a contest-men fighting
with men and missiles thrown. You hear the report
of firearms. You not foolish enough to go
through that street, you go around the block
Naughter.) Well men have looked off sometimes
said II believe / viii take the broad road There
many ecclesiastical brick bats being thrown in
that narrow path. and there is much sharpshoot-
ing, think l will take the broad road" Oh! my
friends. that religion is not worth much which is
not tall enough to look over the fence. have more
admiration for Spanish bull fight and believe 1t to
be more merciful and honorable than the combating
OF these carnvorous ecclcsiastics.


Again, sectarianism hnders the triumph of the
Gospel. Suppose there were common enemy
riding up the Narrows tomorrow morning and our
batteries here around New York were to fire into
each other, you would cry out, "Natonal suicidel"
And yet that very thing is often done in the Church
or Christ-church against church. ministers against
minister's, firing away ut each other instead OF
centratng all their energy and hurting great and
overwhelming vollcy against the navies OF darkness
riding up the bay. Great appause.)


THE CHURCH THAT MAKES THE MOST HONEY.


go out some summer day ana find that there
two beehives quarrelng with each other come
up toward them do not come enough to get
stung, but come near enough to hear the contest
between them The one cries out. THAT field of
clover il the sweetest" The other out 'That
field of clover is the sweetest" say, "Stop this
quarrel II You think that is the sweetest 80 there;
IL you think that is the sweetest 90 there. l want
to understand that that hive is the best that gets
the most honey" (Appause and scnsation.)


How are We to war against this bigoted feeling,
which fingers In the hearts OF hundreds and thou
sands of Christians? We do 80 by realization Of
own nhrmities and weakness. IL we make many
mistakes upon other things ought not to be
little modest i'll regard to religious belief? 1
suppose that the light from the eternal throne in
wrong all creeds. We will overthrow Sec
tarianism by dwelling chiefly upon those things on
which we agree rather than upon those In which
differ. War against scctariansm by realizing that all
denominations OF Christians have yielded benehcien
institutions and noble men, and therefore to DO
respected. But more than all will you overcome
this evil of sectariasm by toilng Christian work
with men OF other beliefs. Out with the life
lnei' do not care what denomination carries it,
out with the lifeboat do not what denomina-
ton rows IL. Plenty OF room for all to toll, tor all
to pray. for all to work. You do your work in your
way. do my work i'll my way. But know this-that


fearless of surf and tempest and that brings the
souls to the shore OF eternal safety, will be the
upon which God will put the brightest honors. and
the that heaven Will greet with the loudest
them OIL that God would hasten the day when all
the great denominations of Christians shall join
hands around the jesus and recitp the creed