KAISER AS PREACHER.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13093, 18 April 1908, Page 13

KAISER AS PREACHER.

"SIGNALLING AT SEA."

A sermon, which was delivered by the German Emperor on board tho Imperial yacht Hohenzollern. while coasting round the Land of the Midnight Sun, is reproduced in the "Homiletic Review." Tho editors,, in a prefatory note, remark that the valuo of this 6hort eermon lies in its accent of Christian fraternity. Its admirable simplicity renders it more effective than a stately and pretentious oration. The Kaiser reserves that style for secular and political occasions. The text chosen by his Majesty was, "And they beckoned unto their partnere, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. Aiid they came, and filled both tho ehiw, so that they began to sink."— Luke v. 7. The Kaiser remarked that "Signalling at sea" was the title which might be given to the text. "It is the sign of joy on account of the rich catch which is transmitted to the comrades, that silent, yet so eloquent, language which invites to action, to mutual assistance in tho ingathering of the blessing, to common action ■R-hich in the result incomes tho common blessing; 'and they filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. , "Let Uβ then to-day discourse upon this beckoning from one side to another ac the language at sea, and the beckoning will assist us as the act at sea whereby wo become worthy of tho blessings at sea, as much as wore tho disciples in our text. The language at sea! What beckoning was to those fishermen—namely, the simple and original signal for mutual joy and mutual labour—has among our pres-ent-day sailors become developed into the language which every sailor knows, the international oodo of signals at sea.

'Thie sort of beckoning at sea wo shall discourse upon to-day. "Wo are treating of the beckon in 2: to tho comrades on tbe deep. In our text they are converted into brethren in Christ through lore on account of the act of the Lord. Not eingly. but all together: that is the Christian motto everywhere. Only upon himself can a man rely! Yet. on the other hand, we, as if sprang from the same root! also stand togetner as one man! Nevertheless he who would learn and practise this must in his course of life pay special heed to the 'beckoning'— the beckoning, that is to say, between . Heaven above and those hero on earth. Herein consists true ChrLrtian wisdom—namely, to observe in all the ways of life and in all tho turnings of ■ life, not only the word of the Lord, but also h.K beckoning, and whoever stands in lively communion with Him learns more and more to observe and follow not only Hie words but also His silent beckonings." His Majesty continued: "There is, too, a Christian beckoning to the far distance, a Christian beckoning, too, across the wide sea; the silent, yet eloquent, langvage whioh those undeistand so well who know it. To another man it is an utterly meaningless sign. It is the language of the Christian communion, the silent, yot eloquent, language of love, the prayer and intercession on behalf of those who are nearest to us, and well ia it for the man who understands it and daily and diligently practises it! Yet the Lord must be in secret, behind him, and His merciful presence must bo felt, His merciful assistance must be experienced. The man who knows this cannot . keep it for himself alone; he must share riband spread it farther. Many such a beckoning gooe hither and thither on tho sea. in the quiet chamber, and on the lonely watch; many such a beckoning and salutation goes forth into the bright starry night under God's wonderful sky hero in these northern regions. "Verily, it is at sea that one learns,

.if anywhere and at any time one can « learn, those two thingp: the languago r and the action of a real communion

in one Lord. Nowhere can there possibly be a more numerous membership, , and at tho same time a stronger bond > of union among the members of a communion, than at. sea, because here, f anywhere, is one dependent on the other; or, such a beckoning and such .. a helping between one side and the '■■' other, not only during the joyful oom- : . iminion of happy days, but also during the close communion of ovil times. Yes, it is a grand thing, among the grandest things on this earth, to gaze at God's wonders out here on the higrh seas, or hero in the extreme hortb, ' with a few 'trusty comrades' about one. Undoubtedly. however, the grandest thing of all is tho knowledge - that we are as one man in the same Lord, in that calm, unspoken language of love, which comprehends so well tho beckoning from one side to the other, and in that act of love which is presented in its fullest and complelest sense when the shout \ goes forth— , 'AH hands to tho rescue!'"