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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 9266, 28 April 1892, Page 4

garflisLed. There is indeed, a strange alsOnco of homiletic tricks in them, and their methods are more those of Wagner and] Schiller than of the great masters of pulpit oratory, He speaks to his sailors of Thorwaldsen and his statues, of the Greeks, and of the retreat ot the ten thousand. He enforces a lesson in humility by an anecdote ,of his grandfather, and, he illustrates the esoteric nature of the turning points in life by reminding his hearers that "when the Third Army Corps towards the latter days of August, 1870, turned off all of a sudden from the great main road to Paris— oft at a sharp anelo towards the north to Sedan—everybody had the feeling that this denoted the decisivo move of the campaign, although only a very few know the extent of the capture which was being aimed at." This is scarcely the style of the professional chaplain. CHRISTIANITY ANI> GERMANY. Military illustrations abound in the sermons, and their finest effort ot rhetoric — indeed, the only lofty onos in the stries —belong to this category. It is worth quoting at full length : — "Our ancestors loved to represent the Saviour as n mighty and splendid king— that is to say, as their king, so bringing Him nearer to the hearts of the people. Christianity and Germany, love of Fatherland aud religion, were by them regarded as very closely relatdd." They never wished to sever these one from the other, for God himself had forged the connecting links in their minds. Not before the Prankish swords, but before the spiritual sword of the King ot Peace above, did they bow down ; and therefore did they look upon Him us their Overlord, their King of Pence, as well as captain of their nrniy. His Sion was likened by them to one of iliose castles, with lofty horned battlements, which were situated in the German forests. Hia disciples were supposed to stand around Him like knightly heroes. His journeys over the aea were like northern voyages in hlgh-prowed vessels. This conception was at once both fine and deep, for it owed its birth to the depth of the people's soul, which read from the Book ot Nature as from a Bible." Unconsciously, perhaps, the Emperor has here spoken a defence nf that particularism or tribalism in theology which the destructive critics rate so ignobly. It is difficult to believe that it was placed i.i his mouth by n preacher conversant with current; scientific controversies. CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM. In the prayers with which the sermons severally conclude nro many interesting passages, which have n peculiar significaaco aa coming from the mouth of the Emperor. Such, tor example, is the curious sentence in which he exclaims: '" Thy kindness nnd mercy have conducted us, sometimea it may have seemed strangely, yob always blessfully.' In another prayer ho seems to make a direct reference to his own Socialistic schemes :— 11 How Mowed it ia to be assured that we are nil Thy children through faith in Christ Jesus, and that we are all one in Him, who is the Head ot His communion. Again would we renew our promises to Thee, fetill Ktendfofltly to remain united, each for all and all for each, during all the days aud amid all the changes of this lite. Awaken in our countrymen more nnd more a spirit of active love and of stout help, so that each may bear the other's burden, even as Thy dear Son has taken all our burdens on Himself." However much or little the Emperor contributes to these sermons, they may, at any rate, be accepted ns a mirror of hia own religious feelings. It is a healthy sign when a man occupying his lofty position sets an example of religious fervor and steadfast faith— all tho moro gratifying rr coming from the descendant and, in political teachings, the admirer of the Great Frederick, whose iuQdelity shocked Voltaire— Graphic.