Woman in the Pulpit—Sermon by Mrs. Lydia Jenkins, Last Night

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WOMAN IN THE PULPIT—SERMON BY MRS. LYDIA JENKINS, LAST NIGHT

The announcement contained in Saturday’s TIMES that Mrs. Lydia Jenkins¹, from Central New York, would supply the desk of the Universalist Church², corner Fourth and South 3d streets, on its re-opening for Divine Service, drew crowded auditories both morning and evening. Last night every seat was occupied, the aisles were full of benches, not a few were forced to stand, and many went away unable to obtain a glimpse of the fair clergywoman.

Mrs. Jenkins is tall and dignified in appearance, and her features are decidedly good. She was simply but becomingly dressed in white, relieved by black lace, and her appearance altogether seemed to make a favorable impression on the congregation.

Mrs. J. conducted the opening services in a low tone of voice, but as she proceeded in her sermon, it grew strong and very distinct, so that not a word was lost even upon those occupying the remotest corners of the building. Her chief faults as a speaker are a tendency to sing-song in her delivery, and a certain angularity of gesture. Of gesture, indeed, there is too much. But these blemishes remedied themselves before her discourse was finished.

The opening prayer was long, fluent and eloquent. Of the sermon, we propose to give a brief sketch. The Rev. Lady selected as her text Isaiah, XXX 20—“Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters.” Every variety of life, she said, had its compensations. It was no arbitrary doom pronounced upon man—“what a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” It could not in the nature of things be otherwise. Man could yield fruit only of seed which had been sown in his being. The person who had been devoted to profound investigation was not satisfied with loose thought nor unmeaning conversation; the reader of cheap fiction had no relish for sound, systematized thought, and so on with the rest. And there was a necessity in the fact—it was fitting that it should be so. If only the meanest estimates of life were cherished we should become grovelinggrovelling​ in soul. If time were only looked upon as an opportunity to delve and scheme and get, we should not wonder that at the end of life’s pilgrimage one should exclaim that all had been a failure. When growth, character, manly and womanly worth were regarded as things of minor concern, such must inevitably be the result. But no necessity compelled man to any of these phases of life. It was in his power so to live that every moment should crown existence with a blessing. It was in his power to “sow beside all waters.” Then existence would be decked with verdure and overflow to rich abundance. Said the speaker: There was once a custom in Germany for every travelertraveller​ as he plucked fruit by the wayside, with which to refresh exhausted nature, to plant the seed, that after he was dead, if not in his own life-time, another weary travelertraveller​ might pronounce a blessing upon him while enjoying its fruit. By that custom all Germany has been supplied with an abundance of the choicest luxuries as well as the most healthful food with which to replenish the worn out energies of the body. This is but a literal expression of our text. In a large sense and with a higher order of application in labor for the more enduring good of others, the results would be no less apparent. On this account not only blessed is he that soweth beside all waters, but by omitting to improve each opportunity that presents itself to benefit another, one is impovishing his own nature. We are apt to lose sight of those daily opportunities for gaining a blessing. Proceeding in this strain for some time the speaker said she was aware that results did not always follow swift upon the heel of effort. All apparent results were sometimes denied. But in the absence of any outward signs of success, the seed might be expanding underground and sinking its roots out of sight, preparing for a vigorous upward growth that should by-and-by cheer the heart of the beholder. This was often the case in moral labor, and she believed it was often the case in individual spiritual effort also. Be encouraged then to persevere, though no immediate results are made visible. Only have faith to work and wait in the assurance of a blessing in time. Truth is eternal, and Righteousness is not only to endure forever, but is continually on the increase; and he who sows these beside the waters of his soul is blessed indeed, for he has gained an interest in that which is permanent and enduring. That man or woman’s life, said Mrs. J., is most truly blest. I doubt not, who can place so firm a reliance in the regenerating influence of moral effort and attainment as to keep bravely at his post in the hour of trial, with the assurance that it is a great and good work, and enough to labor for itself alone. There are noble examples of this power to nerve the soul in the face of harshest discouragement. Brave and unconquerable souls, fixed and bold only in the simple assurance of the right, have risen superior to defeat, saying: “Let what will come. I give my hand and my heart to this work.” Luther, in the face of the bull of excommunication and the anathema of all Popery against him, could say, “Here stand I; I cannot otherwise; God help me!” Geo. Fox, in the midst of persecutions, could say, “The truth is above all.” John Murray, when assailed for proclaiming the glorious truth that “God is love,” could hold the stone that had been hurled at him above his head and exclaim—“So long as God has work for me to do, I am immortal!” Wm. Ladd, when friends would dissuade him from the step which inaugurated the American Peace Society, had only this answer: “I’ll go if I can get a single person to hear me.” That sweet Quaker woman, from whom sprung the special life of Abolitionism, and who animated Wilberforce with her spirit, was animated by this same disinterestedness. Towering above all, an example in this as in every other respect, we are pointed to Christ, who at the thought of his work and of the mighty obstacles which impeded its progress, knew neither impediment nor discouragement, but worked on, assured that ultimately the pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand. What abundant reason have we to be thankful to the God of all goodness that he has given assurance that results shall follow noble effort—disinterested labor—and usually right speedily. To the weak in faith and the short in sight this fact becomes a powerful impelling motive. Cast thy bread upon the waters, and after many days it shall return to thee again in an abundant harvest. Art thou living for a great principle? Thou need’st not fear for it, God will take care of it and thy love of it and labor for it cannot be in vain. Anathemas may be hurled at it—the world in its baseness may scout it now, all the forces of evil may conspire against it, but the event will prove that its vitality is enduring, and that it is impregnable to everything arrayed against it. Cast thy seed forth, firm in the assurance that it shall spring up to bless thee and to nourish others. The Saviour of the world wrought on, knowing that his word would prove a regenerating power to redeem that world. In the last hour of agony, while hanging on the cross, deserted by friends, seeming forsaken even by his Father—crying the cry of piercing agony—“Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani!” amid the rejoicings of his enemies—that very moment, when his voice rose in agony to God, sealed the success of his religion—that moment it received a confirmation and an impulse which changed his dying hour into the hour of triumph. Then (concluded the speaker,) I would say to all Trust him for the fulfillment of his promises, and wherever thou art engaged, seek opportunities of doing good, of clearing away doubts [cut away] God are the more worthy, your estimate of human nature more enobling and your hopes of man’s destiny more cheering than those of your neighbor, impart your better hope to him, to be taken by the hand perhaps years afterwards by some friend and hear him say with tearful eyes, “You inspired me with hope when all was dark—you removed my doubts when I was sinking into unbelief.”

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