Liberty

University Hall was íilled with i fine audience last ïhursday evening, to listen to "A Chapter in the History of Liberty," as told by Dr. F. W. Gunsaulus, Chieago's great Congregational minister Dr. Gaunsaulus is one of the class of men who attracts your attention as soon as he commences speaking, and he holds it until he completes his discourse. Rather spare in build, of medium heifjht, with black hair and dark eyes, and in very common place dress. He has in original way of making gestures to accompany his original ideas. His voice, while not as smooth and clear as one could desire, is not uupleasant in any way, and he could be distinctly understood in all parts of the vast hall. He does not possess the eloquence of a Wendell Phillips, the polished oratory of Theodore Tilton, or the matchless maguetism of Robert Ingersoll, but he has genius and givea liis audience a treat in the way of presenting old truths in a new way, making tliem as clear and picasant to the understanding as a perfect June day is grateful to the senses. He commenced by picturing to the gaze of bis auditors Louis Kossouth, standing in Faneuil Hall, Boston, and repeating these words : "And this is the eradle of Liberty!" Liberty existed before Faneuil liall was reared, before America was discovered. It is older than Christianity even, though at times it has been crushed to earth and rcmaiued dormant for centimes or beei served out to the fortúnate few by those who ruled. John Stnart MUI rpmarked to his, friend George Ilenry Lewes that the story of Liberty eouïd uot be written without ineorporating the story of Chrisl and the Cross of Calvary. There were íive great ideas coneerning Liberty that Christ introduced in the world. The first idea was a new conception respecting aristocracy, the great enemy of Liberty, and the world's history was one of aristocracy. The tirst aristocracy was that of the brute, and out of it grew all the others. In the first place the strongest ruled, physical strength was the test. Even in" college life to-day there are some things that niake it appear as if philosophy were optional and muscle rcquired. Xext carne the aristocracy of wealth, he strong wonld gather in the posses-' sions of the weak. To-day in Chicago he aristocracy of cash reigned, and a ather would consult Bradstreet orDunn Lo iind the financia] standing of a young man before he was allowed to make the second cali upon his daughter. llieu trom the unstocracy of wealth carne that of family - blue blood. ïliis is the least sensible of all for it ueually points to the cemetery for its greatness. iike the potato the best part is always rmder the ground ; frequently its coat of anns was all the coat it "had. The speaker had recently noticed au epitaph which was quite appropriate : "Here lies our Mary Aim at rest, She's sleeping now on Abram's breastWhile this is fine for Mary Aun It is pretty rough on Abraham." Abraham of old was an aristocrat and o were bis descendants who became so exalted in their own greatness as to deuy the truth of anything which had not rceeived the sanction of their great progenitor, to whom even God himself had become inferior. Christ came into the world to tear down that aristocracy and build on its ruina a new anu pure one, the aristocrary of character, the grandest oL all, the aristocracy of Christ. The secoud great idea nailed upon tlie cross of Christ was tlie fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. The prayer of Christ was Our Father. Our! That word binds together the bond and the f ree, the barbarían and the scliolar, the rich and the poor in one common humanity. In the conflict between capital and labor there would be trouble just as long as the rich kneeling on velvct carpeta behind stained glass Windows addressed their prayera to "My Father," and tlie jioor, kneeling on bare floors encircled by bare walls, addressed their prayera to "My Father." They must recognize our common humaaity and absolute equality before God, and pray to "Our Father' The third idea was that Liberty is a personal altair, vt nre not all bom frpe, even if the learned men who drew the declaration of independence did so declare. We are bom in bondage, and work our wav to Liberty tlirough truth. "The truth shall make you free." The fourth idea advanced was that man ia more sacred thaon institutions. "The Sabbatli was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." These four great ideas are bound together by si flfth: Before the great throne of power all men are equal. These flve ideas are the finger of the hand that shall crush within its grasp all Czars, all tyrannies and oppressions, and is the hand of the Omnipotent God.