SERMONS & ADDRESSES

Most of Father Tanton’s surviving sermon notes are just that - notes. They are jottea’ down on cards, or on the backs of bulletin covers distributed from Church House in Toronto. They are sometimes typed, sometimes hand—written, frequently with headings highlighted in red. Others, like the sermon lie prepared/or his homiletics class assignment in seminary, or the sermon he preached before H.M. Queen Elizabeth, are written out infulli The content ofhisfaith and loyalty to Christ and His Church is expressed in these notes. Some examples/allow.

A Priest in the Church

In Februaiy, 1932, GS. Tanton submitted the/allowing sermon to his Homiletics llpi'ofe.s'.s'0i‘ at King's College. The pencil/ed notes ofthe professor, probably the legendary Dr. Vroom, are reproduced in brackets.

Text: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings. that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion. Thy God reigneth.” Isaiah, 52, verse 7.

The prophet of old saw a vision of the exiles returning from their captivity. He saw that great crowd of people as they were drawing nigh to the beloved city. The old men with their long white beards who had come so often to the temple to worship God. There were those with their children. who in their childhood had played in the shadow ofthe temple. And there were the youths who had never known the joy of dwelling in the land oftheir fathers. The old men whose souls had thirsted so long for God were now to be satisfied. The fathers were returning to build homes for their sons in the land they loved. The youths were to realise their dreams in the land of which they had heard so much. [s it any wonder that the prophet should exelaim. "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings"? What a great privilege it was to be able to publish peace and salvation to this eager and expectant band, and to say to the beloved city, "Thy God reigneth"? And yet

this is the privilege and pleasure that awaits every man who becomes a priest in the Church.

27