FIRST ANNUAL FLOWER SERMON. 103 



FIRST ANNUAL FLOWER SERMON. 



BY THK RIGHT REVEREND DANIEL 8. TUTTLK. 



St. Matthew, 6:28. 

 "Consider the lilies of the field." 



In the will of the late Mr, Henry Shaw provision was 

 made for the preaching of an annual sermon upon ** The 

 wisdom and goodness of God, as shown in the growth of 

 flowers, fruit and other products of the vegetable kingdom." 



It is well known what a deep interest Mr. Shaw took, 

 when living, in flowers and plants ; and that the resources 

 of his large estate have been left, in the main, to secure the 

 sustentation and perpetuation of the " Missouri Botanical 

 Garden." 



At the request of the Board of Trustees of the Garden, 

 I am here to preach the first sermon under the provisions 

 of the will. 



In this ao'c it is not to be denied that utilitarianism is 

 dominant. "For what good?" and "Will it pay?" are 

 pertinent questions put to the front. Thoughtful people 

 will admit that dangers to our true happiness and our best 

 culture lie in the path of such excessive devotion to the im- 

 mediately useful. Therefore, by such thoughtful ones the 

 value will be quickly recognized of a munificent bequest 

 that goes not to give bread to the hungry or garments to the 

 shivering, but for the care and growth of trees and plants 

 and shrubs and flowers. 



In two places in the text of the will, the goodness and 

 wisdom of God as manifested in the vegetable kingdom is 

 set down. 



Now I regret to say that I am not a botanist and I have 

 no special qualifications fitting me to call your attention and 

 guide your thoughts along the way of observing how the 

 wonders of the vegetable world exemplify the Divine Be- 

 nevolence. Yet I may be permitted to suggest some con- 

 siderations to minds and hearts that are willing to hear and 

 heed them. 



