TRANSFIGURATION
Almighty God, who didst give to thy servant William Porcher DuBose special gifts as both a Christian soldier and a theologian: Grant, we beseech thee, that we may follow his example of service to thee, and be transformed into the image of Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
1 Cor ii. 1, Psalm 27, St. Luke ix. 28
Let us...show the way, the better way, among ourselves, in our own relations with one another, of love and mutual understanding and peaceful and fruitful cooperation.
Introduction: The Reverend Doctor William P DuBose was a Chaplain of the Confederacy, one whom we feature on this website. Dubose was born in South Carolina in South Carolina in 1836. He graduated from the Military College of South Carolina (The Citadel) with first honors in 1855, and the University of Virginia at Charlottesville with a MA in 1859. He then attended the newly opened Episcopal Seminary in Camden, and while there, served as adjutant of the Holcombe Legion. In the beginning of the war he was twice wounded and captured. He was held as a prisoner until exchanged. On furlough in 1863, he was ordained Deacon in Camden, and then reported for duty with Kenshaw’s brigade.
After the war he was ordained into the prebyteriate and served in several parishes. In 1871 was named Chaplain of the new University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He was appointed the Dean of the School of Theology in 1894 and served there until his retirement in 1908. He has been called the greatest theologian that the Episcopal Church in the USA has produced and for good reason as any reader of his works will attest. He passed on to be with our Lord on August 18, 1918.
Let us hear the words of this Chaplain of the Confederacy and of the South as the faculty and staff heard him upon a return trip to the Chapel at Sewanee on the Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6, 1911 [an excerpt]
The Jesus who was transfigured upon the Mount is He who is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. The subject of conference in the Transfiguration was the old story of the Cross. They spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem. "I determined," says St. Paul, "to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." If we cannot get high enough, often enough, to get and keep these truths illuminated and glorified in our minds and hearts and lives, we must be content to remain in the dark. For what is Jesus Christ but God in us and we in God? And what is the Cross but the actual process by which all that is not God dies in us, and all that is lives and grows in us?, And what other end or content can there be to our faith, hope, and love? …
The principle of competition, of antagonistic, divisive, separative, of hateful, hating, and deadly competition, has been prevailing in Christianity just as much as in our earthly life and business. The times are changing, and the call, the appeal, comes to us from every source and direction--comes to us Christians, to show the way, the better way, among ourselves, in our own relations with one another, of love and mutual understanding and peaceful and fruitful cooperation.
The full sermon is available at this website: http://justus.anglican.org/resources/pc/usa/dubose/turning/06.html
Commentary: Doctor Dubois words ring true today as they did then. Divisive, separative, hateful, and antagonistic are adjectives that could easily be applied to groups today. So to what does this paragon of Southern military Christianity call Christian men of every age? No less than to practice true Christian Charity with one another, to strive for “peaceful and fruitful cooperation”, and to seek a transfiguration of our society to the honor and Glory of him who gave his life for us on Calvary.
Note: A good bio is here http://160.36.208.47/FMPro?-db=tnencyc&-format=tdetail.htm&-lay=web&entryid=D056&-find=
Autobiography, Turning Points in My Life
Some of his works include: The Soteriology of the New Testament (1892), The Ecumenical Councils (1896), The Gospel in the Gospels (1906), The Reason of Life (1911), and Turning Points in My Life (1912).
1 Cor ii. 1.
And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought: but we speak God`s wisdom in a mystery, [even] the [wisdom] that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory: which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory: but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And [which] entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him. But unto us God revealed [them] through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God. But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in words which man`s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual [words]. Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
St. Luke ix. 28
AND it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Scripture and Collect from 1928 Book of Common Prayer
Introduction and commentary by The Reverend Mark Carroll, SCV
