Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-23

ment that the present system or PROPOSE
ton of contributing TO Christian enter
prises fell very far short of the true measure of
duty. As TO the way to promote 1t, he said it
could be done by increasing the affections of the
heart, which are the natural stmulants of ac-
tivity As the love of country or home prompt
ed large sacrifices, even of life ITSELF so if we in
creased our love for Christianity just in that pro-
portion should we be willing to increase our
sacrifices, both in giving and acting, for the
cause of Christ and the advancement of his
kingdom upon the earth. The Bible standard
was the standard OF our ability, according to
the means, physical and mental, at our COM
mani.
Mr.. Blanchard of Uxbridge, in endorsing
what had been so well said, remarked that the
great necessity was the cultivation of our love-
and it would increase, Just as the blaclsmitl's
arm increases in size by exercise, and the fruits
would be seen in more liberal giving. Remarks
in similar strain followed by Hon. VIM. Hill
of Sutton, Rev. Mr. Dutton of Northboro and
others.
Rev. George W. Phillips of Plymouth church,
Worcester, was the closing speaker upon his
subject, considering the Offering of gifts as an
act OF worship" He said our education aud
ideas upon this topic were sadly defective.
The first worship of which we had any
account was not by prayer, nor by singing, nor
by sermon, but by the bringing of the nrstlings
of the hOcks, and Of the fat thereof, to the al
tar. By what enactment of Christ. he asked,
has gift worship Teen abolished? Who has set
aside the God given rule that we "bring an offer
inS and come into the courts of the Lord ??
We still bring psalm, possibly an opera, from
the depraved temple of mammon. We still
bring prayer Sermons We bring without
stint. This we call Christian worship But
who, he asked, has given us permission to neg
e@t the eff Sacrifices, it is sad, belong to
Judaism. AS typical offerings for sin, they
do belong there. But as grateful eX-
presSons for benefits received, under the better
system OF grace we enjoy, offerings should rise
INTO prominence unknown TO Judaism. True,
and sad it is, that many of our Christians sell
dom bring gift when they 90 up to worship.
Our giving is irregular and splsmo1c. Right
here, said Mr.. p, is one of the causes that saps
the vitality of religion. How much Christ said
about aims giving; it was an essential part of
his gospel The woman who in the piOdigality
OF her love broke the box of ointment, was com
mend d. On one occasion, when Jesus went
into tn temple to sec the sincerity of the wor-
shippers, what point of observation did he
choose? He did not sit on the pulpit stairs
to see who was melted by the preaching,
nor did he listen TO hear who made the loudest
prayer or sang most divinely; but-Signiicant
poSition-"he sat over against the treasury" 10
see how well the people paid their devotions
The casting in Of those two mites by that poor
widow was a simple act of worship. For that
reason chiefly Jesus made honorable mention of
her. Giving expresses a feeling as no other
mode OF worship does or can do. The Chris
tian's gift should be symbolic act. Byit he
ought to say that God is entitled to all he has
1t should be loyal tribute to Christ, the king
OF hearts; an emphatic proof of love. Benevo-
lelce is the Characteristic OF Christian
civilization; one great fault, however, is the
purely secular character which our giving has
ttNen on. We give out Of pity or sympathy,
more than out of piety; we give only when VIC
are asked; we do not give to worship and honor
Christ. Mr.. Phillips thought Sunday of all
others the day, and the church the place, for
this most solemn and grateful act of worship;
that gtUlng should form part of every public
service OF the sanctuary 1t was not the
amount, but the act, and the spirit in which it
is done, that are essential.
Tue above is bot meagre sketch of some
portions of Mr. Phillips excellent address,
which was received with great favor.
The last topic of discussion was "The trial of
the Christian bv prosperity" which was opened
by Rev Geo. w. Phillips. He began by read
ing appropriate passages of scripture bearing
upon the subject, as comprising the gospel adj
monitor against the danger of riches But he
said he had no word Of abuse of riches or of
monied men. Money was good servant but a
very tyrannical master Ii was our duty to
ourselves and to the church, as well as to soce-
ty, TO acquire property and obtain a competence;
but the great evil of excessive riches was, their
tendency to draw down Christian morality to
the standard OF the world The elaborate style
OF living and excessive expenditures incident to
the fashions and eXtravagances of the day, were
the worst trials with which the Christian had
to contend. They were sorey tempted \
10 initiate the expensive frivotieS AMI
love of self and display which charac
tcrized the life of the successful de-
voices of wealth, for its own sake; and these
temptations 100 often induced Il manner of liv.
ing entirely at variance with the plain and sum
pie maXims Of Christ One danger was, from
elt-concet-another from excessive Lratifica-
ton of the appetites. Unless our desires were
sanctl6ed by the rule of Christ, we were every
where in peril Young men were too often in
clined to forSake their churches and go off to
others where preaching is less pointed, and
where there were more of eXternals and less of
the marrow of religion. The trials of the
Christian, in the regards alluded to, were con-
sidercd IN their relation TO the individual, to the
family, and to the nation, and the remedy pro-
posed was, the incubation in the'minds of the
rising generation, and more general practice
by tho protesting Christianity, of the pure and
simple prcccptS Of Christ.
Mr.. Phillips admirable opening on this topic,
OF which the above is but an imperfect reference
to some portions, was followed by n general
discussion, in which his views were mainly en-
dorscd, and the address highly commended
Among those who spoke upon the topics touch
ed upon during the afternoon, were McsSrS H. NJ
Wheeler and &. b. Knight Of Worcester, Joseph
A. Dodge OF Grafton, B, A. Nourse Of Wcstboro,
Jesse IL. Smith of Grafton and MesSrs. Greene
of Worcester and Smith of Paxton.
On motion of Mr.. Whitaker of Clinton, a
vote of thanks was unanimously extended TO
the friends in Worcester for their hospitality.
At live O'Clock the convention adjourned, TO
hold its next quarterly session i'll North Brook
field.
In the evening a praise, prayer and promise
meeting was held at the rooms Of the associa-
ton in Chaplin block, which was attended by
such members of the convention as remained in5
town over night. e