The Morning herald., 1876-09-11
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4 D6ecossfse ~ ~ 1Sv. Dr. Osts.
Tho West Presbyterian church was vel
| filed last evening to hear an able sermon 3.
Rev. DR.. OTIS, the pastor, who delivered tn
| first OF . series Of sermons on the Centen'
nial. The following Was the text: "God 4
spirit, and they that worship him, mus
worship in spirit and truth" he said: VIII
the present discourse we begin . series o
sermons ON Centennial topics, In which VI
shall endeayor to develop the lesson taugh
| in the great American Centennial Exhibi'
tion, bearing upon Christianity. Presiden
| Grant In his inaugural address on the open
| ing day, said, one of the objects is to show
| the progress we have made in Letters, Sci.
ence, Arts and Religion. In this coming
together of the representatives of manJ
nations, and putting their works In com
parison, we find that all men ar
brethren, that God has made al
men Of one blood to dwell
on all the face of the earth. They hav'
the same necessities. the same passions, ant
seek their qualification in the same genera
way. The next lesson taught is, that man
while brethren, are selfish and stand IN an
tagonism to ole another, and man needs tt
protect himself against his fellowmen more
than any other enemies. This Is seen In tht
grand display of the implements of warfare
Another lesson is, that all the wisdom and
greatness Of the world is not lodged with the
Christian nations. This is seen in the won
derful displays of many of the Pagan ma
tons, Japanese, Chinese etc. have learned
to call no man or nation common or unclean
One of the grand LESSONS taught, is the
power and work of women in the civilization
and Christanization of the earth. Christi
anity has given woman her position and
power q worker for the good of humanity.
The sermon of last night was general
introduction to the series. 1t was survey
of the state of Christianity in the world as
we begin the last quarter of the 10th cen
tuary and especially Of the state of Christ
ianity in our land as we cross the threshold
of the first century ofhistory into the second
He said that the complainers and croakers
over the badness of the times took only q
surface view of the religious state of the
world. There was at any past period Of the
worlds history more true hearted christian
and more earnestness and life in christianity
than at the present. The time has come
when the world demands of the church hon
esty in holiness, and will accept nothing less
as the religion of Christ.
As showing the progress of Christianity
in the United States, he said that in 1776
there was one church member for every for
ty-two citizens, and there is now one church
communicaAt for every five inhabitants. He
announced that the subject for next Sunday
evening will be comparison and contrast Of
the religious condition of the world at the
first general exhibition of which we have
any record, that of King Ahasuerus about
500 B. G., and its present condition at the
date of our great American Centennial Ex-
position, showing the march Of civilization
and christianity in the world. Then will
follow several sermons on special topics, as
The Lessons from the Main Building
"The Unity of the Race" 'The Father.
hood of Man." and 'The Universal Brsth-
erhood of God;;" from Machinery Hall,
"Man and Machinery Working for God;'
from the Government Building, "The Com
ing of Christ, the Prince of Peace, to de-
stroy War, etc."