Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-07-02

Let me press upOl Your thoughtful CONSIDERATION
the significant fact LAT YOU have had your ntcllec-
tual :.ursery and Will hereafter have your ln,leciu-
al home in u Christian institution OF learning Not
that this college sets up the claim of being more
Christian than other colleges, hut that all our COZ
lcges Christian institutions. They are genuine
oil-hoot of Christianity; they Spring from
Christian ideas; just naturally as certain
plants and flowers accompany civillZaiion round
the world, do the common law. and the COM
mon school and the college 90 with Christianity
Whether or not YOU have stopped IN think 81 II.
Christian ideas have peryuied your instruction all
along; Christian truth has been Incorporated INTO
the structure and growth OF Your minds all these
years. II unhappy any OF You should hereafter
rrpudia:e or 10y Your lives dishonor the Christian
faith or any vital part OF II. Won viii he untrue 10
the teachings. AMI Will bring reproach upon The far
name OF Your college. And IN 50 lar aS You carry
OuI int liIe into good amt noble deeds the Chris
tan ideas here commended 10 yoa you Will JUSTLY
the confidence which the University places IN You
when II ceIhcs To all the world that You are worthy
10 take Your trst degree in christian learning.
There is great work 10 lie done Tor the world
which You, because YOU are scholars, must take
your share in doing. You Will have no monopoly
OF honorable places 10 not cherish the Concert
that You ought 10 have. But there Is a KIND OF hon
urable work, as good as the best, winch naturally
falls To you. IN the professions. The schools, the IN
uustries. To enter upon that work win Wei train
ed powers is the best opportunity ths life has Ia
offer To do good work We'll - tine glory tf living.
To 90 into active life, and 10 90 through lie. not
with timorous, llsiess, febc spirit, hut with the
spirit Of power the power thai COMES from CON
viciIon, from faith, from love, Is the best way IN
answer !he question, Is life worth living: Twenty
persons going with this spirit int" the professions,
Industries. churches, homes, can not only make
themselves and their class ami their college famous.
but what Is better, they can do much for The honor
of good learning Tor the increase of true religion,
Tor the advancement Of mankind and for the glory
oi Christ. And So reminding you once m"f'' of the
perpetual tie which binds you 10 this University. lis
inlrieasIble claim upon your affection aud service,
and ITS nalienabe mothcr-iutrre>' IN al your for
tunes, bid You hail ani.wclcuInc. t"l be- with
you now and always
The music of the occasion WAS furnished
by the choir of the Unitarian church, con
sisting of Miss Lawrence. Miss Stanley, Mr..
Hatch and Col. Ilindes. Mr. Macombcr pre-
siding at the organ. 1t comprised the an
thcms God is Spirit" by Sterndalc Ben
nett, and I'VE Adore Thee" by Palestrna,
closing with the LYNN 80 Holy Savior.
Friend Unseen" sung 10 ''lntegcr Nitr." 1t
was selected with unusual taste, and given
with noticeable excellence and expression.
Anniversary OF iI,c society Eor i:e,igi-
-e.. Inquiry.
ADDRESS BY EEv. Dr.. STEVENSON OF Mon
TEEAI.
Sunday evening occurred the anniversary
of the Society for Religious Inquiry, the ex-
crcises of which were attended by
large audience. The preliminary en-
ercises were conducted by Rev Dr. G.. b.
SiIlDrtl IDl- 81. boOtTltii- Ut
dress was by the Rev. John +. Stevenson,
La D.. Of Montreal. of this it would be
Iii flicult to speak in terms too high. Il
was full of fresh and vigorous thought
broad and catholic in its views; of rare
power and eloquence; and the close aiten-
lion of the audience WAS held throughout.
The substance was as follows:
THE Address.
our theme tonight will he. The Demands Of the
Age the Christian Church will treat the subject
with freelom and franknes5. II Is moi 50 much 10y
argument as 10y the comparison of views that truth
is elected II is most undesirable that AL SHOULD
think alike. Exact similarity IS equivalent 10 no
truth at all. Religion j. Tar wider than any ode
church. The time when 1t was Otherwise Is long
past. No 1ne now believes that his denomination
is coextensive with the Christian church. There IS
no great tendency IN any one denomination 10 de-
sfrOy any one OF the others. There IL nothing
which gives the inference that one has fallen from
heaven AMI the rest have sprung from earth. Each,
however. asslIncs-erroneOusly, thInk-ihai II Is
east in a mould in which all should he formed
That they 10 not succeed Is shown by the fact thai
there are four or i've denominations each claiming
that II Is based on the New Testament ideal. am
CAD that this ia so. christ IS an example The
child AMI the old man both follow Him. Thcy are
widely apart but there Is the same spirit IN each
We are doubly mistaken. cropping IN The twilight
for the Chr stan model OF a Church-firsl because
cannot ind IL. and secondly because II there
was one. would not be bound 10 follow II. There
is not one word in the Scriptures TO Indicate that
% he perpetual. The apostles followed
very much the fashions OF their
age. As mas been SAID. II they did what custom
made convenient, we can do what convenience
makes customary. But while no forms are binding.
certain ones are better adapted for cliciting amt
grasping the truth. The Episcapary and Eresbv-
ierianlsm csl.h stand Tor something good tOngre-
gatiOnalism i the witness OF mighty principles.
We have the great advantage that our rrincipl
are such a. the modern world most needs. The
satisfy the longings and quiet the doubts OF man
kind. l speak OF principles, not OF practice. No
ism" is the immaculate kingdom Of God on earth.
The church Of the future Will he sweeier ami bet
ter than our somewhat sour and narrow sects. We
should look 10 the Ideal OF righteousness AMI peace
and spiritual power and not 10 the principles "f
church government Eor 10 any Cf the relies Of 4
musty past.
What are some Of the demands OF the times upon
our churches:
|. The first need OF the church is simplicity at
organization machine Is an excellent thing Tor
certain objects. II IS good when uniformity Is de
sired but uniformity greatly limits the sphere of
work We know what sect man belongs 10 hy
the cut Of his Clothes the sound 1f his Voice. even
the way in which he wears his hair. FleAihlitt OF
thought andreadinesS OF adaptation are lost. Inc
people and the press are discussing topics which
were formerly reserved for the philosophers study
A generation IS growing up waich cares nothing
for the questions which have heretofore divided
the seciS. II we keep on turning ont ministers
each small copy OF his predecessor WHAT good
can they do: What soace can they give the bleed
ing heart-ylaf comfort the doubling mind: Let
Us not magnify the iha1hinery OF church ofgan'za.
ton. While the church quarres and dreams about
theological questions the world Is going on thlnk,
ing The case has been Inverted since the DAYS OF
our Puritan fathers. They thought and acted while
the world around frttered away It's days In aimless
frivoliiy. Now The world Is earnest and muliitudes
of Christian peOple.'"'l not awaken 10 II. our CD
ergy Is m!s,iirecte. The questions we debate the
world no longer calls for Lei Us substitute the en-
ergy Of souls fur the Inon-fony OF systems
Machinery Is not life-thouSh II may be strong
where life is weak. Simplicity oil organization is
OF advantage 10 a church; hut II Is OF advantage
only for those who know how 10 use ii. Is the life
there : Can see what men need to-ay: They
need the gospel and need /; IN such way that they
can md the answers to Their questions. Ihey
want Inc Gospc, not pressed in the mIIsty pIrch-
ments Of a byg1ne dignity. LIT IL ins Gospel.
The pure good news 81 the bOahdless infinliule OF
the love OF God Will the world, hut II must he
freed from the arrangements OF the past.
II. We need full dependence on the power OF
truth and readiness for the most searching nvesi-
CATION of II. Men know that they are moi in:alllle,
hut they do not believe that they less
than the men "i old. Is there any point
in the precipitation Of doctrine when 1t
passes from the realm Of question 10 the Kingdom
of absolute truth? Men SAY these things may I've
true, hut they are not true SIMPLY because our
fathers thought them SO. Years ago Bacon declared
that we are the ancients OF the world. oar ahccs-
tors lived in its infancy and were lis children. We
claim the right of Judging for ourselves. There
are plenty of questions which are not asked III
search of truth hut merely from nippancy. But
there are hosts Of minds who ask them III quite II
different spirit. The questions and even the doubts
Of mCn Ike these 10 ine are sgcr"i The n"blest
teachers of truth are those whr have On their way
To II hy bitter conflict. There is 4 paplble a,lvail
tase, when dealing with doctrlna questions, ia al'-
pcaling directly ~ The Scriptures, We need not
fear the appeal. Nothing can lee goi from The Ne"
Testament other Than the substance Of our faith
The time Will come when there will he no more
doubt of the meaning OF the New Testament than
there Is of the revolution OF the planets. That
time il already coming. Biblical students are get
ting .iusc together. The absence OF formal
church creed Is an .'i.ans.ge md not oihelwise'
Let us trust the truth uf Cod. We do mJIrlouslN
10 doubt It's strength.
Ill. The law Of progress should he allowed to hold
~ true in theology IN other departments OF hu-
man thought. knowledge Is grUwing. The history
of morals, manners, customs is being elected and
studied 10 see y there Is law Of human growth ail'i
II there Is 10 discfcs H. The lws OF the material
universe are constantly changing III form. IL il the
suh!imest pTerOsailye ui the mind 81 man, thii
every fragment uf knowledge Is help 10 new
knowledge The capacity for minnie progress Is
OF the most glorious Joys of the life beyond the
grave There Is false progress well - true hui
we grow INTO truth through experience OF error
The cure OF false progress Is not stagnation, nut
progress We have faith In the power OF Inc
Gospel 10 n.ee! every trial and stand every test
Oh Rock OF Ages, the thoughts ~ inen com" anu
go science scrutinizcs Thee the hand OF faith
clings 10 Thee the storm-tossed NoyaSer anchors
ncncaih Thy shadow ; and Thou abi'icst forever
We fancy the foundations shaken and Inc cross
losing rs stability and power We might Il" well
fear ;haI the principle Of grayation would TAU.
" DO NOT fear ,hc ..,ivan.'in. knowledge OF me
trs IN ITS bearing On theology. Is theology acii
capable of progress? There Is II distinction he
tween theology and The subjects OF theology. Inc
subjects of theology are God. Christ the Bblc.
not change They are the same, yesterday, TODAY
aud forever. Changes can Ice made IN our view oi
their however for not inflllible. There are
three WAYS ~ Lh.l there can i'c progress III Inc
ology; .. ,
l. Iy ,lisccrnin. more clearly tue provinces oi
theology aud science. There Is no gralrf s'tue-
ture than human theology AMI there can lie no cni-
tempt FOR II, the contempt OF ignorance. lrr
VERY grandeur has rendered theology Ntdii-
meal She long ruled politics ami literature
and science; aud now the reaction has come;
The things Of science i,elons 10 scicnre' ana !
the ihinga oi ;h1al.yy lclQng 10 faith We mus
admit the distinction between sflenre ana ieii-
riun We can only Keep those men "ui OF our
province by ourselves keeping out al theirs. II We
poSt the notice on the theologc fences no Tres
s,-sers allowed here We must on Inc DINER hih,i
respect their rights. II we would he ttacnrts "i
religion we must he learners OF science. u Is
mistake to expect scientific accuracy III me hi',e
| The writer's had Gnly !he knowledge oil iheir hit
\ and they needed To know NJ more, Tor lh"N hi'l
| 10 do with God and The future life AMI not WIN
| stcncc ~, ,,,, ,,.,,,
. Is recogni2in. readily the light thrown ui'oii
| religion by other departments oi hh""ithS'
| AslTonuIny which tlmid men once it'Tri .ihu
| hlyots denounced, has brought crown "i s'ais
| aud sci II upon the head OF christ. Geology II nt
| ginning TO bring lis tribute 10 the creator. ne
| doctrine of eyoltiriun-wOnld II not u" hctt'f "
| study At before We rave about II: thlhh II very
] Ikrl, 10 Ice irue The idea of development
/ amounts simp!y To saving that Col creiien IN,
I and Ian