Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-19
President Smans Address.

President Small spoke upon the relations
of religion to business He said Last
May 1 was in the city of Baltimore al the
time of the arrival of Capt. Marrell after his
rescue of the passengers of the Denmark
In the extreme end of the city felt The tin
gle of enthusiasm aroused by the captains
deed. He had only done his duty He had
controlled his powers of manliness to the
rescue of human beings. 1t is a grand thing
when man uses all his powers as God in
tended him to do. Christ did that all through
his career.
In order ~ make Christianity accepted,
we must show that Christ was constantly dis
playing these grand qualities of heroism and
devotion to duty.
Men complain because Christ did not do
some great thing. Why did he rot just once
head a crusade against the Roman leaders,
Jesus heroism vas of another sort. His
herosm makes the heroism of all other men
appear little. 1t is fortunate for US in irying
to bring out this idea that six sevenths of
Jesus life were devoted not to ministerial
but mechanical pursuits. While n mechanic
he grew in stature and in the forces Of God
and man.
A man can gain respect and honor just as
much on the bench of the carpenter as on
the de.k of the preacher. am old fashioned
enough to believe in New Testament conver-
sion, in conversion through the agency of the
| Hoy Spirit believe in it because of my
personal experience. My experience of a
religious change was crowded into a space of
three hours. supposed myself Immediately
before firmly intrenched against Christian
arguments. believe not a. all in cnnver-
sion by a change in moral character only.
do not mean that conversions may not come
about uncon.ciously. Whether observed or
not it is not by works but by grace. But all
goodness of character is by conversion.
This is what much preaching denies 1t will
bear testimony against the emasculated doc
trine that man can be converted without
goodness. A good mary do not believe this
Whatever does all this have to do with the
relations of religion 10 business? con-
verted man is one who has been brought
into sympathy with the great work of Christ
He wishes his work done as Jesus would
have it done. We are getting clearer ideas
of what Christian duty il. The great part
Of the business of this world is not religious.
it is secular An old political economist has
said, The one problem Of society is hos to
raise food enough to feed all the mouths
Christ desires to take possession of the busi
/ existence shall be expended not in prod1c
ton, but in moral culture We must re-
move from every business all possible fric'
/ ton Of unrighieousness and substitute tbs
| lubricant OF righteousness. IT everybody
! from Office boy to magistrates. we're of thii
| spirit. the wealth of the world Souli bs
macy times multiplied. There wonid be M
perplexing question of length of day
| labor then
| am skeptieal about religious profess OF
unless hey are carried out in the life of tn,
suit jec'. 1t is easy for one to be deceives
by religious sentiments. The ties, of gu
religious life comes when the strain comes
Suppose We have clerk protesting the low
| of Christi How do We make up our mind
in relation to that profession We judge b.
his conduct At the store. If we find he
not q Christian clerk. We conclude be is
Christian talkef only. Think of . cersai
architect Who 10 3 very earnest worker il
church and Sunday school. A. IN archits c
he never does ones business . 6cond time
! He 10 man whose religion i BY ~or
among those who do business with him
have in mind another Who in business an
social circles has the reputation of urve
living up 70 his contract He 10 pfofuse
professions. His contracts are profuse
failures. The relation Of religion TO bus