Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-04-04

/ followed by the question box, answers to
some important and timely questions being
/ clearly and briefly given by Revs DR. Mac
/ Arthur Mr.. Conwell Mr. Gull, Mr. Reese
and Mr.. Parry Much profit must have
/ been gained from IT, About 20 ministers
| from different parts Of the state we're pres
/ ent with a good number Of laymen.
/ Those people who made up the audience
| on Wednesday afternoon will probably not
soon forget the strong, glowing words,
breathing sarnestness, devotion, and per.
/ feet confidence in Gods power 10 keep his
| own, 70 which thev then listened The
sermon was by Rev. DR.. Macarthur who
had for his theme THE church and her
critics ~ his text being from Luke VI, 20
"Woe unto you when all men shall speak
well of YOU Some of the thoughts which
we're presented we're as follows Scrip
ture teaches that the unqualified approval
of the world works death The church
must expect criticism but she does not
fear it, True Christianity welcomes the
truth from whatever source, and to those
who question, her answer is, Come and
see The heather critics we're the first h.
assai the church Polytheistic critics AZ
peared early and some Of those who then
shook the earth are now known only by
the quotations from their writings found
in books written by Christian men against
their arguments Among these first critics
of the church were Lucian in the first cen
fury, CELSIUS in the early second century,
Porphyrius in the third century and Julian
the Apostate, the last great champion Of
dying polytheism, but the church lived on.
The scientific critics with Darwin as an ex-
ample, include Spencer, Huxley and others,
but there are also, for criticism does not
presuppose adverse judgment, the names
of Dawson, Guyot, Dana, Gray, ARassiz.
eminent in science, loyal III religion There
are literary lights opposed 10 Christ, but
they are as tallow dips beside electric
light, for on the side Of Christ are such
men as Lowell, Whittier, Long, Bancroft,
Motley Giants have had their day against
Christ. and the giants Of today are on the
other side And are the pigmies TO do what
the giants could not, and topple down this
structure Of God We do well to welcome
the shaft Of criticism when it shows what
is weak and wicked and false in the church.
but the church itself occupies an impregna
Die stronghold 1t was upon a skeleton
something after this fashion that the flesh
and blood Of elOquence and power took
shape 70 round out thing Of rare dignity.
beauty and strength At the close OF the
sermon Rev Mr. Conwell was introduced
the people with an apology for saying any.
thing for fear it should disturb the deep
impression left by the sermon. No formal
address was made, but Mr.. Conwell gave,
simply and aiiectingy, a few touching little
incidents relating to the Sunday school Of
his own church and its work This was
for the purpose Of showing how "a little
child shall lead them and of proving that
the power Of u church lies in its Sunday
school rather than in pulpit or pew With
special earnestness he urged upon his hear
the claims of the work in and for the
Sunday school a. the most important in
which a church can engage, and with these
few simple words the afternoon session was
closed
At the evening session was gathered the
largest audience yet assembled IN the
church since it was remodeled, the floor and
both galleries being filled, and a large mum
Der Of persons occupied seats in the chap
el which was made a part of the main
room by the throwing open Of the large
window between the two As Rev Mr.
Conwell came forward, after the opening
exercises, he added his congratulations u
the many which had already been offered
not alone upon the fact Of the church hav-
ing reached her 10th year, but upon the
successful carrying out Of the interesting
exercises In celebration of the event His
address was a brilliant effort, the scintil
latlng of wit showing and pointing the sol
id truth which lay under every anecdote
and story 1t had been inspiring. he said.
10 look back over the 30 years. but it was
not his privilege 10 review those events,
because he was not familiar with them:
but he could with God people look forward
to the great possibilities which lie before
them, could stand and tell 10 the people of
the church what the next 80 years might
be To them God mas not accomplished ten
thousand of the things which have been
prOphesled and which are to he brought to
pass. Who knows which one of us has
been brought into these times for these
things Then followed in eloquent flow of
language, an enumeration of some of these
sore needs of the time which are staring
men IN the face and loudly CRYING for re
ief-needs in the animal world in the
everyday living Of men and women about
US, IN the world of science, of art. of liter
ature, Of music, of religion And who are
they who will make these reforms and lift
the world up Those men and women who
observe closely God laws, VINO think up
through the facts to the great mind behind
them, and devote themselves To the fulfil
ing of Gods purposes. And all these Oh
pOIbuulties are belOTe TINS church, the only
question being shall they he improved
The personality and magnetism of the man
behind the words gave to The address a
power which must have impressed deeply
every hearer To those who heard Dr
Macarthur It was u matter of much regret
that he could not be persuaded out of his
determination to cut short his address aud
send the people home early. He spoke of
the characteristics which have marked the
church life in the past half century and
which viii mark 1t IN coming time The zeal
Christian work was pronounced greater
than ever before, aud the author Of Fec.
Homo was quoted as saying that the enthu-
slasm OF humanity Is at point not reached
before since the time of Christ We are
apt 10 depreclate the present. a. the nearby
presence OF lofty mountain fails 10 i'm
press us with its grandeur a. when viewed
from little distance We are in the midst
OF battle, and as is often the case upon a
battlefield, do not appreciate the part we
are performing we are too near our events
TO see the part they play Do not under
value the present There were never such
81 years as these last in Gods world. and
the wonderful events in all countries prove
1t but the highest power and prosperity is
not yet reached and the future is bright
with hope.
The 9th anniversary exercises, inspir-
ing aud uplifting throughout, were thus
closed, and the First Baptist church steps
out INTO the new half century with cheer
ing prospects and face set hopefullv for