Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-26


THE CHURCH OF THE COVENANT
The President Listens to Excellent Ser
mon by Rev. DIR. Bartlett.
The President attended divine service this
morning at the Church of the Covenant at IL
o'clock. The church was crowded. both DIR.
Hamlin's congregation and that of DIR. Bartlett
Of the New York Avenue Church being pres
emit. The sermon was delivered by DIR. Bart
lett.
The President was accompanied by Mrs. Har-
rison, DR.. Scott and Mrs. Dimmiok. number
Of other distinguished people were present.
The services were begun shortly after II
O'Clock by an invocation by DIR. Hamlin, who
then read the Presidents proclamation
setting aside today as the day of
thanksgiving. Hymn III was sung
and the 44th lesson of the psalter was read,
followed by hymn l23 DIR. Hamlin read the
Tooth psalm. and the children of the Washing
ton City Orphan Asylum sang a hymn DIR.
Hamlin offered prayer. giving thanks for bless
ings and benefits conferred upon the world.
and the offering was taken up. to be divided
equally between the orphan asylum and the
Womans Christian Association.
After the thanksgiving hymn C1151) had been
sung DR.. Hamlin introduced DR.. Bartlett, who
announced his text as coming from the fifth
verse of the Tooth psalm, God is good.
This phrase, he said, is a corner stone,
laid at the foundation of all things. Au-
dacity, however. has even challenged this, but
it may be said that if the Lord be not good
there is no occasion for gratitude and we have
no quality to respond to his goodness. Graft
tude is the least that any one could give. You
cannot be grateful to law of nature or
to an order of things. and therefore God is per-
sonal, nor can you be grateful for that for
which Won have paid an equivalent, and there
fore God is good. Today is the worlds Sab
bath, and should be given the worlds treat
men.
NATIONS ATTEST THAT GOD rs GOOD.
= The speaker said that be wished to show that
not only is God good, but human society up TO
date has said So Men in nations and gov
ernments have registered that fact today.
and We have thus crossed the line to
further truth and a higher development
Nations have registered the fact that
they believe that God is good, and
nations are truly called great individuals, great
gigantic personalities on the face of the earth.
They hold intercourse with each other. and
works that have been written on international
law and comfy have registered a work of dis
tinct and steady progress toward goodness and
kindness and respectable relationship. Ihis
has produced arbitration and has brought
nearer that state that Rousseau signs for when
he wished that nations were but majestic gen.
tlemen. Nations are filled with soul and intel
lect massing il all to assume a kindly and
proper relationship toward each other. With
all the intercriticism going on between them
they are all moving toward more kindness and
a belief in the righteousness, purity and good
ness of God
DIR. Bartlett painted an amusing picture Of
an international tea party, where each nation
gossips about its neighbor, and he gave q
clever idea of the misconceptions that have
heretofore existed among civilized peoples AS
to their neighbors. He finished of his sketch
by citing the of the Russian
bear, the British bull dog and the French
frog. chattering against the iniquities
of the United States, ignorant OF the true con-
ditions here and unjust in their misapprehen-
sions. Yet he thought that the day for this
was passing and nations were becoming more
charitable to each other. All these crimes that
are talked about by enemies are diseases that
have been diagnosed. criminals that are to be
tried, condemned and executed and the RENE
dies are near at hand. -
WHAT ATHEISM is
Atheism is but an irrationa, inference Of a
diseased mind allied to anarchy, producing
stagnation and therefore naturally impossible.
There would be no order on earth if there be
no God in heaven. The frog never croaks un-
less there is rain. and plenty in the fields and
rich harvests, and happiness all round The
croak of the pessimist is but an expression OF
fear that things are not going to the bad, as he
would wish.
The social life Of the world also indicates
the belief that God is good. The tendency to
invention carries the same conviction. The
railroad was savagely attacked upon its intro
duction agent of evil. 1t may carry
many more good men. 1t is a
fallacy that inventions aids to the
devil. There is nothing. however, that some
men have resented more than invention. There
need be no more fear that invention-which is
but the free exercise of the mind in controlling
the physical conditions of the earth-will work
harm than that the earth and Venus will get to
coquetting with each other.
Art is also an agent of good. 1t has never
been SO fine nor SO widespread, and the painters
brush Is today one of the greatest OF eyange-
lists Music, that marvellous underlined art,
that wordless conveyer of ideas, that guides its
fringe of fame along the margin Of where time
breaks into eternity. Is a powerful influence in
convincing the world that there is a God and
that He is good.
GREATER PRIVILEGES FOR WOMEN.
Among the indications that the world is
better DIR. Bartlett mentioned the fact that
women have today greater privileges 1t is
amazing, he said, that the world has made such
progress with one hand bound, but woman is
no longer to be bound or gagged by a mis-
Interpretation Of the Scriptures. Education is
q great agent Cannons Of common sense, the
Bible and religion are today hammering at the
bulwarks Of superstition and Ignorance, and
will in time destroy them.
Literature is also an agent in the good work.
There is a good deal that is garbage and not At
for food. some bad meat is TO be found, but il
is in the minority. The literature Of news
papers is in the main wholesome.
He thrust a caustic word at the example Of
the Prince Of Wales and the late Parnell, and
scoffed at the eulogies that have been poured
upon them The age, he remarked. has regis
tered itself in examples that are world VIDE,
that il il ambitious for pure morals.
Sectarianism seems TO be subsiding and Pro-
testant churches are today practically one.
The speaker drew optimistic picture Of the
attitude Of the Catholic church and prophesied
strange Developments in the near future.
The sermon occupied an hour In It's delivery,
and at its close the congregation sang .Amer- |
lea" and was dismissed with . blessing BY d.. |
BARTLETT i