Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-07-29
IMPENDING pAGANIsM IN MAINE. &c.


no more can a change Of creed he said 10 be
a setting aside of eternal truth. Every creed
framed by evangelical christians must De
tested by the mind and acts of our Lord as
revealed in the gospels. Would it not be bet
ter tn Aid us To see our mistakes by showing
where these creeds framed by committees
and ignorant persons conflict with the gospel
and life of Christ whose apostles were once
known a. unlearned men by proud ritual
istic pbariseeism. Would it not be well TO
show the reasons why we may not expect
the all of the Holy Spirit in framing
statement of religious truth in the nine
ternth century AS much as those who did
the same work in the forth or NTH cen
turtles,
The changing of ancient liturgy the
abandonment of the teaching of reverence
and Cody fear. the pushing aside OF the
beautiful house. which are Gods witnesses,
the Christian church whom 1t separated
from the Jewish changed lis form of service
to express the new conception of the rela-
ton existing between the soul and G0d
through the mediatorial work of our Lord.
The history of the past has demonstrated ITS
wisdom and taught Ms the lesson that
change of liturgy may be very beneficial
provided that change does not vitiate any
essential truth and is vital express
sion of new truth. change OF
ritual NAV be as necessary as a
change of clothes. But the point raised is
that through the change OF the
order and form of religious
service. We have introduced system
of worship which has failed to teach rever-
encc for God. This can only be met by an
appeal to life. As they move among men,
IN their homes. in their business and in
their amusements do those who worship God
through an ancient liturgy, Catholic and
Episcopal. exhibit u deeper reverence than
those who. ike the Quakers, have no ritual
or regular form at all, or those who choose
the happy medium between the two? Ii
may be my mistake but / am inclined to
think that the unbiased judge will fail TO see
in practical life the justice of the claims
made here. Then a. to the pushing aside
of stately church buildings from their posi-
ton ss witnesses of God, In Maine the
wealth of those connected with the churches
We have erected IN very few cases would
ever allow us to erect more beautiful build
ings than We have erected. and II the self
sacrificing efforts which have been made to
which are seen by the side of some of our
country roads were published, instead of
wasting our sympathy we should sing IAN
hail the power of jesus name" Again we
do not consider that we should lay
as much stress upon building "a upon
rhristlke character and Cbristlike life.
The Waldensas climbing the mountains of
Italy, the Coyenanters upon the hills and
4 : - lrrrS, Gail,
on the stormy Atlantic are more truly 10
us witnesses to God than any of the artistic
creations of stone and cement which have
arisen under the touch of human skill and
human genius and they bring an inspiration
and power to discouraged humanity CRAP
pling with the problems of life which stone
and mortar can never bring while the holy
and godly men who have gone forth from
those unesthetic country churches of Name
10 preach. to teach. and to live the gospel OF
Christ We believe to he our justification
before God and should be before Christian
men.
1. The absence of Christian nurture
members of the congregational church VINO
have baptized their children in infancy and
morning, noon and night have prayed for
Gods grace to enable them to rightly hive
before, and teach to the Young lives com
mitte, TO their care the spirit OF the LORD
Jesus will he charitable enough to overlook
the spirit which prompted the making OF
this point while the world-renowned classic
of Horace Bushnell on Christian Nur-
ture" will be their httest declaration
that for them this argument is shorn of all
its power. But what of the other denomi-
.,a,ians tho p,nt;st the Methodist. and
Erne Win R,ptist? | cannot think we can
\, - ,,.n to ,,paaI IN life again. When
49,, !, ,I,o ,,ar,d az school and college. do
,hs ch;l.lre, rho come from the homes of
,h, Ianon,;,a,;o, from which this sermon
'an,. nc, az IL ,hey. in their homes had re-
es;yeJ an axtr, amount of christian nurture
.n,,n.,od ,,i,b their peiphbors in the same
I'll cal. of the denomination which are
=, H. ;nJ,man, harg To ask the question
- o. .nsuo, i,
: Tha ,h.ndonment of divine
Il. orl.i,ed pr;e.thood. Here il would
L., -, nn;,, 10 frs, allow the so called d.
II, nr,,,;,ad nr;asthoo,l to settle this
,,,.,,or .r,ong themselves before turning
=, a., outside world To charge it with dis
in, sl,v IN a matter which is in dispute in
,hair ow, family. and their own home. The
minister az Jesus Christ needs only two
,h;ngs hu, he needs those two-a regener-
40 -, bv tho nower Of the Holy Spirit,
80, an Intelligent conception OF the gospel
nf Christ with a knowledge of humanity
s,,sr;apt tn interpret the gospel and man
,r;gbt--as far as our ministry has had these
So Ear has !, been able to do Christs work
IN the world, As far as others who
h.va made much of an imagined s'Apos-
,o,;c surcess;on~ have not had these, the
,.asnsr.tea hear, ami the gospel of Christ,
~. h.yo failed IN do Christ's work. they
ha.., 5ops ,b,ir own. so that if We again
- =, vsa ~. And that j G.. Patton can
~. nsad of t;oi 70 reclaim the New Hebri-
as fron, capnabal,sm to a christian civil
;.s,;rn sxer ,bouol, ,hs. hands Of a bishop
- ,,.,ar l.;J an his G.ad and IL We are
20 to,,nw the advice of our Saviour .by
-. sr,,;, sh,u 20 know them" we pro-
'' - - -. ,hr,,,h ,,s "a tho