The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-03
YESTERDAYS SERVICES.
"NATIONAL SELF-RESPECT' THE
TOPIC OF MR.. S1INSON'SSE SERMON.
Other Topics Ably Discussed by Well
Known Providence Pastors at Yester-
days Services.

At tho Plymouth Congregations
church last evening. Rev. w. c. Stinson.
pastor, preached on the "Need of National
Self-respect." The preacher chose for his
text Psalm xxxiii. 10; BLESSED is
the nation whose Lord is God" Next
Tuesday, we celebrate the 1I.th aani-
versary OF national Independence. We
should make the Fourth OF July an oc-
casion Of national rejoicing. This is but
right. It would be ungrateful for the
blessing of freedom should we permit the
day to pass without manifestation of
patriotism. One OF the happiest signs OF
the national anniversary is TO sac how
readily and how enthusiastically the for
eign element enters into The annual cell
ebration.
We need not fear the national deca-
dence Of the Fourth. The rising genera
tion should he taught the Significance Of
the day. Young America should be
Taught the principles at the basis of the
observance of the anniversary. Several
years ago / thought that the spirit of
| patriotism was dying out in New Eu-
| gland. but on looking in our local papers
| and beholding the columns or space de-
uoted to the program OF events on that
day nv mind has undergone q radical
| change.
The day should awaken serious re-
nSCtiObc III tnC VI ueNOut Amcrl-
| cans. Ii we waat assurance that we are
prosperous the roll of statistics can be
| consulted and we will deduct stupend O us
| results. We can pile statistics as high
as Mount Washington, TO show our un-
paralleled progress and prosperity In
material things. 1t is possible to show
| that in the development Of material re-
sources we have just male a be-
ginning. All the present signs
| OF materialistic progress are but an cara
| est Of the gr ,nder things TO be achieved.
| This enumsratio on OF statistics will be In
dulRed in largely by the secular press
| and bv orators who take r, cord OF the
| progress, in things as an in iication OF
true advancement. But there ara many
| devout Americans who will 10 * belo y
| the white-caps OF prosperity TO the deep
uuder current of national life. Moralists
as well as statisticians are in
this Republic. There are men
| permanency OF the American civilizations
| arc asking "whiGher are we tendinv,"
| and "what means the signs OF the times ="
| They are thoughtful, far seeing men who
| are.vastly more In crested in the coun-
| try's moral progress thau In it's material
progress. They ses much to admire an Il
| rejoice in, In the commercial progress.
But the moralist asks OF the statistician
us not the materialistic tendency ia na-
| tional life fast eclipsing the sentime tai,
moral aud religious lifew
There are two natural outgrowths OF
the prevailing spirit OF rnaterialism; first
| the increased lack OF moral sensitiveness
| to the wrongs of society aud to the
| righteous obligations. Is IL not true
that we read Of wrongs and deeds Of
| honor thinking nothing OF 1t at the time.
| the second is that this lack OF moral
sensitivsness Is due largely To the lower
| ing OF the standard of Righteousness as
embodied la the gospel OF ChrisS. We
| must come back TO the practice of the
| principles enumerated by Christ before
we can rise TO the dignity aud elevation
that the God Of nations had in nina for
| US when he created this land.
Hope Street NJ. r. Church.
The subject of the discourse OF Rev. f.
@. Baker at the Hope street NJ. +. church
was Vacation, its Uses and Abuses" The
| text was from Mark vi. 81. Mr.. Baker
spoke OF the high pressure Of modern life.