The Washington times., 1894-11-30
MRS. CLEVELAND AT CHURCH.
She Listened TO Radical Sermon at til
First PRESBYTERIAN.

She Listened TO Radical Sermon at the
First PRESBYTERIAN
Mrs. Grover Cleveland, uncrowned queen
of the American people by their vote, attended
church yesterday at DR.. Byron Sun derland's,
on Four-and-a-half street near northwest.
She was accompanied by MrG. Thurber, vile
of the Presidents private secretary.
1t was the union service of the First,
Fourth. Central aud Assembly Presbyterian
congregations. The rostrum was decorated
Win white and yellow chrysanthemums in
big punches. tall sheaf Of wheat bound with
ivy stood about the standard OF the gas on
each side OF and Just back OF the pulpit,
and dark ivy ran all about the front OF the
fostrum ana pulpit. DIR. Sunderland offered
the opening Invocation and the second
prayer Rev. Joseph I. Keliey,of the Fourth
church. made the hrst, formal, and lengthy
PRAYER Dr. H. W. PitZer, of Central, preached
the sermon, and Rev. Adolos Allen, of First,
said the benedictiOn.
DR.. Pitzer delivered Il vigorous sermon
upon "The threatened secuIarization and
degradation of the church and the ministry"
Speaking of Christs attitude toward secular
affairs. the doctor declared He never acted as
a reformer of municipal affairs at Jerusalem
or Samaria. he never acted as police in
spector at ChoraZin or Bethsaida and HIS de-
scipIes followed Him in this.
THE Church OF God made great mistak e
in 1861 in undertaking 10 settle the question
where the whole nations allegiance belonged.
1t has no business to speak when this book Is
absolutely silent.
DR.. Pitzer then scored the editors OF the
Review of Reviews and the New Era for
teaching that the kingdom of Heaven is to
be reached here 10y the publication of politics,
by making the conditions of life more per-
feet.
This idea OF a heaven in earth is nothing
new. Some years ago | went to the Chinese
minister and asked him IL he believed that
the Kingdom Of Heaven had been realized in
the empire OF China He evaded my ques-
ton. but pressed it and he answered: Yes,
| do Thus, you see. the New Jerusalem has
already come down over in China
The institutional church is the latest de-
velopment OF this idea. Its plan is to make
the church attractive. DR.. kainslOrd has
carried this sor of thing TO its logical con-
clusion. live don't give men something to
drink the devil will. We must Outdo the god
of the world in his own field So DR.. Rams
ford says give the people light wines and
mild drinks that the devil may not give them
whisky and rum.
"There are but two ways of harmonizing
Christianity and man. Conform man TO
Christianity or conform Christianity to man,
the conversion OF men to religion or the per-
version of religion to mems demands.
Broadly the question is: Shall we reform
men to save them, or shall we save men and
know they will be reformed? Shall we try to
fit this world up to be heaven, or shall we
try to prepare men here for the heaven we
hope forl"
At the conclusion DR.. Sunderland arose
quickly, and said: II think we shall all agree
that we have been listening to q very radical
sermon. In regard to the mistake of 1861
wish 10 say that if mistake was made it was
the mistake Of no section. but of the North
and the south, the East and the West alike.
And now I'm sorry that our honored presi-
dent is not with us. on account of illness. as
l learn from the papers. I'm sure he would
be interested in this band of orphans who
will now sing for u.s.