The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-26
AMERICAN Cl.izERSAlP.
Rev. A. NJ. Lord Preached About IL
Religion Phases Yesterday.
SEE PAGE z.

Rev. Augustus NJ. Lord preached an
! abl, sermons at the Unitarian First Con-
gro .atioAal Church yesterday forenoon on
the Religious Phases of American Cisi-
Zenship." 1t was timely discourse and
the near approach OF Thanksgiving made
At ali the more appropriate.
7 ne preacher took his text from Psul's
epistle TO the Ephesians, 2; 10: "Now
therefore ye are no more strangers and
foreigners, but fellow citizens with the
sairts ard OF the household of God"
The course of lectures on 1.-THE Found
ers of New England" TO be given at the
University, must SHOW how great "a crea-
tive and formulative force was the relig-
len OF those times.
The founders of New England both
loacer' and led, were not perfect saints,
but a. ere intensely human, and in moth
irg more so than their desire to have their
own way. There is vest difference,
however, between the mistakes OF a mar
row zeal for the great and good and the
mistakes of narrow zeal after mean and
sordid things.
We are apt TO compare our shortcom-
lng5, point by point, with the shortcom-
ings of better men. and women. So we
criticise them by the standard of free
citizenship which only came into exist
ence through their courage. The prayer
meeting made the town meeting poes bic.
That was the second stage.
church made citizenship possible. Yet
few in those days were good Roman citi-
zenS. The idea OF citizenship was in
theory kept before those to whom in
practice IL was denied.
At last here stancs the Protestant of
Protestants, who stops at no resistance
and no peril TO have citizenship on earth
consistent with what his theology tells
him OF a citizenship in Heaven.
The leaders of thought and life to-day
still seek to establish for all men citi-
zenship in a heavenly country. The
Heaven we seek Is in human hearts, and
citizenship in that country is not to con-
sist hi any fixed form of words. Nor does
the spirit OF Jesus appeal to US in its king
ship, but in its fellowship.
A magnificent spiritual democracy is
more and more compelling the allegiance
of the modern world. We are more and
more seeking to put men in power by
test OF their service in hehalf OF the true
rights of the home people.
This third stage, the moraliZation OF
politics and society, 10 just beginning to
rise in sight through the works OF modern
citizenship. Here In America our own
communion OF Christians has done a noble
work.
Il, is singular that the first church of the
early Pilgrims should now be n Unitarian
Church; 1t seems TO put Us in the apostol-
lie succession OF those reiormeIs.
The glorious war record OF the founders
OF the Unitarian First Congregational
Church was dwolt upon and Mr.. Lord OK
pressed the hope that q tablet might be
erected to record their deeds. 81 believe
In the power Of silent witnesses TO either
shame or inspire. What have we done in
gratitude for such an heritage2
In speaking OF the approaching home
festival the pastor said "Pcrsonal assoc
Citations play a large part in Thanksglv-
ing gatherings. The Puritans and Pill
Rrims were emigrations OF families. The
united life of the home carried us
through both great wars for freedom: aud
the faith and sacrifice of the women were
equal with the courage and manhood OF
the men. Let the last message OF
Thanksgiving Day be tho conservation OF
love.n