Morning journal and courier., 1894-01-01
srGrs or THE TIMES.

sIGNs OF THE TIMES.
4 Thoughtful and Instructive Ser.
mon by Rev. DR.. mcLane at the Col.
leEe street Congregational Church.
Rev. Dr.. W. w. McLane of the College
street Congregational church preached an
excellent sermon yesterday morning, en-
titled, s'Some Signs Of the Times Shown In
the Past Year." from the text:
Can ye not discern the signs Of the times'-
Matthew XVI: 3.
He spoke in part - follows: Other races
and nations besides the Jews have been
signally blind in the crises of their history |
and have failed to discern the signs of the |
passing away of social systems and politi-
cal dispensations which have been and the
ushering In Of systems and dispsnsations
which are to be.
It IL not given unto us to know the signs
and the seasons which the Father hath put
in his own power; but 1t is given as to dis
Germ the signs of the times in which we live
that we may adapt ourselves to the condi-
lions of our life, and that We may do what
lies in our power to make those conditions
conform to the principles of the kingdom
of heaven.
The frst facts to which call attention
are indicative of certain sentiments re-
speeding the structure Of society. The
request of woman In this town for aid
from the town because her son was on
strike and would lose the sum received
weekly from the union If he engaged in
work; the vote of the annual town meeting
(afterward amendsd) that only union work
men should be employed in the construc-
ton of the new manual training school;
the vote of the town of Danbury appropri-
atine fifty thousand dollars for the aid of
the needy-a prevailing opinion being that
the needy would prove to be strikers who
were refusing to work; the long speeches of
United States senator's sgainst the repeal
of the law demanding the purchase of sill
was profitable to mine owners and opera
tives (for this was the animus of at least
some of the senators); the present plea
on the part of many manufacturers sgalnst
reduction of tariff based on the argument
that tariff promotes their private business
and increases the wages of their employees;
the proposition of the populists, that the
government should loan money to the
| farmers and to others-are all strsws show
Ing eteaoy olrectlon OF sentiment In Ia
vor of governmental Interference in pri-
va.e business and governmental regulation
| of business s3airs.
If it is the function of government to
furnish employment to regulate wages. Gre
ate values, increase prices and make profit
| able the business of men, then the logical
outcome is socialism. We are not pre-
pared for socialism. But these things to
which have referred are an outcry sgainst
that individuslism and competition which
| reduces the wages of some workmen below
the living point and which drives many
business men to bankruptcy.
| The times demand especially in munich
pal affairs, united effort and action of citi-
zsns who believe in law and order to elect
| judges, commissioners and all who have
appointing power, who believe in the
maintenance and enforcement of laws.
| The signs of the times demand that we
should consider whether there may not be
some things which the government should
own and control, some limitations upon
| BUSINESS in respect of natural sources of
wealth which would give more equal op-
portunities to men, and whether the spirit
and practice of CO operation should not be
| introduced into business to q greater ex-
tent than 1t has prevailed in the past.
Some second signs of the times are polit-
ieal. The victory of the better element In
Brooklyn, tho defeat of Mr.. Maynard az
candidate for judge of the court of appeals
in New York and the reelection of Judge
Gary in Chicago are all indications of the
vote against the control of political ma
| chimes in cities and states.
Some third signs are semi-political and
semi-religious. They may be indicated BY
the advent of Sstolr, the apostolic delegate
of Rome In our country the renewal of thu
request for division of the public schoo
funds in Maryland and New York, and thu
organization of the American Protectiv,
association. Our public schools more thar
anything else unity our heterogeneous pop
!. ulstion, cultivate a democratic spirit anc
make possible q united and patriotic PEG
pie.
To divide the schools would be to sepa
. rate the children into scots, intensif,
differences and make difficult the prsssr
walton Of the republic according to tn
principles of its constitution. The fact
to which have referred are signs whicl
show that the principles promulgated b.
the founders of the republic, need still t
+ be priced, preached and perpetuated.
Some fourth signs are commercial. tn
{ principle one is the worlds fair, which /
not so much an evidence of the libel ALT
, evidence of the growing unity and peace
ful intercourse of the nations of the worl
r who are at last realizing that not by wa
. but by the arts of peace and by commerce
prosperity ia to be secured.
Some fifth signs are religious. Thes
, are the disappointment of the advocate
, of the opening of the fair upon Sunday
the parliament of religions, which wi
:, probably neither do so much good as som
f think, nor do SO much harm as other
fear, but which indicates q desire of hon
est men for truth. and . willingness t
: learn what is good in any religion. Thi
!. should issue in showing the fact ths
Christianity contains all that is good i
any religion and supplement it by tn
! good which no other religion contains.
And the last sign ia tho interest in mis-
sions manifested by large gifts, notably Il
, the Presbyte terrain church and in renewe
. . | peace in the American Board and mission
! airy zeal on the part of Congregations
churches.
On the whole the signs of the times are
think, indicative of the coming of tn
:. kingdom of Christ.