Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-04-17
EX-MINISTER STEVENS
Speaks Interestingly on the Ethics
ef Religion. !
v,w Truths Presented and His Hearers
Greatly Pleased.

E1-Minster Stevens gave very interest
ioy and eloquent address, Sunday evening,
in the Universalist church before the Young
Peoples Association.
Following is an abstract full of excellent
suggestions and instructions
Mr.. Stevens began by saying that it was
q subject that is always old and always
new. As far back as can be traced, the
history Of man, whether on records of
.,one or il books, it is found that he has
cherished deep interest in religion. Hence
the innumerable temples, large and costly.
Twill coDfne myself to the central, practical
and mainly essential truths of the Christian
religion. Some reading, considerable ear
mes. study, and much experience, running
over more than 90 years, commencing with
the early period in which I began to have
an interest in religion, have led me to the
conclusion that religion is life, not a
dogma nor system Of dogmas, and that
the true church is not, and should not be, a
debating society.
Iii, we'll to remember that the founder
of Christianity was very explicit in His
teachings, whether He taught by precept or
example, that religion is life, and not
studied routine of formal ceremonies.
Formalites and ordinances may have, and
undoubtedly do have, their helpful infu-
ence in promoting religion, but are not re-
securing given end. Christ's teachings
served to prove this.
Religion is life, is experience, is living
for and dealing with the duties and demands
which come to one from day to day, week
to week, moath to month, and onward to
the close Of our earthly career. In speak
ing of science and religion, Mr.. Stevens
said, science, as well as the church. has
had its cranks and visonaries. Science
has its dogmas, and its advocates are some
tines as dogmatic and as bigoted as some
churchmen. Some advance the idea of
following reason. If they mean their indi-
vidual reason, it is generally always true
that they will fall into error, but if they
term reason that of combined intellects,
why il is another thing, and that generally
comedies with religion as reasonable and
helpful to mankind. The condensed reason
Of men which has passed through the re-
fuing crucible of centuries, is Of great au-
thority, and this agrees with tested science
and confirms the teachings of Christ, that
religion is II life, is the practical, continued,
exemplary living of men and women when
ever and wherever circumstances and events
call them to act.
To have religion universally applicable in
this varied world, and in this short human
life on earth, the central essential truths
should be few. One God, omnipotent,
ctcrnally existing, ruling the universe in
absolute wisdom, the vital, controlling force
of his character being love. Combining
these ideas and expressing them by two
words-lIeaycnly Father or Universal
Father-and we have the great
central fact of religion, as to
which person of all Christian
sccts can sincerely agree. God has so
organized this universe that its laws and its
tendencies are toward good or evil.
These three closely connected ideas, God
the Father, Christ the Divine Teacher of
the absolute religion, and all men the eter-
nal recipients of Gods love, received and
kept in the mind and heart, we can afford
to let sill other theological questions take
care of themselves, or have subordinate
places in our thoughts.
The address was full Of other choice
thoughts