Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-29
MRS. CLEVELAND ATTENDS
Rev. DR.. Pitser's Criticism on Institutional
Church Methods
Rev. DIR. Todd4 Contrast. the Material
Condition. an the United States
ana In China.

west. The platform was decorated with
an abundance hf fruits and flowers and
American NagssI Rev. Ebert s. Todd. d..
d., preached al sermon on the subject:
Thanksgiving for National Blessings as
Seen In Contrast Between China and the
United States-the Oldest Nation and the
Youngest" Rev. DR.. Todd was formerly a
missionary in central China. and he spoke
today on some of the conditions that led
TO the present war between China and
japan.
The text was taken from Deuteronomy.
xxi, So The preacher stated that the
human race started in central Asia, and
that the Monotheistic tribes came west
ward, and the Polytheistic tribes went
east.
The United States stands for one OF these
and China for the other. America, he said.
has been greatly favored by her situation.
having one of the most fertile and magnif-
cent domains on earth. He referred to the
great corn fields of Indiana, Illinois and
Missouri and the grain fields Of Dakota and
Montana, the gold mines OF Nevada, the
copper deposits of Michigan and the coal
oil and iron deposits Of Pennsylvania. He
also spoke Of such natural wonders as the
Falls of Niagara, the Yellowstone Park and
the Yosemite valley, declaring them to be a
galaxy of glories.
China has a country about as large and
almost as varied In its natural resources as
our own, the speaker went on - say He
spoke Of the great tea districts, the rice
fields, which are of greater extent than
our corn fields; the sugar plantations and
the silk industries She has climate al
of Maine in winter, and the summer heat
or New Orleans. When II comes to the ex-
tent of population, said DR.. Todd, China
has by far the advantage over us, her
people numbering 4OO.OOOOO while ours
number but little more than 90 ZOO, 900. The
speaker referred TO the forms Of govern
trent of the two nations, remarking that
one thing we cannot help but admit is that
we have the right theory of government,
as no family amongst us has right to
our throne. The daily life oe the two ma
lions was compared at length.
In conclusion DIR. Todd stated that he did
not claim to be a prophet, but believed
he saw a vision Of the twentieth century,
when our people would number 1G0,UDO 900.
There would core n time when no man on
earth could live by the brow-sweat Of
some one else. II believe the American
citizen should assert himself said the
speaker. II see an upward trend In the
government and the vision of a brighter
day. Be thankful for your God, your coun-
try and for your Christian Institutions"
DR.. PitHer on Some New Methods.
Union Thanksgiving services Of the con-
gregations of the First, Fourth, Assembly
and Central Presbyterian Churches were
held this morning at the First Presbyterian
Church at II o'clock. The sermon was de-
livered by Rev. Dr. Pitzer the pastor Of
the Central Church, who, In commencing
not as partisans. but as patriots, to lay
aside business cares and tolls, knowing
no north. south. east or west, but as Amer
lean citizens. coming to Gods house to
iooE up with thanks giving to the one God,
to quicken our love of country. to inten-
sify the family" feeling. For my sermon
today l have taken three passages Of
Man. who made me Judge or divider
over you? - Or
Render, therefore, unto Caesar the things
which are Caesars and unto God the things
that are Gods. =
My kingdom Ia not Of this world"
The speaker opened his sermon with an
account of the exact mission of Christ and
His church. He maintained that it was the
duty of every Christian to pray for Christ
and His church, for they are one. This
duty Is the morefurgent. he said. because of
the prevalence and popularity of views on
this subject that tend to secularize the
church and to degrade the Christian min
istry-viewa advocated In church and state
by men OF enxRence and ability. The
speaker referred, to the sacred records Of
put Himself forward as the representative
advocate or champion of any special class
or interest. There were, he said, classes and
class interests then as now. There was
capital and labor then, young and old. His
mission was to man as men-one message
alike to all. He was the same to all and
championed none and refused to ally him
self with any party or faction in either
church or state.
He was no meddler with the civil law of
Inheritance, and he quoted numerous in
stances from the Scriptures where Jesus
Christ had refused to interfere in worldly
matters. He did not act as inspector OF
elections at Samaria nor police, detective
at either ChOrazzin and Bethesaida. He
did not seek to relate what was sold In
the shambles nor to arouse public senti-
ment against the rules of His country.
The Church of God. DIR. Pitzer said made
great mistake In 1861, Tn endeavoring
ance primarily and supremacy belong. 1t
would have been far better not to have
meddled in that affair. Christ refused to
settle questions OF allegiance and declined
to be made King, though He had come into
the world to get a kingdom. And yet In
spite OF this we are met with a loud and
noisy crowd from all quarters that the
mission of the church is much broader than
ever before.
Dr. Pitzer referred TO the editor of the
Review Of Reviews and severely scored his
utterances on the civic church of New
castle. There was no use to talk of saliva
ton until conditions are made better. Per-
haps it was good citizenship to unite all
good men of every faith and of no faith
to make things better but 1t was very poor
Christianity. 1t was sociology. not saliva
ton. DR.. Pitzer then turned his attention
to the author of The New Era" and said
he made a sad mistake In teaching that
the Kingdom of heaven is to be visibly
realized here on earth by unfying all
moral and spiritual forces and taking
charge of all human interests and institu-
tions There was nothing new in this the
DRY, in fact, 1t was old. The Chinese had
believed that the New Jerusalem had set
tied in the flowery kingdom 5000 years
ago. These vicious views eliminate, said
the speaker in what Is popularity known
now as the Institutional Church, the funda-
mental principle of which Is IL we would
win men to Christ we must make Chris
tianity attractive to them. Man has an
athletic amusemental intellectual and So
cial side. We must supply him with all
the newest things I'm these lines. They say
the devil will.
But the logic Is bad If men want drink.
say the followers of this school, 1t Is bet
ter to give them light wine and beer and
satisfy that appetite, OF the devil will give
them brandy. --., s....
We are here to win the world for Christ
to get the kngdom--to create the New
Jerusalem What the wcrld wants, said
Dr. Pitzer, impressively, Is a sugar-coated
capsule of Christianity. but the Gospel Of
the cross and remuneration Is what the
world needs. Tha exact point is shall We
reform to save or save to reform-better
conditions to save or save to better condi-
tons? Fit this world as heaven or fit men
fer the heaven yet to be? Shall we spend
time and strength in vain efforts to better
conditions of the seas so that storms shall
never rise and vessels will never be wreck
ed, or shall we launch the Gospel lifeboat
to save lost. men, from the seas?
Rev. DR.. Sunderland, at the conclusion Of