The Newtown bee., 1895-12-20
THE PLUMB MEMORIAL LIBRARY AT SHELTON [pRnSTEp BY COURTESY THE ANsoNIA sENTMEL.l

AT 6HE1TUN.
 THE ANsoNIA sENTnEL.I
 all the ancient churches we have re- produced more of the spirit, and even forms of the older religion than the wholesome cast of Apostolic and Pente costal Christianity. And even now in Protestant Christianity, notwithstanding all the multiplied and multiform change. which have occurred in every phase of life elsewhere, the constant effort Is to measure up to the standards of Pentecost and Apostolic Christianity, and that not with the most gratifying success. As to the standards In ethics found in the scr mon on the Mount. we are quite at sea. We interpret ard dilute the simple state- ments according to the complication of hold us to the plain statement in the ssse. cret'' and "Method" of Jesus or . Tolstoi the heretic preach to us
 THE OLD GOSPEL or JESUS
 as a new evangelism of non -resistence and self-renunciati0n. We may n we'll frankly admit that the church is loosing her hold upon the peoplo-she is not reaching the masses. Not perhaps in pro- fessed regard for few will admit their complete alienation from the church, but in practical moral support.
 The male population satisfy the broth erly instinct in the various fraterni- ties, and the religions as we'll in the rit- ualism and aim at moral culture and the fraternities and clubs take the place of the social means of grace in the church. The teaching offices of the church are supplanted by 8 grossly excessive amount of news matter In the daily paper and more especially on the morning of the Lords day. That the church of Christ, the church of the Apostles, the church of Luther, of the Puritans, and of the Wes ley's, will, under the Spirits potent in- fluence in the end fail to shake of her lethargy, adjust herself in form and method to existing conditions, with poasi- ble sacrifice of den0minational prejudice, and come up to the requirements of the occasion, doubt not. have no fear as to the final issue, yet it will not como except as we recognize the evil and and come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
 But there is presented to us thls strange anomaly. The church of Christ with slender hold upon the unchurch- ed masses, and yet the traces of Chris tian influence in all the marvellous indus- trial development and social advance ment of these stirring times. So true is this that the modern spirit and de- velopment is not appreciabie outside of Christian influence. It is an afEfont to the intelligence of this age to have scep- tics trace the history of civilization to than the Man of Nazareth, and the faith inaugurated and finished of him. The historian of our nineteenth century who ignores the Christian church will lead every philosopic reader into mAzes inex- plfcable. The real moving spring and impulse of our intensity and immensity as well is Christianity. That much is diverse and grossly perverted fs of course manifest, but this is always incident to the flesh.
 THE CHURCH HAS INSPIRED
 this spirit of progress and has been the dynamo to feed the many lines and sys- tems with the electric energy; but now that we have attained, and arc on our way to yet higher attainment, the church seems to largely drop out of sight and re- ceives small recognition in the premises. Thus the lightning that erstwhile lighten- ed out of the one part under heaven, shineth in fact quite beyond the limita- tions 0f our church life. Let us hastily trace out this light along few lines and so compose and dispOse our Thanksgiv- ing minds to measure of gratitude. I may incidentally remark in passing, what Is not inherently related to the aboveIbut may not be properly nmitted on 'Ghfs occasion, that according to the good old fashioned Thanksgiving text, ssGod has crowned the year with his goodness and his paths drop fatness, they drop up- on the pastures of the wilderness; and the little hills rejoice on every aide. The pastures are clothed with hocks, the valleys are covered over with corn. they shout for joy they also sing. T Never have we been biessed with mona gener- 0us AbundanCc than in this past scAson, and this not locally only but throughout the states. The exception fs In tho hay crop, but this will work mol III In general, but will rather assist in tho general ad- justment of supply and demand, in the curtailed nee Of this crop from tho general superannuation of the horse. Indeed all farm products Aro 9o marvel Ously cheap as to a1mOat 6ishaAreen the patient huspandmAn. But he yet has his abundance, while tho multitudos of Con- sumers aro hlessed with . plentiful and cheap supply. How the wall went mp Ill over the country after the late severe frosts of last spring beCause pf tho de- struction of many veaetables md Acereals and Ill the fruit. And have Wo not bean blessed with suph . crop of vegetables, cereals, and especially 1ruits n puts m to bluah for our whining forecask3 No lens was tha country dieturbed by th0 drought sO widely prevalent and eo 6evefo and yet this resulf which we now cele- brate. Ss F1Us DoEs aoD
 in his proyidenes rebnke us fpr our lack Of filth. Aro not his rebukes as thecoels Of nra upon ou4 deRenefate hoadef Sssss
 Never n III thu world has the lfghts ningss naeh been moro bfilliant aroslMd thap md yArl0ge thrOnee II the WpF1d thAn IT thle YeaE ok our 1ofd 1eot. Tne NOfld II IT. dlseOye TIT oo1f, IT pe0 pIee, Soctnl 4nd poli it1e6I t3cs1, a6d sepecially IT. poa1ib Ihe Hpan-1 iaxda discoVe6e AnleE mn I'M fe Amertcan1 m jDcoyefin LII sill ie 5nall pk6rAa to 1s ' '