The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-18
The Issue Of n Learned Sermon by Rev
+. A. Bisbcc. of Philade lphia-M -Myster-
les of Modern Theology Denounced.
Proceedings of Convention.

Waldie, of Brooklyn, read her report,
which was considered highly satisfac-
tory as indicating material progress in
the work Of the society. }. l.. Tiffany.
editor of the Nicholson Examiner, pre-
sented the treasurers report, which also
showed healthy condition in the af-
fairs of the society.
The question box was opened and the
following question placed before the
meeting; What is your idea concern
ing amusements, and how far should
the church support them" Rev. Il. n.
Bisbee, of Philadelphia, opened the dis
cussion and argued that it was the duty
of the churches TO provide attractive
and harmless samusements for the young
men to counteract the prevalent I'M
moral attractions. Rev. q. w. Powell,
pastor of All Souls, took a broad view
of the question. and said that it was
unQuestiOualy the duty of all churches
to provide amusements for the younger
members OF their congregations and
further to establish means where all
young men. whether church members
or not, could find some means of passing
their evening free from the contaminI-
tiun of saloons and other resorts which
welcome. with open arms, the young
man whose time hangs heavily.
Plea for Young Men.
The reverend gentleman made a pow
erful appeal on behalf of the young men
who, beset By temptations on either
hand, have no opportunity for social
companionship in an atmosphere congo
nial and at the same time of an elevat-
ing tendency. The question was dis
cussed at some length, and the general
drift of the. speeches We're favorable
in regarding it as the duty of ali
churches to provide means for the recre-
alton OF the rising generation. On Sat
urday evening an excellent musical pro-
gramme was provided and a crowded
audience showed their hearty apprecia-
ton of the efforts of the musicians.
Yesterday morning a large congrega-
ton was attracted by the announce
ment that Rev. Frederick A. Bishee,
Of the Church of the Messiah. Philadel-
phia. would preach a special sermon,
In the course of his remarks the reyer-
end gentleman said:
"Cniversalsts never grow old, so it
is easy to assume that we are all young
people here today, no matter what may
be the condition of our heads; so it is
very appropriate that we should, on the
occasion of this convention of young
people devote this sermon very large
" to the interest of this organization.
There is one group of men to which |
want to call your attention, and that is
of inr 81 nd n = +
ed churches within the Universalist de-
nomination itself. Men and organizd-
tions that have grown up within the
last 100 years, strong, vigorous, SEEM
ing to embody all that is necessary to
continue life, yet there springs up in the
midst of this last group a little sprOut
of life, and there are some in this group
who have questioned what will this
thing amount to? 1t has in IL the ele-
ments of strength, of endurance, and
Of growth. and today, after only Il very
few years have passed, we rejoice in
the growth, the promise. the present
beauty of the Young Peoples Christian
union.
What are the conditions necessary
to the growth Of this sprout that is
growing up in our denomination? Men
have tried in the past to make different
churches grow, different religious or
ganizations grow, by roofing them in
their own opinions, or in the opinion Of
others. They have tried to make them
grow by roofing them in what we called
creed" but all creeds are human and
we have found that all Creeds are built
on exceedingly shallow ground, where
there is not much depth. and when the
seed is put into that ground because
It has not much depth it feels the heat
quickly, the seed springs up and grows.
but, because 1t has no depth. 1t withers
away. There can be no possible endur-
ing growth except that which is rooted
in the eternal truth Of God.
spirit OF Jesus Christ.
"There is another condition. This
sprout needs not only good ground 1t
needs watering and this growth of the
young people needs a constant watering
by the spirit of Jesus Christ. Now all
have recognized that as a statement Of
truth, but men have Interpreted 1t in
times past foolishly. They have said
that to be a Christian means that you
are to receive the spirit of Jesus Christ,
and that you are thereby to be made
over after the fashion of some one else
that to be u Christian means that we
are all to be run into one mould: that
we are all to go out i'm one shape; that
there Is to be uniformity and then
Christianity. Now, / do not find that
such Is the law of nature. look into
q garden and I see that there are
growths of many kinds. There Is the
rose and the lily and the violet; there
Is the palm, there is the grass grow
ing. The gardener does not put one
kind of water at the root of the rose
and another at the root of the lily but
1t is the same water that flows to the
root of each and every plant In the
garden. So thing. pouring the Spirit
OF Christ in this great garden of hui
manity to the roots of life, we will
find that 1t has not made all people
alike, and 1t is not designed to, but 1t
brings each one to his or her own pc
culiar perfection.
Another condition IL that Il must
have room to grow In the invigoration
of freedom; II must have room to grow
In the field of reason: II Is not to be
circumscribed; not to be held in: II is to
be movement that IL free, and q
movement that has liberty, not license
A great many religious growths have
been crushed In times past, crowded
out of existence, choked out. There is
a need today In all religious forces that
we recognize changed condition of
life and base our religious conclusions
upon the carefully made premises of
our reason-we must know why a
thing is so. 1t is simply folly for any
one TO go before the modern audience