The herald., 1895-12-30
Church OF the New Era

At the Church of the New Era yesterday
Professor Bowman discoursed on the
Worlds Festival Customs and Their Sig
nificance. In part he said: probably no
other ph ase Of human life has been so
closely connected with the charit es and
destiny of men and nations as that of
their public amusements, games and fes-
tivities Whatever we may think of the
wisdom or folly of mankind in this respect,
the fact remains that the life and vigor of
all nations has been measured largely by
the character of their public sports and fes-
rivals And if we study these festivals.
not merely as history, but in the light of
the philosophy of history. much practical
instruction may be gained.
Festivals. like other historic develop
ments, are the offspring of human nature
and environments. AT least three elements
of mans nature have combined i'll their
production-the religious, the social and
the dramatic tendencies. Religious myths
have had most TO do with the origin OF fes-
tivals, which have been celebrated at first
in h0nor of tabled gods and heroes. The
world has always been controlled more by
fiction than by fact, just as the novel and
the drama OF today are more relished than
history and the actual occurrences of life.
The most aggressive and warlike nations
are those most distinguished for ma
tonai feasts and spectacles. India,
Egypt and Persia are tame and
peaceful By the side of Greece, Macedon
and Rome. The more personal and num-
erous the gods of the people, the more fes-
tivals, and the more fierce and cruel in
character. Happily our modern age of
reason and science is gradually emanci-
pating the world from the reign of super
sttion. For though most of our own festi
walls are but notifications of pagan feasts,
they have lost their fierceness by ceasing
to be merely religious orgies. and becom-
ing social, secular and humane.
Church Notes
The charitable branch of Unity legion
will meet i'll the church parlors at o'clock
in the afternoon on Thursday.
The Rev. Burt Estes Howard preached
an eloquent sermon at the First Presby-
terrain church yesterday morning.
The Unity of All Things was the subject
of an interesting lecture by H. A. Gibson
before the Theosophical society last night.
| The Influence of Thought Upon the
Body will be the subject of next Sunday
mornings sermon b. the Rev. j. S. Thorn
son at Unity church
Services were conducted in Gospel Taber-
! nacle church in Temperance temple yes
/ terday morning and afternoon. The SER
mon was preached by Mr.. Waddell.
DR.. Earle, the slate writer, occupied the
| entire evening yesterday at the meeting of
!
geles theater in giving tests and messages.
The Rev. c. c. Mclean preached in
! Simpson tabernacle yesterday. Before
/ giving his regular sermon he told in an in
teresting manner of his recent mission to
! the east.
Elder j. D. Irvine of the Church of Jesus
| Christ of Latter Day Saints delivered an
address to his congregation yesterday even
ing entitled Is it Reasonable to Expect
| Revelation in this Age
There will he patriotic entertainment
at the church next Friday evening, for
which an excellent program has been ar
ranged. A beautiful American flag will be
presented to the church.
At the Broadway church of Christ
yesterday morning and evening B T.
/ Coulter preached to a large congregation
devoting most of his time in the evening tc
outlining The proposed work of the new
church organization.
The Rev. Mr.. Tinker preached at the
American Baptist church yesterday morn.
ing on Mlestones in Life, taking as text
the words from the Nlnetieth Psalm: $50
leach us to number our days that we may
apply our hearts unto wisdom" In the
evening the conclusion of The Life of 10.
seph, q stereopticon lecture, was we'll re.
ceived, a large number of children being
! present.