Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-30

an animal. But greatest of all Natures
work has been the leading of this man
upward until he has come out of self. to
live in the life of the world; to have God
for his Father and man for his brother
and all things of life to which he is kin
for his love. This is the goal of world
progress The great movements that
make for the life of the world are not
political, but social; not commercial, but
moral; not material, but spiritual Our
world is growing better. For proof, we
have but to draw on recent memories.
Here is the picture Of America loading
ships for hungry Russia. Or here the
picture Of Ireland sacking to famished
homes our potatoes and bread-stuff Or
the recent memory of starving New
foundland, and the gifts of the world to
make Newfoundland glad. But what ara
these people to us? Are we not well fed:
Or we say that Siberia is horrible. We
feel for Armenia; and we give sympathy
to Cuba. But why? Are we not happy
and free: Why do we care? But We do
care very much. Get into this stream of
moral forces; feel the strong currents of
social Improvement, then believe, as you
must, that this world Is growing better.
The kingdom of God is a social king
dom. 1t comes nearer with every step
taken towards the larger well being of
mankind. We pray "Thy kingdom
come. but 1t shall not come from the
clouds; its foundations are now being laid
in the humanites. This thought runs
back throughout the past but few there
have been to give it meaning. Jesus be-
held it. 1t was his gospel, the passion
that possessed him. Others have seen it.
few in every age have borne aloft this
light of love, with selishness surging
about it; cruelty crushing the helpless.
Men have been Won't to stand well with
God when they should have sought to
stand we'll with the world. Priests
have burned incense when they should
have fought rising powers of social
oppression. Men and women have de-
serted the world, for life of pious
silence, whose true place was in the
world in the midst Of its cares, its hopes
and fears, its sin and death. l doubt if
any man ever gets nearer God than when
he is close to the beating life of the world.
Vain the prayer that goes upward today
not first touched with earths pathos.
Vain mans search for religion that is not
done up with the day between sunrise
and sunset. Vain man, indeed, to boast
that be is saved while social and moral
life about him is losing Saved? while
the world is unsaved? Saved? but refus-
ing to vote one dollar for sewerage, for
better schools, for the more liberal care of
the poorl Saved? This man saved? Yet
he refuses to renovate tenement house
reeking with filth and disease. Saved?
while white slaves fear him ard grow
poor and pale in his service! This man
saved? Yet he will not save another.
God is the Father of all or he is the
Father of none. All men are brothers or
no two men are brothers. There is IA
future for all or there is a future for none
am bold in my assurance that life, all
life, means more at this moment of time
than we have believed that God is nearer
the life of the world, that man is nearer
God. And So
II can but trust that good shall fall
At last-far off-at last, to all,
And every winter change to spring."
From out the echoing past of dead
theologies; out of the tomb of buried dog
mas out of the shadows Of inconsistencies
out of the dim light of medievalism,
comes the question, now and then, ques
ton of priest and schoolman, What do
you believer The living present turns
away, and as this ghost from the dead
passes by, 1T asks the man of today,
- What is your life? what is your life?"
And what is it to live?
Forenoon and afternoon and
Night, Forenoon,
And afternoon and night,
Forenoon and-what?
The empty song repeats itself No more?
Yea that is life; make this forenoon sublime,
This afternoon a psalm, this night prayer,
And Time is conquered, and thy wn is won"
At st. Marks Episcopal church,
Than ksgivipg services and communion
were held by Rev. A. w. Snyder, and were
largely attended.
The socials at the churches were partic-
uIarly enjoyable and well tended.
The social at the Green Street Metho-
dist church was very successful affair,
the attendance being the largest ever seen
at this church at similar gathering, The
three vestrles were crowded to over
flowing Clare's Orchestra furnished
music during the evening. Games were