Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-02
the evening, his subject being Practical
Suggestions

the evening, his subject being Practical
Suggestions"
Attitude of the Young.
In the course of his paper Mr.. McGeorge
sad:
During the age of youth statements are
not taken as matters Of faith. They are
no longer accepted on authority. Some
reason or practical applicat ton that appeals
to the natural understanding must be
given, or the whole subject will be dis
missed from the mind as vague, unreal,
visionary, or, worst of all, sentimental
The youth desires truth which he sees to
have some practical application and takes
no interest in those things which seem
vague and intangible. The material side OF
life and physical exercises occupy much OF
his attention. If the teacher can instruct
in these things they look W to him with
more respect. Life in the natural plane is
now unfolding SO rapidly as to demand all
their time and attention, and nothing could
bearing upol it. When there IS a direct
application of the lessons to the everyday
problems of life an interest is aroused in
their minds.
Here again knowledge of the life OF the
boys is of the greatest help. At this age
a man can best lead boys, while q woman
can best aid the girls. The teacher must
know the experiences and tempta atoms that
youth is subject to- He mist take things
for granted, put himself on common
ground with him and speak Of what a
help it is to bear in mind this or that
commandment or clause of the prayer or
verse. This brings us to good reason for
a continuance in committing to memory
the passages designated for that purpose,
how the Lord provides that these things,
apparently forgotten, shall come INTO mind
just when we need them.
The young men at this time are becom-
ing acquainted with the worlds standards
of honesty. morality, manliness, courage
and business enterprise and finding them
somewhat hard to reconcile with their
early teaching. Now is the time to show
the falsities and sophistries upon which
those standards are based.
If ii is brave to fight against odds in
battle, is 1t not brave to stick to that
which we know is right against public
opinion and the ideas supinely accepted by
the majority?
Transition Period.
What Shall We Do With the Transition
Period?" was the subject of a paper by
Miss Ellen Andrews of Boston. This period,
she said, usually comprises the years from
fourteen TO eighteen. The difficulties of
teaching it disappear with the knowledge
given by Swedenborg of the successive
steps by which man climbs from earth to
heaven, and the faculties active in each.
Pupils of this age are fond of reasoning,
and this enjoyment can be turned to valu-
able account in advancing their knowledg e
of the doctrines of the church, for these
can stand the test of all the logic which
may be brought to hear upon them. The
pupils can be taught to collect materials
from observation of the processes of nature,
as witnessed in its various phenomena,
from analysis of their own thoughts and
feelings, from truths declared in the Scrip
lures, and from statements of the future
life, as given in SWedenborg, and then by
reasoning from these premises they can
form conclusions as to higher truths which
the teacher will then show to be stated in
Scripture, or in the formulated doctrines of
the church.
Thus though the little child's innocent
love and doclity no longer appear upon the
surface of the character at this "transi-
ton period and the older child's delight in
gathering facts mas begun to wane, the rea-
son wisely directed can fill the mind with
truths which later, when the discipline of
life has begun, will serve as guides to true
spiritual living, in which lies the only real
success.
Dedication Exercises,
The program of exercises In connection
with the dedication of the Swedenborgian
Church tomorrow is as follows:
1880 am. The dedication of the Nation
al New Church. with address by the pres
ident CT the convention, and sermon by the
Rev. James Reed of Boston: holy COM
munion at the close of the service
pm. African New Church mission Sum
day school, corner of 10th and streets
pm Service with sermon appropriate
to the fftieth anniversary of the founding
of the Washington Society of the New
Jerusalem, by Rev. Lewis P. Mercer of
Chicago.
At the African New Church mission.
service. Addresses expected from Rev.
VIM. l.. Worcester Of Philadelphia and
Rev. Albinus F. Frost of Cambridge, Mass.
The New Church.
The New Church is regarded as national
memorial of the Swedenborgian Church
of America, both from the fact that the
general convention has helped it financially
and morally, and also because large do
nations in money have been received from
eminent members of the church through
out the United States. Tie first disciples of
Emanuel Swedenborg around here were
Episcopal Church, and they founded
churches in Westmoreland county, Va, in
Baltimore, and fifty years ago in Washing
ton. In 1889 the church in this city was
destroyed by fire, and the general conven-
ton, meeting that year in Washing ION, i'm
mediately took steps looking to the re-
building of the edifice on a far finer scale.
Acting according to this idea, it was de-
clded to abandon the original site on North
Capitol street and select a better one in
the northwest.
In the half century of Ms existence the
church has enjoyed the services of four
pastors Deside tns present one, VIZ, ReVS.
Rufus Dawes, Jabez Fox, e. V. Daniels
and William d. Hayden. Rev. Mr. Sewall
Is native of Maine, and received his col
legiate and theological training at Bow
dom College and in several German uni
versities. He has filled a number of dis
tinguished places in the gift of his church,
among them being the presidency of the
New Church College at Urbana, Ohio; pas
tor of the Glasgow, Scotland church. and
general pastor of the district IT. which
Washington and Baltimore are located
The Choir.
The Church of the New Jerusalem choir.
with members of choirs from New York.