The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-22

not be- subordinated and Ia some way
made tributary to the upbuilding OF the
churcn's spiritual energy. The majestic.
central. vital. governing power must over
De the spiritual. Men aud women must
be truly converted, rerenersted, trans
formed, purified. saved from ths guilt Of
SIN and from the love OF sin.
Second-The greater glory Of this latter
house Is to consist In its Increased and
enlarged influence for blessing society as
well asindividuals. This pulpit IL to be
progressive, aggressive, ethical, eyangelt-
cal and evangelistic. II Is To reverence
the true and good wherever found. 1t
woult not be held In bondage to the psst
nor be weakened by the glittering falsi-
ties OF the present, but ever seek honestly
TO know the truth as IL is. We believe Ia
the omnipotencs OF truth aud should not
be afraid TO actept IT.. however much 1t
may seem 10 antagonizs traditional views.
This church must ever stand fearlessly
on the right side of every moral issue,
speaking in unmistakable tones for civic
Righteousness, municipal integrity, social
purity, commercial honor and personal
rectitude both in public and p.ivste life.
II must seek. above all, 10 know Gods
will, then proclaim it unflinchingIy and
practice IL with unwavering fidelity.
Ibis is he plain path along which IL
must advance In order to reach its greater
glory. This church must ever stand for
pure spiritual worship, large hearted
liheralifv toward ali forms ~ hepevofont
and phllanth.cpic enterprise, un,eltish
interest in the poor and neglected classes,
snd for transparent occurrences OF char
acier that IL distinctly Christian, pecu-
liarly Christ-like. 1t must embrace in
it's creed, al least, Ian Maclaren's formula
for Chrii,endom, as follows: ~ believe
In tie Fatherhood OF God; | believe in
the words OF Jesus; / Relieve in the c.ean
chart; teiieye in the service OF love:
beiieve In tie unworldly life; lclicse In
the Heatitudes; 1 promiFe TO trust God
and follow Christ, TO forgive my eremies
and TO seek after the righteousness Of
God" with leunyson, it must be,
"Dower'd with the hate OF nate, tie
scorn OF scorn, tire .oye OF love-" II must
ever teir the voice of Jesus saying with
eternal sut nority, "This is My command
ment, that We love one another as have
loved yon." While 1t Is a Methodist Epis-
copll Church, IL must never forget that
names are nothing--substance snd reality
everything. We are not in pursuit of
shadows. We care not for mere appear
snce. We seek the unchangea able. the
permanent, the eternal. All this we find,
not in form, not in ceremony, not in
creed, but in Person. That Person Is
Jesus Christ At His feet we lay as
free will offeriug this beautiful temple,
which could not have been erected bad
not lie p-ospered US in oil our endeavors.
1t is with me a settled conviction that
God wanted this edihce erected. In it's
erection He has some sublime purpose
not yet fully revealed TO any OF US. As Ii
Ia much more attractive ana satisfactory
than any of us ever dared hops it would
be, so doubt not jts future usefulness
is to be immeasurably greater than any Of
US have imagined. Here God's glory is
to be revealed in the conversion of null
titudes OF souls. In the splendid develop
ment of many Christian characters, in the |
better training Of men and women for
for tho la sest benefit TO the world. here
multitEdes, we trust, will be so helped |
trat oil TINS life will be the brighter and |
the better ana sll etsrlity more piissfuI. |
Fear not. God has not brought us in |
triumph TO this glorious consummation |
to abandon us. He has not lifted us so |
high in order to dash us down the more |
certainly to ruin. In ell his favoriug |
goodness Illus far / read his pledge and |
promise to stand by us and proper us.
just as long as We are disposed TO be loyal +!
TO Him.
Allow me to summon you oil this morn |
ing toa rev conservation of all your !
powers 10 renewed zeal and devotion 10 |
your highest ideals of Christian spirit |
and life.
Above everything let US seek to know |
Christ by clear experience and to re-
produce His character in our own. Then |
saali the glory OF this latter house con- |
tinae to be greater than of the former.