The morning times., 1896-07-20
DIR. KENT'S VIEWS.
Points of Commentator and Points
of Criticism.

of Criticism.
Rev. Alexander Kent preached a sermon
yesterday morning on the Christian En-
| deavor Movement
He began by saying: The youth Of
America are the hope OF thenation, and the
American nation is the hope Of the world.
If the problems of selfgovernmeut and free
institutions fail of solution here, there seems
to be little chance OF their finding solution
In the next century, at least in any other
nation"
Hethen referred to the Christian Endeavor
movement as one professedly moral and re-
ligious. and contin ued by pointing out
those features lie could commend and those
he regarded as defects. He commended it
as a movement for righteousness, and not
one in the interest OF any certain dogma.
II simply mean" said he, that the move
ment recognizes more than the church at
large the need OF larger justice and a
higher regard for right and equity than pre-
vail today. The pledge to strive daily
after a closer conformity to Christ, to that
type OF manhood realized IN Him, is a
pledge tina tcanuot be lion estly and earnestly
adhered to without making far larger
Righteousness in all social relations than
exists today.
Then again the movement is not only a
movement for individual righteousness.
II is for national righteousness as well.
An organization that aims definitely at
the production of truer citizenship and
tina encourages such utteraDces as made by
Drs. RAIDER and Carroll and others during
the convention can hardly fall to leave
wholesome influence on the life and
politics Of the nation.
NoN-sECTARIAN SPIRIT.
Another feature of the movement
worth commentator is its unsectarian
spirit. 1t has, as President Clark stated,
married the ideas OF fidelity and denomi-
| national fello wship. Baptists, Presby-
| terians, Methodists and Others OF the ortho-
dox faith can all work together as Christian
Endeavorers in perfect harmony and with
mutual respect, and yet each group remain
loyal to its own denominational banner.
All are able to work together for common
ends and yet each attaches particular i'm
pCrtance to its own denominational ma
chinery. 1t breaks down the barriers be-
tween the sects, but leaves them with q.
heightened interest in the work.
"suh another commendable feature of
this movement is It's wise union Of spiritu-
atty and organization.
"Christian Endeavorers have learned
how to generate the steam of an earnest
purpose and how to construct the ma cbinery
that will harness that steam for effective
service. They have much to teach us in
this respect. They hold to practical me-
thods and are disinclined to theories
We must recognize the wisdom and expedi-
ency of methods that have power. The
Christian Endeavor movement seems to-
have adopted methods level to the appre-
tension and to the mental and moral sta
tus OF the average reigionist.
ut is able by these methods to enlist
l.. 60 I,nld or III
the discharge of what 1t calls religious
duties, and to make them earnest workers
In bringing others unto their order In
addition it is arousing enthusiasm in behalf
of nobler citizenship and a more Con-
scientious discharge of its duties. We
may well ask ourselves the question, could
not our liberal organizations take Tits
same material and do as much for it, and
with 1t, as this movement is doing? I
think 1t certain that we could not.
WHERE DEFECTS ARE
"All this am free to confess, and vet
am forced to feel that much of the work
to which they are inclined to attach most
Importance Is exceedingly superficial, and
therefore radically defective. 1 have said
that Christian Ehdeavorers have at least
clearer conception than churches general
ly seem to have of the truth that creeds
are of value only as they lead to right
living And that they are inclined to put
the main emphasis on conduct and character
rather than on belief.
But 1 am obliged to state that this Ia
true only within certain dogmatic limits
Within the limits of what's commonly known
as Evangelical or orthodox belief, u large
degree of liberation for differences exists
1t is far less important that one should be a
Methodist or Presbyterian or baptist than
that he should be man of integrity, honor,
truthfulness, goodness. But this is as FAR
as the liberation of the Christian Endeayor
societies goes. In the thought Of these
bodies 1t 10 Tar more important that one