The Portland daily press., 1897-09-14
Mr.. MILLS IN BOSTON.
He Spoke ON the Common. Sunday, and
Some Thought He Was Bryan.

"Why, that's Bryant exclaimed a
woman at the Unitarian popular religious
service on Boston Common Sunday.
But it was not Mr.. Bryan, although
the resemblance was remarkable.
1t was the Rev. Benjamin Fay Mills
the evangelist, who is to conduct Sunday
evening revival meetings in Music Hall,
Boston, this fall and winter. And it was
not silver doctrine he was preparing to
utter, but the truths of his religion.
One who has not seen the silver leader
in the flesh, and knows him only by his
photograph, might well be startled by the
likeness. It is most noticeable when the
evangelist is speaking, particularly, as
Sunday, when the rostrum is at the
Charles street side of the Common, where
the silver candidate for President spoke
last fall. The features, expression, man
ner and voice are the points Of the like
ness, which, however, is lost when the
Mills, which, unlike Mr.. Bryan's, is
bushy and light in color.
The presence of Mr.. Mills was ono of
the features of the afternoon on the Com
mon. AS there was no band concert, and
the weather was rather cool for, lolling on
the grass. most of those who visited the
green spot congregated on the Charles
street. mall where the miscellaneous. speak
ers gather. beneath the trees and attract
what crowds they can.
There was large crowd at the ninth
tree while the Rev. Mr.. Eliot of the
Bulfnch Place church was speaking, and
as Mr. Mills Immediately afterward was
heard addressing the company on tThe
Twentieth Century Religion" the
throng grew to such dimensions that it
was sometimes difficult for those on the
extreme edge to distinctly hear what was
said.
The point which Mr.. Mills impressed
on his hearers was that the religion of
the goth century was to be religion Of
learners, OF laborers and of lovers. Pass
ing over the differences between the re-
ligions of the past and those of the pres
emit, he said that we had gathered up
things which are good, and were going
on to get something better. Some of us
might wish that we had lived in other
days. The man who thinks that any
former time is better than the present is
the only infidel in the world, unless it be
he who thinks that this time is. not worse
than that which is to come after it. The
religion of the future will give us that
which has never yet been revealed. do
not think that there have been achieve
ments in the world like those which are
to follow.
The religion of the future will be
one of Iaborers. So long as we measure
men by their opinions, we will find our
selves divided into practically as many
sects as there are people. The religion
of the future will be practical, said he,
we shall have the idea that we are work
ers together with God, not simply in
making better world, but in making
the world what God intended it to be.
The day will come when one who sings
to the multitude, tolls with ones hands,
rouses ones brains to make men love
God-to make the world what it ought
to be, will be considered religious man,
and the only religious man.
There is nothing in religion save love.
That is the inspiration which we need
first of all for the unifying of all the peo-
pie in the world. think the day is rap
idly approaching when we shall form our
of building hospitals for the benefit of
Catholics, and when the Catholics shall
have only spirit of love as shall make
them love some of us, whom they think
farthest away from the truth, more
than the ninety and nine whom they
think are in the faith.
The religion of the future will solve the
problem of human government and the
social and industrial problems. Should
we stand with touches of sorrow in our
hearts today as we think Of the massacre
that occurred only few days ago If our
religion had meant getting the spirit of
love in the hearts Of our government?
When we realize that the great holy
spirit is the spirit of love. and when we
organize our society on the basis of no
man seeking for his own, but every man
seeking for his brothers. then only shall
we have tho true religion which men
need.
Before the service closed the Rev. Mr..
Eliot announced Mr.. Mills's acceptance
of the invitation extended him by COM
mittee of citizens to hold meetings in
Music hail. Boston, commencing about
October 10. The information was greeted
with apnlal1sa -Rnstnn Herald