The Portland daily press., 1897-10-11
THE NEW REVIVAL.
DR.. Blanchard's Sermon at Congress
Square Church Yesterday.


Rev. Dr. Blanchard preached sermon
yesterday morning in Congress Square
church on "The New Revival and the
Rev. B. Fay Mills. The text was taken
from John Kill, 35: BY this shall all
men know that ye are my disciples, II ye
nave love one to another.
The preacher said: A new revival will
be conducted this fall and winter in
Music hall of the city of Boston, and Its
leader will lie the I.ev. Benjamin Fay
Mills. The people who heard this revival
ist in our city of Portland Will be inter
estel in this movement. We of this
church who thought we heard the sound
of coming larger opinions are interested,
for Mr.. Mills has publicly declared that
ne has abandoned his old theology and in
an address at Lowell before the Massa-
chusetts Universalist Convention has said
the Orthodoxy is dead
| DIR. Blanchard believed 1t was his duty
to call special attention to this new re-
yival and to give the reasons for asking
for it the blessing Of God. Mr.. Mills had
been drawn towards the Unitarians be-
cause of their invitations to all who ac-
cept the religion of Jesus-the love OF God
and Man. Conferences had been held with
leaders. DR.. Hale had secured him to
preach in Unitarian churches andsson Bos-
ton Common. A committeesof. Unitarian
laymen had raised fund for the expenses
of the revival These gentlemen are tosbe
warmly praised for their catholicity, for
Mr.. Mills says he is not Unitarian. At
the Unitarian National Conference Mr..
Mills made one of the principal addresses.
| Uniyersalist DR.. Pullman and DIR. Grove
made much applauded addresses. Mr..
Mills made magnetic address at the
recent meeting of the Massachusetts, Uni
versalist Convention at Lowell. DR..
Blanchard was present and gladly heard.
A preliminary meeting is to be held this
| Sunday evening at the Church of the
Disciples and on the following Sunday
evening the opening service of the revival
| will be held in Music hall. DR.. Hale and
the Unitarian clergy of Boston and
vicinity; DIR. Robin, DIR. Perrin and
other Universalist clergymen will CO.
operate.
DR.. Blanchard read from Mr.. Mills let
ter in the Boston Herald and the letter of
invitation from the committee inviting
| Mr.. Mills to conduct the revival services
in Music hall
Its last words are, "We do not address
you in the name of any sect or party, but
in the confident hope that large and
| lasting service may be rendered to the
cause of true religion in this city"
| In his Herald letter, Mr.. Mills said
First, then. doctrinally, 1 have for
several years been gradually modifying
my theories. I never, in my evangelstic
work, preached the old school theology,
which has always seemed to me unnatu-
raj and immoral. I have for most part
sympathized with the views of Maurice
and Bushnell. But in recent years we
have received such floods of light from
history, science, philosophy and literary
criticism that, after such conscientious
| investigation, careful study and prayerful
meditation, as has been possible to me, /
have been led to accept most Of the con-
clusions and hypotheses of what might be
called modern thought concerning the
| unity of the univer Sc, the development of
the world and the progressive character of
revelation" Dr. Blanchard read at
| length from this interesting letter and
then proceeded to emphasize the reasons
| for asking Gods blessing upon this re-
vival and it's nob1a leader
because of the spirit of love mani
tested by Mr.. Mills. He does not sneak
bitterly of any of his outgrown opinions.
He does not speak harshly of old CO.
workers. He is large enough to see the
underlying truths in rejected dogmas.
He acknowledges the good some of these
have done in their day. He shows him
self disciple of Christ by his loving
words.
II.-Because he will bring many to
the religion of Jesus-the love of God and
man under the spiritual leadership of the
Master. He will lead men to faith and
hope and love. Many men, embttered by
poverty and cruel treatment, do not be-
lieye in the goodness of God. Many live
at ease amid their plenty without. thought
Of God. Many are overwhelmed by the
mystery of the universe. Mr.. Mills will
be able TO reach theseIas he presents Jesus
as the helper of their lives and as he
shows God IS goodness in the works of his
hands. His own faith, amid all the sin
and sorrow of the world, will help the
faithless to faith and hope and love. He
has the power of the preacher, not the
system of the theologians. Men will hear
him gladly.
lII.-He will help men to abandon the
old opinions and stand forth the confess
sors of the new. Many preacher already
agrees with him, but remains silent
Many a layman knows that he can no
longer believe as once he did. Mr.. Mills
frank confession and manly attitude will
inspire many to follow his example.
lV.-He will become great unifier of