The Portland daily press., 1897-12-13
sHoRN OF HIS POWER.
Evangelist NIills's Change of Faith Disap-
proved Of by Portland Pastor.

discourses at the High street Con-
gregational church, related to the recent
change of base of Evangelist B. Fay
Mills. There was a large audience present.
DT. Fenn's opinion of the change in
question is one of disapproval. His criti-
cism was earnest and severe, yet it was
couched in kindly terms and was coupled
with warm commentator of the evan
gelist's work in this city and elsewhere.
DR.. Fem first quoted statement re-
Gently made by Mr.. Mills, defining his
change of faith. The change had come
gradually, the evangelist said. He had
never had any special faith in the old
school of belief. He believed in the
philosophy of love. IT am no Unitar-
ian," he added, ''but the Unitarian
faith is that which more clearly expresses
some views have" He further said he
dominated sectarianism of every form;
he believed in doing good, and in an
undenominational religion.
CHOW what are we to think of this
change?' asked the speaker He was
firm believer in the liberty of opinion and
6pS6Cu, III 10 d UOiOIHplOA III oItO oAJ Ala
which we live, but there are all sorts of
liberation. Tho liberation of indifference
is miserable There is liberation of
kindliness of heart, and in some degree
that kindliness is very good, but good
nature is not alone sufficient for this
world or the next. The liberation of pol
10y is not altogether commendable. The
true liberation is that which in son way
sees beneath the superficial likeness an
underlying spirit of unity. There should
be the fullest liberty of opinion and
speech till reason comes to its proper
sway.
Undenominational religion is nothing
positive, for which a man could sbe ex
pected to speak and work and fight.
There are in the world $50, 900, 600 or more
people who call themselves Christians,
but the majority of that number. could
not prove the particular ism" they re-
present. They know but little about their
particular creed, yet most of them would
vigorously defend it. They differ from
one another in minor matters, but the
great mass stand for God, the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ, the
Savior. That is the kind of undenomina-
tionalism known in Heaven; they wor
ship the living God and adore the living
Christ.
Another kind of undenominationalism
is that which says it does not know about
the Bible, or the supernatural character
of God, and declares against dogmas
of all kinds. That is not the true kind.
Unitarianism insists on the divine faith
erhood of God, but the kind of faith Mr..
Mills now avows has no whereas, no
solidity, no basis about it.
"Does Boston want this kind of demon
inationalism?" asked the preacher. 'Do
the outcasts, the wretched, the :. un-
churohed and the unsaved want it?"
DR.. Fem said he believed Mr.. Mills had
made a mistake, and he then proceeded
to analyze some OF the evangelist's re-
cent Boston sermons. He hits at the
Orthodox God; at the doctrine of future
punishment; he laughs at hell, and at
various opinions which Unitarians keep
and indulge.
The speaker declared that that kind of
preaching did not save souls. He defined
what an evangelist's endeayor should be
and wherein his labor should be, as Evan.
gelist Mills's has heretofore been, auxiI-
tiers. What good is it to fish and not
cast a net? Or cut down grass by the
acre and leave it on the ground to rot?
The evangelist who understands his
mission should bring his converts to the
church to be looked after, educated and
trained.
Coming to special reference to Mr..
Mills's Boston labors, the speaker said
the evangelist had unfortunately con-
nected himself with a body of so-called
liberals, whose ideas of Col and the
church are not the usual ideas. They
but the endeavor had not been attended
by the expected degree of success. He
will do one Of two things-either hit at
denominations on the right and left till
he establishes a denomination of his
own, or will sail between the two classes,
pleasing neither and offending both,
In conclusion DR.. Fem spoke enthu-
siastically of the great good accomplished
by Mr.. Mills in Portland and of the help
that had come TO the local churches
through his labors He expressed regret
that the talented evangelist should have
forsaken his special forte in which he was
SO proficient, and taken up line of action
to which he is not adapted and for which
his Maker never designed him. 1t can
only be hoped that his change, like bad
dream, will pass away, and that he will
come back to his own kind of labor for
which he is so we'll fitted, and save and
help souls.