Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-04-15
UNION FAST DAY SERVICES.

The Congregational Church was FILLED,
and the Speaking aud the Music Were
InspirIng---ColI for the Assoc
ciated Charities.
The several churches of the village unit
ed in observance of Fast day at the Ton
gregational church Friday evening, and
the congregation filled the church. Special
music had been arranged which helped to
make the services inspiring 1t was led by
the organ and an orchestra and several
pieces were rendered with great acceptance.
l.. W. Hawley led in the singing of the
hymns in which the congregation Joined
with great power.
Rev. Mr. Max well led in a esponsive read
ing, Rev. Mr.. Osgood read Scripture and
prayers were offered by Rev. Mr.. Beeman
and Rev. Mr. Temple. Mr.. Beemln Of
fered an earnest supplcation for provi-
dental overrulng, in the present national
crisis, in behalf Of peace.
The several addresses were upon the
main subject of "The Kingdom of Cod"
Rev. Mr.. Temple stated the various senses
in which the phrase "The Kingdom of
Cod might be taken and then dwelt up
on the definition that it consists in righte-
business, peace and JOY in the Holy Ghost
He emphasized Brightness" as the essen
tial and fundamental thing which must
underle peace and JOY and which must be
striven for, first of all, by men and ma
lions. Rev. Mr.. Maxwell dwelt upon the
conception of 1.-THE Kingdom of God"
held by Jesus as essentially spiritual and
urged that in the attainment of it we must
not be merely imitators of the Master in
conduct, but also possessors of his mind,
salvation being deeper than character and
a matter of the very substance of the soul.
The soul must be radically ordered, like that
of Christ, by perfect truth, including intel
lectual sincerity and radical spiritual hon
esty. Rev. Mr.. Beeman still further en-
phasized the spiritual nature of 1.-THE
Kingdom of God" in declaring what lobe
dience to law means and showed that it
is not an external and perfunctory thing
but the inward and thorough going accept
ance of the principles of law and their re-
alization in the sphere of the magma
tions, desires and motives.
Rev. Mr.. Osgood enforced the reassur-
ing truth that the kingdom of God is a
great and present reality in the earth He
quoted the famous words used at nation
al crisis, "God still lives" and declared
that our trust in our future and our love
for our flag are made strong by this faith.
He urged that we ought and can take the
broad and inspiring view of the kingdom
of God as in all the earth, as being realized
by God in nations which may be opposed
to each other and as truth which should
result in sentiments of justice and human
, ity. A beautiful hymn by Col. T. w.
Higginson was read by him setting forth
these ideas.
Rev. Mr.. Day said that the kingdom Of
God should be regarded as an order of life
rather than as some separate, even higher,
sphere of it. All the elements Of life, ma
terial and spiritual are sacred, and all
have their place, but they should be organ
lied in the right order. Those things
should be predominant which have a right
to be; those personal and spiritual powers
and those national ideals and principles
should be in the ascendancy which ought
to be there Where this order is maintain
ed, there is the kingdom of God. Because
of this the battle waged on the danger
line, where flesh aims TO supplant spirit or
the creature would snatch the honor from
the Creator, ought specially to be watched.
Thus the common virtues engaged here.
of self.control, simple honesty, moral
courage, should be given a first place. In
the wider field of International relations
God will vindicate that nation which hon
estly attempts ito follow the right as He
gives it 10 see the right" To the judg-
ment of this standard we are TO humbly,
yet confidently, commit the future of our
own country.
At the close Of the addresses a collec-
ton was taken in behalf of the work of
the Associated Charities of the village.
The benedction was pronounced by Rev.
Mr.. Beeman.