The Portland daily press., 1898-10-07

less and less q science the less religious
they baoome AftFnism is necessary
force in politica1 wisdom. Go disciple
the nations is the law for the State. In
the interests of the State 1t must be
obeyed The statesman Is one VINO I'M
To all men interested in the purity,
strength. success of the local life, the linn
tied politics. the Board says-that their
interests may be conserved, hear the mes
sage of the world-they best serve the
part who love the whole. Nothing will
make the national politics more effective,
elevating or truly national than a mis-
sionary interest and missionary service.
Great ideas clarity small Ones The mas.
ouline quality of society cannot accom-
plish its service to the government or gov
Ornamental interests if 1t does not hear the
cry of peoples without truth and liberty.
Under all political energy there is a love
for large, constructive thoughts-a PUBLIC
spirit that acknowledges no limits OF
boundaries or tongues or oceans, and is
not at peace till it's ideal of politics is
that of the Christ-for all nations.
The scr1ptural thought. significant In
Old and New Testament history, tha1
challenges and inspires modern religious
life, Is the coming Kingdom of God. IL
mankind. 1t is both revelation and
achievement-it is divinized history.
Everything human that listens TO the
spirit and Is subdued to the dlspositlon
OF the divine, makes part OF IL. livery
institution, home. or State or chnroh
that works for man as an eternal reaAGy,
lives in it, Christ came to preach the
Gospel of the Kingdom by coming Him
self. 1t is the sun without whose invisi-
BILE fingers of gravity there could be no
order, and without whose light there
could be no life on the earth. 1t is filled
with law and obedience to law, which Is
liberty. 1t is an authority for every
life, constant, communities law for ey-
cry State, changeless. benefcent. The
virile, intense, mastery energies of man
or society find room in 1t. The childlike
temper and Joy live In it; "of sucn Is the
Kingdom of God' This Kingdom comes
down from God without observation, and
is builded up, a temple in solemn noise
lessness. 1t exists everywhere on the face
Of the earth where men illustrate duty
and sacrifice. We may not define, we
cannot ignore it, for it is the great reali-
W of life. Whoever lives under it is mas
ter of himself, and BY that grace, master
of his kind. Whoever contributes to 1T
makes q permanent contribution to h7-
man life; whoever lives In 1t gains q cor
porate Immortality. To be within it Is
salvation, it is also to feel passion to
preach it to those who are without. No
one can remain in the Kingdom who does
not extend the Kingdom. Whoever hears
! the attractive words of Jesus, Come I'M
to me-" must hear go preach Who
| ever receives must give; whoever believes
must proclaim. The missionary spirit is
the measure of our sincerity and faith.
| The American Board is not an abstrac-
ton; it is not itself an object of interest
nor charity. 1t Is the confession OF the
churches that the kingdom of God in eve
~ place Of the earth Is lat hand, With
| it's Invitations and commandments. 1t Is
| the voice of the churches to be heard
round the world, saying to all men. 'we
are among you as those who serve, IT rep.
| resents the unity OF work where unity OF
opinion Is impossible Through it our
fathers and our fathers fathers served
God and their generation, and through 1t
may our children and our children's chill
dren give great gifts to men and 90 much
in making the world national, through
making it Christian.
The simple imperative necessity for our
churches is seeing with spiritual, clair
voyant vision the greater truth, submits
sion to the authority of great idea, and
being set forward by the motive of
great passion.
The Board once more presents with
solemn earnestness the authority and
commandment Of the Kingdom of God
in all lands. The Missionary Spirit is the
prayer, ''Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Ma
tions. Thy business, Thy grace. A
prayer that listens as il speaks, to the di-
vine promise. that that kingdom shall
come in a glorified earth and in the peace,
unity and splendor Of the eternal life,
where sthe nations of them which are
saved shall walk in the light of 1t. y
The concluding session of the board
will be held tomorrow morning and
special trains of delegates returning to
Chicago and Boston will leave here at
noon.