The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-30

The president announced the serious
| sickness of one of the faithful ministers
who is dangerously i'll, and asked Dr.
W. S. Long to lead in n prayer for the
| sick minister DIR. Longs prayer was
beautiful in it's tenderness and was II
grand appeal for the life of the young
divine
The presidents address was then de-
lvcred by DIR. Staley.
In his address, President Staley re-
views the work of the church under six
heads: 1st. Elon College: 2nd. Publca-
! tions: 3rd Missions; (a) Home Missions.
! % Foreign Missions 18th. The Orphan
age: 9Th. Convention Fund: 9th Young
Peoples Society of Christian Endeavor.
In his address. DR.. Stalcy said in
part:
Dear Brethren This is the century of
invention. enterprise, and progress Are
these contrary to Christianity. or has
christianity generated them? The life
Of Jesus may help to answer this ques
ton. He introduced so many new meth
DDS as TO provoke the opposition of the
leaders of society. He proposed regen-
Grafton to the Jew and the removal Of
partition walls. This incensed pharisee
and Scribe. NicodcmuS heard of tn
''new birth" from the Masters own lips
and his conduct at the cross seems to
prove that his heart had felt the change
Peters vision Of the great sheet" wa
a revelation. and the conversion of Cor
neliuS unlocked the door to the Gentil
world The ordination of the apostles
and the sermon on the Mount introduced
new ideas and hopes to mankind. Driv-
ing the money changers from the temple
shows His respect for sacred things
His life and teachings shamed the NOR
ality of Hebrew times. ''EXceDt your
righteousness shall exceed the righteous
ness of the ScribeS and phariseeS, We
shall in no ease enter into the Kingdom
of heaven "Yc have heard that it wa
said by them of old times thou shalt no
kill; but | say unto You. That whatsoever
is angry with his brother without Il
cause shall be in danger of the judg-
ment" "Ye have heard: Thou shalt
not commit adultery; but | say: Who
soever lookcth ON Il woman to lust after
her. hath committed adultery with her
already in his heart"
Great civilizations lourished before
Christ. hut they were based on force
gain and physical art; but they all per
of the Acropolis and Phidian art. Rome
fell under the weight of wealth and
power without moral support Hebrew
life rested on divine principles, poorly
understood and rudely applied, but Jesus
entered this best stream and cleansed its
springs. Our civilization is the product
OF Christianity grated into the Hebrew
stock. Is it possible for Christianity TO
decline in the midst of the civilization
she has created? How sad it would
be to see her decay surrounded by the
enterprise and progress she has inspired.
To prevent this she must keep pace with
the quickened march Of mankind
In early centuries society was welded
bv great leaders. All progress was IL
spired and conducted by great personal
tiles. Abraham was the head of the
Hebrew race Moses led them out OF
Egypt. Joshua ruled them in Canaan.
us not this great Babylon taht | have
buiIt?' said the vain king. Ahasuerus
made DEGREES of life or death at will.
Jesus impressed His age by great per-
sonality, and the Jews hoped that lie
would transfer the scepter of the Caesars
to Hebrew hands. But He studiously
avoided distinction, and spent much Of
His time with the poor. when He per-
ceived that they would take Him by
force and make Him king. He departed
into mountain alone He came to
teach great doctrines and to establish
great institutions. Upon this rock !
will build my church; and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it.
This institution has outgrOwn the apos-
tolic college and even the personal work
o. Jesus as He minated it would:
Greater works than these shall he do be-
cause I go unto my Father" Luke says:
"0n earth Jesus began both to do and
TO teach.' He continues and enlargrs
these through the church. Pentecost
shows one Of the greater works. by the
power of the Holy Ghost. Christianity
now teaches and acts on a vast scale
through her institutions. Personality is
not the chief thing today. The Consti-
tuition is greater than the President
Personality is not lost but enlarged.
Jesus came to the lost sheep of the house
sof Israel" The church comes into all
the world. Our present civilization is the
outcome of the transfer of personal pow
or TO institutions. Institutions have out
grown their founders. This is the mark
of great men, that what they contriye
OulllVeS ana SufDaSSeS tnenl. "Inelr
works do follow them" No President can
ever be great in the sense that Wash
ington was. The President is now the
agent of government. not the master Of
it. He was the Father" of his country:
others are the "sons" of their country.
The proportions and powers of govern
ment have so enlarged as to obscure the
personality of the Chief Magistrate.
What can one man be, personally, among
seventy millions of free intelligent citi-
zens! Personal influence is unknown, and
only official power derived from the peo-
pie has weight. What then is the duty
of American citizens? 1t is clearly to
American institutions. Luther was the
mighty leader of the Reformation, but
Professionalism has outgrown his great
individual power. The church is the
body of Christ and through it He speaks
to the nations and yields the mightiest
moral forces the world has ever felt.
No author is great till he writes book
greater than himself. All discoveries
and inventors simply inscribe their
names on great works. Columbus carved
his name on Columbia and Edison's name
shines in the electric lights of the world.
Jesus Christ is the greatest because He