The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-06
Listens to Sermon By
Former Rector.
ONFIRMATION RITE.
Administered in the Epis-
coPal Churches.

The pulpit at st. Marks Episcopal
| Church was filled at the morning SER
vice yesterday by Rev L. C. Steward
son. who was rector of this church five
years ago. Rev. Henry c. Washburn,
| present rector of st. Marks, read the
/ lesson. and the sermon was by Rev.
Mr.. Stewardson.
! He took his text from Acts 9-23, and
spoke in part as follows:
"A Greek philosopher said that into
the same river one cannot venture
twice. Everything changes. a strange
city visited the second time shows the
truth of this. We see the change in
its buildings and its inhabitants. But
1t is equally true that no river receives
the same man twice.
There is an inward flow to the minds
OF all. We may speak of the physical
changes, but there are greater changes
IN ourselves. What we call nature is
but our own conceit of what we are
There came a change in the life of
Saul of Tarsus, and he was able to
see things in new light Such a
change comes as a shock and no one
IS insensible to them These things are
what are seen. But we are not able
10 appreciate gradual change We are
not sure that SauPs change was sud-
den- 1t may have grown upon him
Just as the changes in ourselves that
we do not notice
The changes in our ideas are due to
changes in ourselves. Hypnotism.
Ia!th-curlng and the like, have always
existed, but we did not understand
them as we do now, and we think that
there has been a change in the nature
OF thlngs because of the knowledge we
have now
Loyalty to an idea or a truth does
not mean that it must be held for all
time in its original form. 1t must be
given a chance to grow Religion ts
looked upon by some men as a deposit
OF truth, and their idea is to hold and
then return the deposit without enrich
ing It. We cannot carry ideas in our
IiIiiius as we carry marbles in our
pockets. II we do, the result is not to
make them stronger, but to weaken and
dwarf them. To transmit our reIie-
ious belief to posterity as we received
BILE. NC epiora-
Ihose of whom I am speaking are
tnose VINO have tried to keep the new
VINE IN old bottles, who are irving IN
I liiI OF GOD and duty as their fathers
ala. New events have made new ex-
periences, and we have now a vital
experience in God. He is loyal to the
faith he holds who gives it a chance
to grow.
But we must have care how we
make the changes. There is a bad
side as we'll as good to the question
ne anldlng principle should be not to
resist the change, but make the change
e snoia; 40, freed for gain has made a new
2 s.els me Men used to be proud of
not chSf99 and duty. Since change we
In change is tie to it that we are
and its everlasting ~ t.i,',rSat ton
would be wiling ig 60 gI9FX; VIM world
In change lies our trust our hope or
salvation.
Ring out the old, ring in the new:
Ring out the false, ring in the true ;"
After the service, holy communion
was administered by Rev Washburn.
st. Marks was visited in the evening
by Bishop William Lawrence, bishop
of this diocese. A class Of five was
confirmed. In his remarks to the cam
didates, Bishop Lawrence explained
the meaning of conservation and told
them to be steadfast in their vows and
lead consecrated lives. He also deliv-
cred the evening sermon, taking for his
text several verses from Matthew xvi
The subject of his discourse was Pub
lie opinion" but before he began the
theme, he expressed his pleasure at
seeing Rev Mr.. Stewardson at his old
place once more.
In his sermon he showed the value
Christ put upon public opinion, but he
shaped his final work from the an
| sWer given by his immediate friends
Whom do men say, that /, the son of
man, am? But whom say We that 1
amp"
! He thought churches should be gov
erned to some extent by what those
! outside of the church said of the work
within, but warned against accepting
advice from those who knew nothing
| of the question. The answer given by
! Peter he said, was a creed, a confess
sion Of faith. Throughout the history
| of the church creed has been it's bull
wark. The backbone of the faith has
| been the confession of Peter. Only
those entering into the spirit of Christ
inner life are able to speak of it, No
man or woman can have adequate
knowledge of God without worship"
| This week will witness the tenth an
niversary of the occupation of the
| present buildinr bv the congregation
| of St Marks Church.