The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-06-22
DIR. .LAMSON'S FINE ADDRESS
BEEORE THE CONGREG lTION NIE ISSEIBLY TUESD1Y EVENING,
Taper Entitled "rhe Progress of Na- lions, Preparation for the Kimgdomv enthusiastically Received.

before the General association of Con
 gregational ministers of Connection
 Tuesday evening at the Church of thu
 Redeemer. The address was listened tC
 by a large audience, which showed its
 appreciation by enthusiastically ap.
 plauding the speaker at the conclusion o.
 his remarks.
 Alter reading up to the subject in apt
 words the speaker, proceeding, said as
 follows.
 It may increase our humility and clar-
 fly our judgment if we seek an answer
 70 the questions, What is progress?
 what is national progress? And what
 IS the Kingdom of God?"
 The most common and the most ex-
 hibitory reply to the first questions is
 Progress is mans larger conquest, and
 we of nature it's clements and force, and
 a greater joy in them. By this defin-
 ton the nineteenth century has been a
 conspicuously progressive era. Rail-
 ways and steam navigation have by in-
 direction made travellers and thus
 opened new university for the world,
 for travel is school for culture and in-
 tellectual expansion; they have also by
 rapid transportation brought the com
 modities of every land into the service of
 all others. The telegraph, telephone and wireless telegraphy complete the unity of
 electric communication, through which
 all mankind may exchange thought, un-
 hindered by time or space. Friction
 matches have made the gift of Prome-
 theus universal possession. The re-
 volving dynamo in dark room where
 nothing is seen nor felt gathers some-
 thing that becomes light and power. Photography calls upon the sun to re-
 produce the world the sun has made
 The Roentgen rays declare that there is
 nothing opaque in nature. The spec
 trum analysis informs us of the chem istry of, the visible stars and discovers
 those Invisible through the telescope
 Anaesthetics and antiseptic surgery re-
 move the hurt and poison from opera tions once the dread and peril of medical science. One can not easily use the word science" without saying "the pro- gress of science" The germ theory of disease in medicine, the evolutionary hypothesis in biology, the uses of at- fnospheric dust, the history of the gla- cier, the conservation of energy. the measurement of the speed of light, in physics the new chemistry, the new ped agogy, the new psychology, are all pro- gressive and rapidly progressive. The capacity of men to serve man is in- creased hundred fold by the new ma chinery We live in new world, prop1- vot,o ;Y,fO ;ct1 and we are so impressed with the sense of the advance of the world that in our dreams we have happier hopes of heav- en in the expected privilege of looking over the walls of Paradise, and observ- ing the progress of the world of our children and our children's children in the glory of the coming age, With Dud- ley Warner we feel we should like to see the world century from now. We feel sure that good would be extended, that faith in man would be better deserved, and that there would be frmer belief in and a better knowledge d the life be- yond the grave.
 Another meaning of progress is the ad- vance, the superior development of the individual, that condition of things that assures us that the average man shall be more, do more and gain more joy from life. There is always confusion in the thought of the progress of the indi- vidual man because of his composite na- ture. Do we mean by individual pro- gress the best possible development of the body where all the physical powers are the finest and strongest? Or do we mean the best developed brain and a mental action as alert and strong as pos sible? Or is individual progress defined by spiritual advance, where the soul is and pure, and the heart ra- liant with the disposition of prayer and The individual cannot be the best possible in these three at the same .ime He cannot be the best developed | animal man and also the best developed | mental and spiritual man. The same nan cannot be the best possible athlete | nd philosopher and saint. He may gain | good development in each, not a super ! ative Is individual progress to be | measured by brawn or brain, or by the | lumilities and intensities of spiritual de- ,otion? Or is it measured by the best | possible working unity of the three? | When New York gentleman was asked | d ,rees what title would best please him le answered, A. M.-average man. Per- laps this is the best definition of pro- .ress; that condition of the world that | produces the largest possible number of .verage men. The progress of the age is hen determined by the fact that more re born into the world, more richly en- lowed at birth, with better physical onstitution, mental aptitudes and spir- tual capacity. Our progress is deter nined by the answer to this question, What quality of child does the age put n the cradle? Or does it so surround he life with improvements that really improve the man that his descendants yill probably become his ascendants, chieving the higher influence and pur- ose of his life. By this measurement here is progress in the world
 But national progress is something igher and more inclusive. Not only are he so-called nations of the earth advan- ing, measured by the standards already amed, but the idea of nation it's defi- ition and self-conscious quality are ad ancing. Mulford's great thought con- srning the nation are now influential in Il political philosophy. The nation is lore than a contract or convenience. or vorking hypothesis of social life. It is ersonal, quivering with personality; it the organic unity into which we are orn, capable of being divinized, needing entecost as much as individuals. The atd is the organic unity of mankind, ooI, rt ic of 10 |