The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-22

early days of Christianity, when 1t was
ridiculed by the autocratic, the rich
and the cultivated. But people could
not evade the feeling that there was a
mighty energy in a religion that could
so transform its devotees as Christiari-
ty and they began to concede the d.
vinity of the Nazarene. Christianity
today is not the ostracized and insight
ficant thing it was then" continued Mr..
Phalen. Now it is powerful, popular,
progressive; it sends its missions every
where, it touches every aspect OF life.
Philosophy, literature, commerce, art,
science, every function of 18th century
life is colored by the pervasiVe spirit
of Christianity. The Christianity or
today is full of inspiration and comfort
to all who are interested in the pro-
gress and future of society," for divisions
do not count for as much as they dld;
the denominations hold a common core
of belief. IL has been said that the
tone of society is one of perpetual
youth.
There are four aspects of religious
thought now current that ought 10
give us hope. In the first place, there
is such thing as a kingdom OF Goa,
made out of all truly religious people
who are working for righteousness,
That eternal goodness is revealed IN
showed forth in his character a rant
premonition of God; Buddha, Socrates,
Marcus Aurelius, Mahomet, and many
other great souls who lived before tne
Christian ideal, were all workers IN the
kingdom of God. and revealed Goa IN
their characters The old idea OF
Christianity used to be of individual re-
demption but the new idea assumes thaC
a whole new social reorganlzatloH 10
what is needed. No good man OF W..
man ever had an easy time OF II no
good cause ever succeeded without en-
counterine bitter antagonism. rms
social transformation is going on "a
mildly. and one Of it's most sishlilcoeAt
signs is the interest exhibited by Souiis
neonle in Christian work. Those VINO
are alive 20 years from now Will see
complete new social structure. ny
kingdom of God means transl .1l4s,,
ton of the social fabric INTO JI 1o.'1r
wiser organization that shall mean idi o
er. scope for the indivldual anu AZ
for ali. This is not a dream pue tie
,vorl of the ages. The banner OF the
future will be inscribed: democracy
Progress eligion-Hope. ,o,,
s,Tn the second place, there is ledson
FOR hone because new ana noplel
tbougbt of God is pervading modern re-
ligious thought. The old Calvinlsllc rue"
of God as a tyrant has peen suppio
nented by the fatherhood OF Gou
return to the Christianity Oh Jesus, VIZ the
Taught the fatherhood of God. IN the
tbird place. there is reason for nope
in the widespread recognition tlldt
the cross of Christ is not metaphor,
NOR a, dead fact of history, but law OF
1ifa Sacrifice, remuneration, are the
centre. not only of Christianity put Oh
ali life. Countless races OF men ana o.
animals have persisted because OF TINS,
and the very soil of our country 10
drenched with the blood OF men WY
died for a prosperity that they would
never see Self-sacrifice is still the no.
hest power in life. 1t is the power
that moves the world; it is the perpet-
ual token of Christianity.
an the fourth place, there is reason
FOR hone because we are finding that
history is not an unintelligible chaos
but a steady working upward 70 orue5
and right Just as scientists have FOUND
in solids, liquids and gases law ana Or
der. so we are finding in life law ana
order that are on the side of right
goodness, religion. Theories may
crumble, customs may fade, but the
central facts of religion remain unsha-
ken. If we can take counsel OF the
prophets, we shall go on our way I'M
perplexed; shall
Strengthen the wavering line;
Stablish, continue our march
On to the bound of the waste,
On to the city of Cod
An opportunity was given members
of the parish to meet the new pastor
of the church last night at an informal
reception given in his honor at the re-
sidence of B. w. Childs, 8 Westland
street Many prominent pensioners
who had not met the new pastor were
present by invitation.