The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-31
DR.. Penn's Address on the Memoir
able Features Of the Century.
Some of the Character
istics of the Age.
The World Ia More Intellectual,
Healthier and not so Brutal.

Rev. DIR. Fem spoke last evening ON
memorable features. 1t was a most schol-
arly an Interesting address with the well
rounded sentences Characteristic Of this
speaker and with food enough for
| thought for many days.
| One of the notable characteristics Of this
century has been the peculiar pow
er OF life to organize. Everything Is or
ganizsd now and these organizations
grow rapidly. This Is true Of the arts,
and sciences, 1t 10 true OF the spiritual
life and OF the social and commercial
world. On every side has been shown
the immense power of consolidation.
Once the world thought that genius
only manifested itself In the arts, In
science, In literature or In war. Now we
recognize the fact that the power Of
genius is lodged In commerce. DIR. Tenn
recalled some OF the great leaders In tn e
commercial world, Napoleons OF finance,
princes OF unison, the leading minds OF
the century. The world has never made
any gains without losing something and
| In this power OF consolidation IL has lost
some things. One or the characteristics
of the century has been the power men
have shown to mass these things for our
interests. Many complain because few
men have by this consolidation lost en-
ployment but the community at large
has baen the gamer by this.
DIR. Fem also referred to the growth
or wealth as a feature of the century and
said that in this increase of wealth lies
the nations power. Another feature has
been the increase In population not only
of America but of the world. "Think OF
the states we have built up In this
country, of the railroads constructed,
the chasms and the rivers crossed, the
wilderness made to blossom like garden.
All this has been done for us by wealth.
DIR. Fem said that expansion seems
TO be the natural development OF life.
Everything Is bound to grow.
The characteristics above referred to
are not of the few but of the many and
are widely distributed. Dr. Fem went
on to contrast the 10th with the 18th CEN
tury. He said we are better in every
way than were the people, Of the begin
ming for this century. Morally there has
been a great improvement. Religiously
the people have grown. At the COM
mencsment of the 18th century men were
restrained from expressing themselves
freely on religious subjects Today men
are free TO say and write as they please
but there Ia no decadence In religious
feeling. Men early in the century were
brutal and had little regard for human
life. He contrasted the past conditions
with those OF today, showing what great
strides had been made in improving the
condition of laboring people ami OF all
classes. Men are better educated now
and more intellectual than they were.
Thsy read more and have more opportuni-
ties to cultivate the mind. 1t is quits
rare to find an American now who can
not read and write. At tne beginning
OF the century there were many who
could do neither. He spoke also of the
multiplication OF aids To cultivation con-
trastsd with the early years of the GEN.
tury. Socially the people are happier,
the poor are more comfortable and live
better. The health OF the world IL bstter
and man no w almost has q contempt for
disease which may be conquered by
medical skill. There is mora interest in
life, a greater variety Of occupations and
carears open TO mankind. The world is
Iovelier. he spoke of the great speed
with which men are living their lives
today and depIored the fact that unwit-
tingly men are robbing themselves OF life
by not observing the Sabbath day of
rest. The homes today are more social
and the life Is larger. Women are enter
Ing life on all sides and are far happier
than they were at this commencement OF
this century. Women are learning mucn
and are seeking knowledge and are find
ing something higher to do In this world
than seeking marriage. They have found
that they can open a career for them
selves without the sutton, They are lead
ing better life than did their sisters OF
a hundred years ago. DIR. Fem closed
by saying that the church Is increasing
its strength and Is not d eelining and
that the spiritual life Ia constantly grow
ing.