The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-14
REV. DIR. SHELDON'S LECTURE
Tells Two Audiences How TO Make
the World Better.


How to Make the World Better" was
the theme of an address delivered last
night by Rev. Charles NJ. Sheldon to two
audiences that taxed to the utmost the ca
pacity of the New York Avenue Presby-
terrain Church. The various methods by
which the speaker thought the world might
he bettered were set forth in a pleasing
and forceful manner. He spoke of five ways
in which the universe might be improved.
The betterment of the church., the re-
ligious education of the rising generation.
a close adherence to Christian principles in
business life, the establishment of Journal
ism on Christian lines, and the humiliation
OF the saloon, was the quin;ette of heads
into which the discourse was divided.
That part Of tine address dealing with
journalism was especially interesting. when
it is remembered that Dr. Sheldon for two
weeks, some months ago, conducted the
Topeka Capital" daily paper, on the
lines hs thought would be followed by
Christians of the nineteenth century. Tine
undertaking attracted widespread attention
on account of its unique character
The main floor Of the church and the gal
leries above were filled at o'clock and
those who were unable to gain admittance
held an overflow meeting in the lecture
room, and here they were later addressed
by DR. Sheldon. The meeting was con-
Quoted under the auspices of the District of
Columbia Christian Endeavor Association.
and Commissioner H. B. F. Mcfarland.
President Of that organization, presided,
and introduced DR.. Sheldon.
The meeting was opened with an organ
voluntary, followed by vocal duet by the
Misses Bates and Clahan. Rev. Wallace
Radcliffe. pastor of the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church. welcomed Dr. Shell
den on behalf of his church.
DR.. Sheldon said in opening that 1t was
safe to say that the world was not as
good as it should be. and that the first
way to start to make a better world is to
make a better church. That ell Sc sec
tartan lines were no longer drawn be-
tween various denominations he thought
great advance and predicted hat the
unity of Christendom would date Fl ON
the last year of the nineteenth century,
and that We were now in the midst OF It's
conception. but did not fully realize it.
Another thing that DR.. sheldon thought
was an Indication that the world would
grow better was the fact that the rising
generation are being educated alorg re-
ligious lines, or rather. were being
brought up and taught to LEAD clean
Christian lives. There was time, he
said. when in the churches the young
were expected to be silent and backward,
leaving the work to their elders. At the
present time church would hardly con-
slider itself successful unless ii had an ac-
tive and enterprising band of yourg
workers.
That a stric. adherence to Christian
principles in business life would work
great change for the better in the affairs
of the world was the substance of the
third method that would aid in the desired
Improvement. Dr. Sheldon called atten-
ton to the fact that there vas now two
forms of life followed by many a business
man. In private life they lived beyond
reproaeh, but in the pursuit of wealth
they INDUCED il schemes that were thor
cughly dishonest, making the excuse that
il IVES necessary for them to resort to
these means in order to succeed He Ia
mented the fact that ambitious young men
of the present generation were so anxious
to get rich that they do not hesitate to
stoop to dishonest or selfish means to
attain that end. He said that he had
talked to many business men, successful
ones, and that they had told him in an
swer to his questions that they estimated
that not 10 per cent of the business of the
world was conducted on Christian rrinci-
Piles and to the glory of Gcd
The establishment of newspapers that
would be conducted on Christian lines.
al
to the betterment of the universe He
thought that newspaper that would leave
cut of its columns accounts of crime and
wickedness. and instead place there news
OF coed things done by mankind. should
be established in every city. and he fur
Their urged the church to do all it could
TO bring this idea to 4 head.
The one thing that would do the great
est good DR.. Sheldon said in conclusion.
is the destruction of that curse Of all
the centuries the saloon" He said that
nothing would do but it's total eradica-
ticn. which would greatly lessen the suf-
fering of all peoples of the world and do
more than anything else to bring to hand
the millennium.
At the conclusion OF the address Dr.
Sheldon proceeded to the lecture room
and delivered the same address to The au-
dience that had patiently awaited him
there.