The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-23

Rev. II. C. McDermott, d. D., a
prominent Methodist clergyman, of
Oneonta, n. Y, preached two eloquent
sermons yesterday at the Elm Park
church. In the evening he told of the
wonderful opportunities for Christian
work opened up to the people of this
country by the acquisition of our island
possessions, and urged the necessity of
a great revival of conscience through
out the length and breadth Of the land,
that the people may successfully grasp
these opportunities. He spoke, in part,
as follows:
The question is whether or not we
are going to meet these opportunities
as they should be met. These islands
nave been placed in our hands as a
sacred trust; they have been given us
by divine Providence, and 1t is our
duty to carry Christian civilization to
these peoples and not the shiploads of
rum, which, l am sorry to say, we are
now sending there.
IF we go to these people with
patience, bringing them our glorious
free schools and our open Bible; If we
go, as st. Paul went to the Corinthi-
ans, for souls and not for gold, it will
result in infinite blessings for our
selves and incalculable blessings to
others.
THREE GREAT POSSIBILITIES.
Il was deeply impressed by a recent
| magazine article l read, in which the
writer pointed out what he conceived
| to be the three great possibilities of
the future. The first was that the yell
| low races would perfect themselves in
the art of war and overrun the world.
The second was that there would be
such great revival OF the military
spirit In Russia that she would con-
quer Europe and Asia. The third was
| that the English-speaking peoples
would make such rapid strides that th>
| inevitable result will be the extension
| of Protestant civilization over the en-
| tire world. =
"As to whether or not this last pos
! slbility will ever materialze depends
| largely upon the progress of Christian
| lty in the United States. As goes
| America, so goes the world. We must
| conquer our own vices before we eX-
| tend our hands to help others to con-
| quer theirs, or we must continue to
| lold our arms about our own selfish
| ness and hug the viper to our
| breasts.
There must be a cooperation be-
| tween God and the people This
| phrase contains the secret of our sue
| cess in the past and tells us what is
| necessary for success in the future
| There must be a combination OF INTEL
| lectual patriotism and pure morality
| in our public affairs. Before we use
our providential opportunities we must
| conquer the foes within our own bor-
| ders. We must be a Christian people
in fact as well as in name.
| There is a great and pressing need
at present for a broader, deeper and
more comprehensive revival of our
national conscience than any which
have gone before. The people must be
brought face to face with God and
duty. There must be a revival of
honesty, a revival of liberality; a re-
newal Of sympathy.
MUST STIR SOCIETY.
1T must be such revival as will
stir society TO its very depths if
America is to be the worlds evangel-
list. If this country is to carry out it's
great destiny the saloon must be either
abolished or there must be at least
a serious curtailment of it's influence
| and power.
This national evil is font of mis-
cry and wretchedness, but it is also
a font of power. 1t has wonderful
social and political influences and un-
til it's power is broken we shall never
be worthy as a nation to undertake
the evangelization of the world.
IT bless God for the wonderful vi
rility and power of the Protestant
Christian church in this country to-
day and / cannot too urgently urge
that we must as church meet these
responsibilities that God is thrusting
|