The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-30

tatipn of a good deal of pessimism in
regard to the church. Some of you
may have come here with the idea thea
men are altogether given over to ma
terialism and self interest. Yet the
history Of every town in the state tells
hs that there is something deeper in
the human heart. The memories which
centre in a church like this--these are
evidences that there is something we
honor more than we honor success.
I am happy to join in the happiness Of
the hour. / congratulate you upon
your long joy, happiness, and prospect
ty.
There are two joys on this occasion
that l wish to mention. First there
is the Joy of possession, the feeling of
what you have, your satisfaction In q
renewed, beautiful house of worship.
Then there is another joy besides,
the satisfaction that we have every
thing we can wish for our comfort.
Some people think of a church as of
an arm chair, In which one can drop
down and be comfortable. The church
is not an arm chair. 1t is an engine,
or rather a centre of energy and each
person in the congregation is a tool
or instrument And II your engine
which before was q good one. has
doubled in capacity, you have twice
the responsibility We who rejoice
WIN yOu lOIliB III IlBIlly CAPCGL u 6ltdL-
er service, a still stronger influence in
the future. The light Of this church,
which has shone brightly as beacon
in the past, ought to shine with in
creased intensity for the blessing OF
the community in which we live"
DR.. Hale followed. He began by
showing the progress which the Chris
tan Church has made in the last CEN
fury. He advised any one who wanted
IN tho church Of 1901 with tho
church of 1901 to go to Librarian Bar
ton of the Antiquarian Society and ask
him for a volume Of 100 sermons
preached from 1875 to 1895. Then COM
pare these with so or 100 sermons
preached and published in the last ten
years.
"Then," said Dr. Hale, you will see
what L mean. The cheerful side is now
uppermost. All men are now expected
to join in the work of God. We no
longer believe that strange fiction
which began with Augustine and was
continued by Calvin that some men
are incapable of good and cannot ! e
to the glory of the Son Of God. The
theology preached today in all our
churches would have been called very
liberal theology so years ago.
Just think Of the paralysis Of the
preacher of 100 year ago, preaching to
hearers that some Of them must be
damned. Now every man preaching In
the state is urging the Kingdom Of
God urging every man and woman,
every boy and girl to do their share
in bringing about the Kingdom.
THE pulpit Of 1900 was exhorting
each individual to save himself. 1t
urged introspection. / do not depreci-
ate this doctrine, but there must be a
touch of selfishness in it If a man is
made more important than the mil
lions suffering around him. The theme
of sermons now is Seek we first the
Kingdom Of God and His righteous
ness" There is so much more gran
deur. so much more enthusiasm, so
much more cheerfulness in this"
After referring to the way in which
this change Of feeling had been
brought about by the great thinkers,
Murray, Ballou, Charming. Emerson,
and others, DR.. Hale spoke Of the way
in which God is regarded now. TT is, -
he said Man with God, God with
man. The presence of God Is breathed
in President McKinley's favorite hymn
Nearer, My God. to Thee" The i'm
minent presence Of God was spoken in
all the religious services Of Worcester
today. We needn't be afraid Of nature.
Nature loves US.
1.-THE daily presence of God is the
centre Of the theology on which is to
be builded the religion that is to re-
new the goth century. Every occasion
like this Is one occasion more to thank
God that He is and that we are"
Mrs Inez Buss-K Knowles then sang
Hear Ye, o Israel" from Mendels-
sohn's Elijah"
Rev. Mr.. Phalen then introduced Rev
Vincent E. Tomlinson of the First Uni
versalist Church, referring to the grow
ing habit of fraternity among Christian
churches and the friendliness in partic-
ular which has existed between the
First Universalist Church and the
Church of the Unity.
Rev. Mr.. Tomlinson spoke in more
detail Of the relations between the Two
churches, mentioning a number of
ministers Of his own church who had
become Unitarians, and number or
Church of the Unity pastors who
turned to Universalism. He thought
the churches were about even.
He also said that some Of the most
valued members Of his congregation
were formerly Of the Church Of the
Unity and that on the other hand. he
had frequently pointed out to him per-
sons now attending the Church OF the
Unity who really belonged in his parish.
He had been requested to try and get
some of these back but was afraid It
would be a hopeless task so well were
they cared for.
He continued, TT Is not only in these
WAYS that We have much in common.
We are not thinking now Of our differ
ences but Of the great affirmations we
hold together We have common love
of liberty in the search OF truth, the
truth that sets men free. Then we In