The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-07
FIRST SERVICE IN
RENOVATED CHURCH

The Church of the Unity was crowded
at 1915 o'clock yesterday morning, when
the first service in the renovated audito-
rum was held. A program of special
music was given by the choir under the
direction of Harry A. Cook. In Deecem-
Der the rededication of the church will
take place, when the new organ Will have
been set in position. At that time Rev
DR.. Edward Everett Hale and other for
mer ministers of the church will be pres
ent. The new organ will probably be the
finest in the city
Yesterday the church looked like new
structure, viewed from within. The light
ing and soft color scheme created an at
mosphere of beauty. The address deliv-
cred by Rev. Frank L. Phalen was on
1.-THE Ministry of Reconciliation" He
said in part
wherefore, seeing we have this min
| istry as we have received mercy, we faint
not; but have renowned the hidden
| things of dishonesty, not walking in Graf
| tiness nor handling the word OF God de-
! ceitfully: but by manifestation of the
| truth commencing ourselves to every
| mans conscience in the sight of God. -
Cor. w. 1-2.
This is a declaration of purpose 1t is
clear strong, comprehensive, persuasive
and imperative. We may say OF TINS out
spoken and trenchant statement of the
great apostle what the Koran says on its
first page: There is no doubt In this
book"
paul went straight to the point when
he preached the gospel. So must we 40.
1t is our privilege to present Christianity
not as a theory to be explained, not as
system to be defended, but as a life to be
lived
1.-THE church of God stands here In the
midst of our modern world not TO promise
men heavenly compensation Tor eartnly
sorrows and losses, nor to expend It's
energy in either sacred song or pious
prayer which shall end with no effect
upon life and work and leave the World Oh
tomorrow no better than the world Of to-
day. The church Is not here to talk of
the Jews or the Romans and life in Pales-
tine when Jesus lived, though all these
matters have an interest and Value IN
their place. The church is here to wit
ness for righteousness, to proclaim truth,
to manifest love.
'"This is no time for men to plead their
lack of responsibility, when we see how
the act of one treacherous anarchist can
plunge a nation into grief and MI world
with dismay. In tones of thunder the
voice of reason cries to every sober man.
to every generous youth, to every one OF
us. what can / do by word or example
by alliance with good causes and noble
institutions to overcome the evils lurking
in our land and to prevent crime ana sin
from doing their deadly work.
"Our ministry is not to repeat secta-
rian creed or to attack any other church,
but to promote freedom and fellowship
that the worship of God and the service
of man is the sum and substance Of the
religion of Jesus.
Religion does not propose to even
everything up nor to level everything
down It does not desire to follow Rous-
seau's sentimentalism nor Voltaire's skep-
ticism 1t is not even ready to urge a
literal and specific imitation of every pre-
cept and act of Jesus. Indeed, we hold
that we follow the master most faith
fully not by servile and thoughtess ad-
hesion to the letter, but by broad and
sober and modern Interpretation Of his
life.
lyon cannot make men love each other
by legislation any more than you can
regulate the domestic affections by the
canons Of the church or the decisions Of
the court. Neither can you cure Injustice
with bayonet or sword or policeman
club.
when men learn the secret Of Jesus
that love is the greatest power in the
world and that goodness is stronger than
armies or battleships. then the classes
and the masses will be rcconciled, and the
lion and the lamb shall lie down together
and a little child shall lead them"