The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-10

tic manifestations OF revival seasons
which shook the colonies from center TO
circumference, exchanging legal for moral
tcrrOrs; I'm the nineteenth II substituted
comfort for hardships and luNurics for
sacrifices The freedom OF the nine
toenth century pade way for transccn-
dentalism. Inivcrsalism and Unitarian
ism, yes for Mormonsm, Spiritualism,
Christian Science ana multitude of other
sects and isms which even the forthcom-
ing census returns will not reveal What
"A transformation Al The beginning of
The century the meeting houses We're
without heat. carpets and cushions, the
scrYice was without solo or anthem, choir
or organ; the promulgaton Of the gospel
WAS without tho w G. Il. T. or the Y.
NJ. G. A. the Y. r. S. G r. or c. J.. $. G;
without a missionary society on Sunday
school The nineteenth century has
made us comfortable in our religious life
and has made worship luxuries
What win be the characteristics OF the
church Ia the twentieth century? There
will never more be dictatorial tone In
ecclesiastical or n theology; IL is I'M
probable that there Will arise a class OF
preachers whose logic or philosophy VIII
approach the pulpit utterances OF the IA
theirs. and il is devOutly 20 be hoped that
the day OF creation of sects and isms. OF
clubs and societies, is also drawing 10
close Are we, then 90 fear that truth
and righteousness are TO he less potent
factors among the sons OF mcnl Far
from IL. We are entering the most glo-
rious century OF religious life that Ameri-
ca has known. IL l. for this that the
last three centuries have been fitting US,
for this, especially the nineteenth GEN.
tury has been preparing the church. lt
has taken hundred years 10 loosen the
traditions OF centuries so that truth may
have freedom An thought and action.
The twentieth century Is 10 see the
Bible enthroned In the heart and mind.
In the life and purpose OF all the people
as it has never been In any land or age.
10 took untold centuries for civilization
to reach "A stage in which the truth OF
electricity should be revealed as light and
heat and power Tor mankind, and only
now do we approach the dawn OF the
century In which the Illumination the
warmth. and the power Of divine truth
and love are TO be for all the people. IL
is not accidental that the civilized powers
are 10 insist upon an open door for
truth as we'll as for commerce In the con-
tinent where man was born. where
christianity was Graded. where the pa
triarchs and prophets. he Judges and the
kings the Master and his disciples. made
the history and uttered the truths that
we call the Bible. IL il not accidental
that the islands of the Atlantic. the Pa
cihc and the Indian oceans are plucked
from the depths of ignorance and saw
agery TO be Jewels in Americas crown
of righteousness.
THE REIGN or TRUTH
Everything in the nineteenth century
and especially at its close has prepared
the way for the reign OF truth. The
pulpit had come to be the bulwark Of the
doctrines: what was thought about the
truth had come TO he OF greater interest
than what the truth could do OF itself
The nineteenth century has given us the
missionary equipment without which We
should not have been prepared for the
present opportunities. IL has given us
the vigor of the Y. NJ G. A., the devotion
of the W. G. r. L.. the unifying aud mag
nifying force of the Y. y. $. c. E., ana
the boundless possibilities of the Sunday
school. At this time we have to do With
this last feature of the church. What
can the Sunday school do TO promote the
new reign of truth?
Ruskin draws this picture of the way
England does not love books. 1T f. even
moro applicable TO America:
what do we, as "A nation, care about
books2 How much do we spend alto
gether on our libraries public or private,
as compared with what we spend on our
horses? How much do YOU think tho
bookshelves. public and private. would
fetch as compared with the contents Of
tho wine cellars? What position would
the expenditure on literature take az
compared with the expenditure on luXur-
Gus eating? No book is worth anything
that is not worth much: nor is IL service
able until IL has been read and reread,
and loved and loved again; and marked
SO that you can refer TO the passages
I'm T..
books. literally of the best books. There
IS no more important history, civics or
economies no more exalted poetry. no
more inspired view Of science; no choicer
literature. no richer vein Of ethics. But
for this library OF the words of patriarchs
and prophets, priests and kings, Master
and disciples, there would be no preachers
and no Sabbath. no hope, no knowledge
OF heaven. The Bible is matchless from
the standpoint OF the peasant az well as
OF the scholar This book alone. says:
Come unto me. all We that labor and
are heavy laden, and | Will give you
rest
Lowell has said beautifully:
"'Tis Heaven alone that Is given away
'Ts only God may be had FOR the ask
ing"
And set We could never have known
may he had for tho asking: but for the
Scriptures. We may apply Longfclows
noble tribute To our country with even
greater intensity to the Bible
''our fear. our hopes are all with Thee.
our hearts, our hopes, our prayers. our
tears
our faith triumphant DER our fears
Are All with Thee. are all with Thee"
Ruskin hits at a great truth. that where
our heart Is our treasury is. On that
basis how much value has the church
placed upon the culture OF our children
and youth In the knowledge, enjoyment
and love Of the Scriptures? Look mp the
matter FOR youself In your own church.
How much money is raised by the sun
day school. church, and parish2 How
much OF this Is absorbed i'm material in
torests. In music in printing, I'm flowers,
In the library, In pastors salary? Now
Gull out from this as far as possible the
amount of time and energy the pastor.
choir. and others devote I'm definite and
effective work with the children and
youth toward informing, interesting and