The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-14
President HTuCker of Dartmouth
College Delivers AnnualAddreSs
Of National Congregational
Council, at Portland
THE INHERENT DANGER
IN CHRISTIANITY
Pointed Out by the Speaker in a
ForCibIe Manner - Visiting
CIergymen Fill Assignments in
the Different Churches of the
City

Portland, Me-, Oct. 13.-The annual
sermon of the National Congregational
Council was preached at the State
Street Church this morning by Presi-
dent William ]. Tucker, d. D., LII. D.,
President of Dartmouth College. Rev.
DR.. J. L. Jenkins of the Home Church
conducted the exercises and prayer was
offered by Rev. DR.. S. M. Newman of
Washington, d. C. President fuckers
sermon was a notable one.
DR.. fuckers text was Luke 1873 In
substance he said that the text points
with unerring constancy to the danger
which is inherent in Christianity,
namely the thought of losing faith it.
self. He said:
THE absolute loyalty or faith Of
generation must be measured by its in
tellectual attitude to Christianity; by
the depth of it's moral passion and by
the timeliness of it's action. 1t does
not seem probable that the church will
ever be subjected to any intellectual
tests of its faith more severe than
those through which it has recently
passed.
After great conflicts the world grows
still. We miss the outward call. Duty
becomes less attractive as it becomes
less imperative. The present danger
from imperialism does not lie in finan-
cial prosperity, even in It's attendant
evils of social inequality luxury and
gilded vice, but rather in the dispro-
portionate absorption of the force, the
thought, the ambition, the mind, heart
and will of the better life Of our gem
Grafton.
1--WE cannot afford to accept the sub
stitution Of means for men. The church,
at least of our order, can find no equiv
alent for the pulpit. We must main
tain the places that stand for the ex-
preston Of moral passion. We must
see to 1t that personal power is util-
lied to the last degree in the interest
of truth and righteousness.
THE next revival Of religion will
stand for the recovery Of personality.
Religion will call men back to its SER
vice and will accept nothing in place
of themselves. 1t is a very serious
business for a generation to pass It's
obligations and burdens on those which
follow, or even to leave its opportuni-
ties for belated Improvement. The path
from neglect and delay leads straight
to Impotence, doubt and unfaith.
1.-THE great interferences Of God in
the affairs of this world are not made
through WTaln out lnIOuBn mercy. his
mightiest interference was at Calvary.
THAT the church Of the twentieth
century finds itself so largely in ar
rears in the work of righteousness ar
CUES unfaith. at many critical times.
in the power Of Christianity The es-
arrangement, If not alienation Of the
labor population of Christian nations
is chargeable to the unfaith Of the
church.
THE chief problem and opportunity
Of our time has grown out Of the vast
changes Of population. The occupa-
ton of new territory. whether in this
country or in the colonies Of England,
has been followed almost without ex-
ception by Christian effort"
In conclusion, DR. Tucker said the
Christianity Of our time has not yet
mastered the city. and failing this we
cannot utter the one word expressing
absolutely mastery.
Forty-nine Congregational preachers
filed assignments in the churches Of
the city today. There was a general
childrens meeting this afternoon, and
in the evening special services at sew
eral Congregational Churches.