Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-18

full life and on the great success of the
present celebration. He then said in part:
ming of the past century, found itself pretty
well intrenched, the great controversies
that menaced it having been settled. The
masculine character of the faith in those
days made contests inevitable. When out
siders were at hand the men of the church
fought them, and when there We're out
siders they argued among themselves. But
there notable fact-the contests
were always fought to a finish. the thing
was done thoroughly. 1t was a controver
sial era, and in viewing the history of those
old men we must remember that there are
two reasons for being NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Is not having anything to contest, the other
Is not caring.
I'VE are not living in time now when
that old theology interests very many peo-
pie. The religion of today is not the
shorter catecbism Christianity on which 1
and some of you were brought up. Tonight
l am going to talk about this new Chris
tianity, this dire disease and its symptoms.
Indifference to Matters Spiritual
Zone of these symptoms Is marked indif-
ference in spiritual matters and marked
attention TO the social side of religion. The
regeneration of the soul is being super
seeded by the regeneration of society. Chris
tan sociology is taking the place of Christ
Jesus and Him crucif1ed. Also there Is
tendency today to look at the ethical side
of religion. These are the symptoms that
are always cropping OUT the disease is the
new Christianity, the doctrine of the re-
generation of society. The real trouble is
the difference of opinion as to what is
Christianity.
III tell you what the century has
thought it-a supernatural revelation of the
way from sin and to salvation through
Christ. The new Christian nifty denies this
not so boldly and clearly. but the denial is
there all the same. In many minds reli-
gion is moment, stage in a great pro-
of evolution. Others say Christianity
is the self-revelation of God in Christ.
What l contend is that Christianity
must be more than ethical to be truly eth
zeal. 1t has mOralized this world, not only
by preaching precepts, but by speaking as
one having authority, detailing dogma and
doctrine. And when you give up this
dogma and doctrine you let go the guards
against mans selfshness and evil. In that
great detection which believe is likely to
come to our church and to all other
churches there is great work to be done
by those who cling to their doctrine and to
their dogma
Greetings From Other Denominations.
The pastor of the church and the congre-
cation will hear the greetings from the
other denominations of Washington this
evening. Following this part of the pro-
gram there will be a reception rendered by
the church to it's guests In the lecture
room of the building. With this reception
the four days of the centennial celebration
will come to an end
1t is expected that the following minis
tiers will be present this evening to repre-
sent the denomina lions of the city:
Synod the moderator, T. c. Easton, D. d. |;
presbytery, the moderator. ]. G. Hammer,
DID,; Baptist churches, ]. j. Muir. DID,;
Protestant Episcopal Church, r. H. Nc
Kim. DID. and Rev. Alfred Harding. DID,:
Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev Lucien
Clark, DID; Lutheran Church, Rev. J. G..
Butler, DID,; German Reformed Church,
Rev. ]. NJ Schck, DID: Presbyterian
Church South, Rev. A. w. PitZer, DID,;
Congregational churches, Rev. S. M. New
man, DID, and Disciples OF Christ, Rev. F..
d. Power, DID.
Pictorial Exhibits.
One feature of the centennial celebration
has been a historical exhibit in the lecture
room. This has attracted widespread in
terest, as 1t included many articles closely
connected with events in the District and
| throws much light on the customs of the
past. There are many mementoeS OF the
several Presidents who were members Of
the church, and some of these are being
shown for the first time at a public ex-
hibition. The history of the church has
been followed from its earliest day to the
present by documents, sermons and pic
lures of the distinguished men who have
occupied the pulpit.
Among the pictures Is one of DIR. Stephen
Balche. founder of the Second Presbyterian
Church. which was painted by Peale in 17S0.
Another of unusual interest is a time
stained Oil painting Of Mrs. Eliza NJ. Cur
ley. a member of the Second Church, which
was painted by Mr.. Williams on the poftico
of the Lee mansion at Arlington. One
of the stories about the painter Is that he
afterward Joined the confederate army and
was hung as spy later. A companion to
this painting Is one Of Mrs. p. D. Gurley,
wife of a former pastor, painted In 1880.
There are two photographs Of Mrs.
Eaton, Familiarity known - Peggy O'Neal.