The Washington herald., 1907-05-04

In an address before a number Of Wash
ington divines in the Williams room at
the Y. NJ. c. A. building yesterday after
noon, DR.. Thomas Law, the leader and
organizer Of the church federation move
ment in England, warned Americans
against the tendency 10 rottenness in poll
ties as the one element which would in
evitably destroy our government and
lead TO a repetition Of history in regard 70
a great ancient republic.
He further decr1ed the divorce habit in
America as one that was a blot on its
career. and a custom the demoraliZing
influence OF which can hardly be esti-
mated He also took fling at the non
observance Of the Sabbath in this country.
pointing 10 the openness Of our great
cities, particularly Chicago, on this day.
Factor in English Elections.
DIT. Law came 10 America as the ex~
ponent OF a great religious federation.
composed Of every denomination in Great
Britain. with the exception Of the Cath
oHcs and the UnitaFians. The power Of
this federation, he claims. brought about
the recent overthrow OF the Conservative
government and changed the political
history OF England by appealing 10 the
spiritual and the good In the hearts OF
the English people His mission 70 this
country is 10 become familiar with its
religious conditions. and to talk to its
ministers, with view TO moving them 10
organize such a body in this country
He has addressed thousands OF clergymen
IN his tour Of three weeks through the
Middle West. and says that he is greatly
encouraged by the spirit that is manifest
there.
IN speaking Of the work Of his organi-
zation and its ends. Or. Law said;
'Our National Free Church Conference
/ has councils in every city in England,
/ Wales, New Zealand South Africa, Aus
/ tralia, aud in many in Canada. 1t is a
most powerful agency for good, and has
/ given ~-idence Of its strength in the re-
! cent elections in England, when 800 mem
+ berg of parliament We're elected who ran
at our request Many objections are
made against US, the principal one being
i that we are attempting TO pull down the
! Church Of England, when in reality we
/ have no desire 70 fight the church, but
I are eager against sin. We have no reason
( TO eNpcnd our energy against one an
+ other, but against immortality, vice, and
/ crime But this I do say Of the Anglican
1 church that il can never do its best
work until il is freed from the control
Of the state.
Wants Action as Well as Prayer
I'VE don't destroy denominationaI union
neither DO We aim at organic union; VT
recognize no denominatonal Jealousy II
England neither do We have denomina-
| tionai rivalries. but We aim 10 learn how
/ much good there is in each denomination
II is said. too. that we play politics. bu
We know no political parties. We view
questions from the viewpoint OF morality
and religion. The former government wai
"a wicked government and it was turnet
out
l. I'VE never spend our time saying oui
/ prayers and allow the devil to make oui
laws. and that Is the desson that Amerl
can ministers must learn. Do things
Pray for the light Of guidance, then q
out and see that your prayers are an
swered. Answer your own prayers. Max,
a stand against brothels and gamblins
houses and Sunday drinking places anC
rotten politics, and then go and stoI
J them. ! venture TO say that there is no
a city in your country which has no
some uuscrupulous man on its governing
board whose own interests are foremost
stand against divorce, for IL is the crying
: evil OF American society
DR. Law had luncheon with Ambassado
b IsTyCe yesterday who informed him tha
the Americans were a sober people com
pared to the English. He viii meet Pres
{ 4a-aaz- and laa-re fs
3 Philadelphia to-nfEhL Among those VIII
q took part in an informal discussion afte
the lecture were DR.. Greene. DR.. Rad
, cliffe. Rev. Mr.. Stevens. DR.. Butler, Rev
Air. Crabtree, DIT. Bristol. DR.. Muir, AM
!. LIZ Conn