Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-04

Dexter Me-, June 3.-(SpeciaD.-The
Drograms fer Tuesday and Wednesday
evenings of the Universalist convention
beng held in Dexter were interchanged
in order to allow the departure OF DIR.
William II. McGlauflin, general super
ntendent of Iniversalist churches,
who was called away by the death of
a relative After a service of song by
the congregation, selection by the
choir aud a SOLO By Mrs. Lillian Small,
an Interesting address was delivered
Nv Mrs. Virginia Brown Of Massachu-
sets. After musical selection by y
trio of ladies' came the chief address Of
the day, " DR. McGlaufiin of Chicago.
II. chose for a teXa Luke iv:1i, And
Jesus Returned in the .iower Of the
Spirit"
As an introduction the speaker de-
veloped the relation of the text to the
temptation of Jesus in the wilderness
and His triumph i'll Galilee and made
il plain that the power Of Jesus in re-
sistance on one hand and in conquering
on the other. was the power of the
Spirit the Spirit of God whereby the
Christ was made one with the Father.
After thus leading up to his main
point that the essential power of the
church today is spiritual, DR.. Nc
Glaufin elaborated his thought along
lines shown III the following sentences:
ION what shall we rely 10 extend the
kingdom Of the good? What is it that
is of first Importance, so if we have
that in large degree all else will come,
but without which all other things will
avail little? Is that power in money?
Well, money is power, so the motto
tells us. Churches cannot be run with
out money. In the past century Uni
verSalists have been generous. We have
now among our denominational as
SETS 100000 in church edfices, $4,-
100000 in schools and colleges, almost
N,W,OOO in permanent and trust
funds, the outcome of which is used
for the extension of our faith and our
fellowship and we raise every year for
all purposes about ST. 100000 more ac-
cOrdng to the governments religious
census. The Universalst church is the
richest one in this country.
But more money is needed to ade-
quately equip our growing missionary
and church extension enterprises. The
general convention reported last OctO-
her deficit of 100000 The new appeal
Is for each Unversalist family TO con-
tribute in addition to the regular quota
II year for two years to the mission
work nf UnnarDl ion
This, it is planned, will add over $780,
We and do vast good in furtherng our
mission work in all the states, in cuba,
IN japan and among the colOred peo-
pie of the South
rs the power we need in more, or
different machinery? The National
League of Unversalist Laymen is oar
newest organization. It's purpose is to
unite the scattered mems clubs and to
face them toward a more distinctive
religious activity; to win men to the
service of worship. to the study of the
deep problems of society where the re-
lglous sentiment rightly stirred, arc
portent to save. and to apply more
'nly the preccpts of our faith in the
practice of daily life.
Or is the power most essential to be
aerlVed from an enlarged ministry:
Ioday most churches face what is call
ed ministerial famine. There are toe
lew students in the seminarieS to take
me places of those falling out of the
Pastorates through illness. old age OF
ueath. We suffer with the others. We
nave one minister reported for each one
ana quarter churches. But One-thiro
VI all our ministers are not pastors
.hey are editors, presidents ard pro
ieSsors in colleges. They are secre'
atles and superintendent of conven
uonS. Some are aged. some i'll OF
o'terwisc inactive. A second third 81
our ministers are pastors of but one
.hurch and this leaves the final thir(
" care for three or four churches each
Some ministers will come to us from
SISTER churches, but we must look tt
'af own homes, our own Sunday
SYMBOLS for the preachers of our goot
things.
Is not our first need more of thu
power of the Spirit: The mission of th'
enufch is in the way of spiritual leader
snip and uplift of the life of the worl'
" spiritual relations. Money of itself
machinery of itself. and the ninistr.
VI itself, have no power to do this. 1