Norwich bulletin., 1909-10-13

In the union evangelistic service at the armory on Tuesday evening was the need of revival and especially. the need of a converted church. We are come upon perilous times in our na- tional life which can only be safely
 passed through by revival of the old fashioned piety of our fathers, and the church alone can bring this about. The opening song service began at 7.30 and continued for the half hour until o'clock. the chorus being directed by H. Lansing Spooner in several hymns and prayer was offered by Rev l.. l..
 West, D. D, of the Second Congrega- tional church.
 The regular meeting opened with the singing of There is a Fountain Filled
 With Blood. Dr. Slough spoke of the added duties and responsibilities of each succeeding day and welcomed any suggestions for further comfort and convenience of the audience. He em- phasized the notice of the cottage meetings to be held at the various homes at o'clock each morning and the meeting at o'clock at the Central Baptist church. The headquarters of the executive committee are in the room ever the Otis library, where Dr. Slough may be seen personally or ap- pointment made to see him.
 More Cottage Meetings.
 Rev. p C. Wright, chairman of the cottage prayer meeting committee, read the list of places where these will be held this morning, including all those given yesterday and the following new ones: Mrs. Thomas Perkins, Prospect street; Mrs. William Geer ETA Wash ington street; Mrs. Fitch Allen, Town street Mrs. H. l.. Warrington, 426 Washington street; Mrs. Charles R Gallup. Cliff street.
 selection by the chorus was given while the collection was taken and fol- lowed by Henry Herring, who sang One Thing I of the Lord Desire. A short prayer by Dr. Slough preceded his address taken from Habakkuk 3:2 as a text, o Lord have heard thy speech and was afraid, O Lord revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known, in wrath remember mercy. This is a great chapter which it will pay to read-this prayer of Habakkuk. It is the cry of a great spirit looking out over the surface of his times and seeing the worldliness, the frivolity, the sordid- ness, ease and luxury of a generation who had forgotten God Their worship Of him was only perfunctory. Such condition and such worship was abominable to God. who was even then whetting his sword for judgment upon them. The prophet alone sees their need-they are blind and deaf to it. and in despair he turns and cries to Jehovah 70 Lord revive thy work" No modern prophet who loves God but does not echo this same cry. It is needed as much now as it was then. Every day brings us startling proofs, things enough to stir the heart of true son of God. What are we drifting into with advanced theology? The press says little about it because they know it leads only to anarchy and dis solution. which they would prevent.
 Revival of Piety.
 Even Wall street has. like Saul. joined the prophets and issued a call to piety. Their editor says that what America needs is a revival of piety- the good old piety of our fathers. of honesty and right principles, to clean this country of graft and greed. De- caying nations always worship Nam mon and it is time here to sound the alarm. We need a revival in our midst. This must start in the church. The enemies of righteousness could not stand against fully alive and militant church. Only the church can stop the revival or can bring it. To bring it she must be a converted church. She must present to the world the miracle of a changed life Culture and. nurture plans are all very well. but the church must do more than that. She must take men, ,unregenerate and gone astray, and must make them over anew. They must present the phenomenon of being born again. A church which cannot work this miracle has lost its touch with God. This vital experience and touch are necessary for every mem Der.
 Better Christians Needed.
 It is not more Christians that are needed so much as better. Then. God would come down upon his chosen peo- pie with love in his heart. Again this revival must come through consistent church. The world estimates the l church by it's members. Each one is a sign of God, an advertisement for him in all one is and does. a spectacle to angels and to men, a stage for the playing of the great tragedy of re- demption. Inconsistent living loses many from following. Why are there so many brothers Jaw to the church? The gospel can appeal to men as well as to women. Why are no more young people joining the church? Because inconsistent living has lowered the moral standard of the home and because children are keen to discrini- nate on the inconsistencies of parents.
 
 Again it must come through a compassionate church, church which has the true spirit of the Master towards the world.
 Love and Not Hatred.
 It must be able to love its enemy-I must hold no hatred. No one who has been to Calvary can hate-can turn against those for whom Christ died. It must love not only the enemy but it must love the loveless. It must have no lack of conservation, must not shut itself up exclusively in its own coterie pr group of congenisl members, losing touch with the outlying world of men. | It must go out among them with com passion in the same way that Jesus did. Especially Is this true here in New England, where hordes of people needing this compassion have come to us from foreign shores. The real his- cemetery, where prayer