The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-07

Hubert G. Herring, d. D., of New
York City, general secretary of the
| Home Missionary society Of the Con
gregational church Of the United States,
delivered an interesting and instructive
address on 'Congregationalism,' to
a large audience Mt the Phillips Con-
gregational church Sunday evening. In
part DR.. Herring, who is a guest of tie
pastor, the Rev. p, A. Simpkin, said;
The tomorrow Of Congregationalism
will be fundamentally like the yesterday
OF Congregationalism Individuals rare
| ly change radically over night. Institu-
tions never do, II to anyone that fact is
discouraging, he must be discouraged. l
| cannot help him. To me 1t Is immensely
encouraging. It prevents bewilderment
for one thing. If should rise some morn
ing to find that Tammany Hall had be-
come a Civil Service Reform league, l
should go about my duties with the vague
expectation that the sun might set In the
ciety. We need stability in order to
sanity. But better still the essential
ables one 20 confidently ally himself with
the institution which commands his
trust. He knows IT Will not prove false
tomorrow by review of yesterday. Let
me, then, preface what l am to say about
Consregatlonalism with brief analysis
OF its achievements OF yesterday. The
Congregationalism OF the immediate yes
terday has had conspicuous leadership
In three forms OF supremely important
service.
Within the memory of man. the world
The earth and sea, the starry sky and the
soul OF man have yielded new secrets.
The universe has expanded. Such pro-
cess was certain TO be accompanied by
great mental disturbance, by excesses
and yagaries. Most OF all, when 1t touched
the delicate, sensitive realm of religion
1t was fraueht with peril TO faith and
moral balance Some In violent reaction
would be tempted to reject the most pat
ent results OF scientific inquiry. Some
in headlonG surrender To- mistaken claims
scrap heap. Some, In timorous bewilder-
ment would drift here and there with
conflicting currents. All would feel the
stress OF the time.
nation TO which you and l belong was
equipped by virtue OF all Its past history
and its mental outlook to take high
place OF leadership in the work OF ad
Justment, of allaying panic In the build
ing. out OF the materials hcwn by modern
science. temple wherein the unchang
ing gospel of the Son OF God might dwell
and work as of old its works OF power
Across the continent stretched our illus
trious chain of schools. abodes OF gencr-
GUS faith and of generous learning. Upon
the library shelves of ministers and lay
men OF all denominations stood the books
pcnned By the ripe masters OF thought
produced within our fold. In our church
gatherings dwelt In degree not found
elsewhere. the spirit OF liberty which was
content to say: ITO his own master let
him stand or fall" Out OF it all came a
an open minded willingness 10 accept
whatever light might break from His
word or His works, Because of this.
there has come to us mighty place OF
intellectual leadership. We have been
used OF God powerfully to influence other
evangelical churches in the direction OF
liberation and of confidence In the titles
OF those set to rule, provided always that
violence be not done To the broad and
sacred democracy founded by Jesus
Christ; the denomination which has al
ways stood ready TO cooperate with any
bay OF Christians and has so cooper
atNl, often 10 its temporal loss; the de-
noJllnation which for 100 years, as rep
resented by Its missionary societies at
home and abroad, has not been trying
TO eXalt Itself. but whose Nrst concern
has been for the honor of the one great
Name; the denomination which has the
best right, even as It has the least in
clination. TO call Itself the Catholic
church.
The generation just behind us has been
marked by great awakening TO the
social significance OF the gospel We
have not ceased TO be concerned for our
personal salvation-if you have | have
not-out We have become much more
concerned than we were for the salvation
OF society; But l remind you that the
Congregationalism OF recent years has
response to the call OF God. heard In
the awakening social consciousness of
the age. II will be more aggressive de-
nominatlonally. II the Congregational
ism OF tomorrow is 10 accomplish it's
God appointed task. IT must be marked
by aggressive evangelism. There is in
our possession one fact which stands in
n class alone by itself. No other shares
Its splendid isolation, 1t Is the fact that
the Infinite God has revealed Himself in
redeemlpg love through His Son. Jesus
Christ. In the reality OF that fact lie
unfathomable depths OF meaning. un-
measurable reaches OF hope. With its
denial. all turns black.
How cogent Is the logic which de-
this central article of her faith, heart of
her heart. life OF her life, the foremost
thing In all her thoughts and plans. This
means that the church is bound. every
where and always. 10 be an eVangelistic
church. She must be Increasingly pointing
the way OF salvation through acceptance
of Infinite love revealed In an Infinite
sacrifice. Even II every man. woman and