The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-09-26
DR.. Few Speaks On Religious
Tendencies oi Our Time"
M|sSMlRY DUKE SANG SOLO
Address Was Of Same Idealistie Quail
ny That Is 40 Characteristic of
Trinity's President and Contained
Hopeful Note Along Conservative
Lines.

To a crowd that exceeded the usual
attendance at similar occasions.
President William =. Few Sunday
night In Craven Memorial hall de-
llyered his opening address TO the
students In Trinity College Several
churches In the city had withdrawn
their services In order that their con-
gregations might hear Dr. Few. and
the best musical talent from each
was present In the choir, which.
under tho direction OF NJ. r. y.
Check. contributed largely TO the
success OF the occasion.
The exercises were opened with
the singing OF an anthem by the
choir. after which DR.. George s. Sex
ton. OF Dallas. Texas. led the audi
ence In prayer. Following the read
Ing OF a short lesson from the Bible,
DIR. Few. Miss Mary Duke sang as
solo. 20. Divine Redeemer" The
presidents address came next and
for almost an hour DR.. Few held
his hearers closely. seeming TO at
tract them to him by some magnetic
force. which likewise caused his own
form tocllne towards the audience
The address Was of the same
idealistIe quality that Il 50 eharac-
ieristic Of President Few. and con
ialned a hopeful note IN regard TO
religious tendencies OF the present
day that Is unusual In speakers on
such topics The address was not q
platitudinoua one IN any respect;
rtaher Il showed careful considers
ti0n and original thinking along con
anrxative tines: bot n was marked
by an optimlsin that In. as a rule.
found only IN ntterances os q plati.
tudinous variety.
Taking as bis subject, Two Hope
ful Religious Tendencies % our
Time" Dr. Pew showed how the
modern desire TO interpret the Bible
according 10 It's spirit rather than
the letter. aud also the disposition 10
place emphasis IN regard 20 religion
ON soundncss of life and not on creed
showed increasing hope for 4 greater
field Of influence for the Christian
church, These two tendencies form.
cd the topic for his discussion and
he went into some detail IN showing
how they acted to bring about bet.
terment In tho religious life Of our
day Alter the conclusion Of hls ad-
dress and the rendering IL another
anthem BY the choir. Dr. sexton pro.
nounccd the bcnedictlcn aud the
audience slowly left the biz hall.
br Few spoke Ms follows.
Two lIvprfui Religious Teadrneies
81 Om Time.
80 accustomed are We 10 regard
our age a rmarked by material prog
ress and widespread physical we'll.
being but by a corresponding rcllE-
loua decadcnee that imagine n will
strike most ~ you ~ novel, almost
sensational. for me 20 anhounce that
! shall talk tonight aboat two hope
fnl religious tendencies IT our time
The nrst ~ these relates 10 the
steadily changing manner of IN.
tefpreting The Bible. 90 the increas
Ing feeling that II IL ~ b. read not
slavlshlY according a. the letter that
kille,h hmt IN the light ~ the spirit
that glseth ilfc while the Chris.
iion religion had back Of Il centuries
~ PREPARATION. stiil II Il not 4 growth
" tho ordinary sense ~ that word
Z 4 ioday what II was M the begin
ming the faith which vas once Dc
lisered TO the saints" Il rests upon
ar nnchanglnR Bible. Though the
Hibie has through the shifting s1cial
civie. and intellectual ideals ~ ~
centuries remained quite unchanged.
-, the understanding ~ n. the w.
terrfctation and the practical appIi-
.atlun of u have changed from axe
20 age.
The Interpretation of the Bible il
q Erowth and the history of II has
striking resemblance 10 the literary
hisiofy of eome of the greatest of
human documents. The beautiful
simplicity. nne seif-rchtraint. aud
universal truth of Homer have At
umts not been enough 70 escape the
devastating effects of what seems 10
~ ~ average human nature an
Inevitable craving for lltcralnrss. and
Tor generations the Homerlc poems
we're actually suppIanted ~ 4
pfDsaic commonplace that claimed 90
give from an eyc-wltnesn the facts of
me Trojan war. A. late AZ the
hliSabetban aEe. IN hIs translation
~ Honer made famous by Keats
memorable sonnet. Chapman Iacklns
splfl,nai vision. had the tcmerlty Ia
handle the sacred vessels ~ Greek
sH With the substantial grasp Of tho
barbarian. And even Pope. great
poct though he was. with his dull
Hcfaihcsa and Formidable heroic
.onplet thought 20 amend the morn.
lhg freshness and tho divine llauld.
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