The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-17
Special from United Press.)

J . Waterbury. Conn, Oct. ITS con- version a bizarre remedy for the ills of society? Will this set right the times that, are out of joint? In the face of race prejudice, ignorance, crime. poverty and economic injustice resting like an incubus upon the null tftude, are we to go to them with nothing but thfs?' asked Rev. Dr. Frederick Lent, of New Haven, dur ing the ahnual sermon to the 88th Baptist State convention, today
 "Yes," he continued. "The nation is to be saved through the regenera- tion of the individual by the gospel. There is no other way. That which so excited the pity. of Jesus for the multitude, He attempted to cure by the teaching of the Kingdom. The must be met by evangelism. We are reminded that on this same occasion Jesus fed the multitude. Yes, but that was not His main business. That was the relief for the day. He taught them to uplift them about need for ever"
 pr. Lent's subject was Jesus and He came Drth and saw a. great null titude. ..... and many were as sheep not having a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things
 Look at this multitude said the speaker. ''How large it is! Sixty five per cent. of the population of Connecticut is of foreign parentage. estant Christians. Fifty millions or three-fourths of the people of the United States are not members of the Church. The figures will hold good for our Church, giving us six hun dred thousand souls to evangelize.
 "How many nationalities are here. Thirty at least, in considerable num- bers. Russia, Hungary and Italy sent half a million to our country last year and Connecticut got good share.
 "why are these people here?. What do they seek? There are various req sons why they come, but the chief reason is economic. When times are hard at home and good here, they thing left over. All Colonial immi- grafton was Protestant. They came to enjoy freedom of conscience. Now, the people come as they of Jesus day sought Him in the desert, for the sake ,of 1oaves and fishes.
 They are in danger of being en- gulfed in the mealstrom of material ism. They are here to make a living and that is all. They try to turn stones into bread and not thinking that man needs the. words that pro- ceed from the mouth of God They leave the Church and religion in the old land
 The people of foreign percentage, when we have said the worst, are no graver menace to the integrity of our free institutions than the degenerate native stock. found in the cities, but chiefly in rural districts. Two of the most organized villages I ever saw, one in Massachusetts, the other in Rhode Island, have no foreigners. The foreigners in our State are not as criminal as some imagine who do not know them. Of four thousand cases before the court in New Haven last year, Americans provided more than half-53 per cent. The Irish were next, the Italians next. Fully sew enty per cent. of the population is foreign born. The more serious crimes were committed by Americans. Americans committed "A per cent. of the burglary. more than half of the drunkenness and theft.
 we need to know the people we would help. We must live among the multitude to hear the still sad music of humanity There is no more inn perative need before the Church than this, to get close to the people out side and know them. Let US see our unchurched neighbors as just plain human, with their vices and virtues, not different from us And let us believe in the creative power of Je- sus Christ.
 we read hope in the future in the progress of the last century One hundred years ago, one in every four teen people was a member of a Prot estant Church. Now one in every four is Protestant Church member.
 To-day, our State is cornered with people who have invaded our herit- age. Many who were familiar with Connecticut in early days feel as though they were living on a slowly subsiding continent. Old landmarks disappear one by one beneath the sub- merging waves of this new life which sweeps in from alien oceans. In this hour of crisis, what can save our State? The Church alone Let her put on her lovely garments and go out to meet the multitude with the gospel of Jesus on her lips, His fer vent love and melting pity in her heart, and in her mien the majesty. gentleness and attractiveness of Christ, and once more shall the Church save the State, vanouishing with the arms Of the Kingdom of God, the invading multitude"