Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-08

The May conference of the six
 churches of Grtswold. Lisbon, Plain
 field, Jewett City. Preston and Han
 over was held with the Hanover
 church Wednesday. May 6, 1914 Ow-
 ing to the weather in the morning the
 attendance was not as large as usual.
 The devotional services were led by
 the Rev. l.. M. Keneston. Preston City.
 The sermon. which was highly com
 mended, was by the Rev. A E. krom, D. D.. of Providence.
 Sermon by Providence Preacher.
 He brought greetings from Rhode
 Island Congregationalism. He spoke
 from the text Matt. G.: 26-2S. and his
 subject was The Eaturalness Of Re
 ligion. He said the impression inside
 and outside the church with some was . that the Christian religion was abnor-
 nal and was outside the sphere or nu- man life. It would seemingly simpi1fy
 the problem of life if we were relieved from care like the birds or the lilies
 The struggle for food and clothes con sumes the time of most How Iutlie these words seem in the light of con ditiops ancient and modern. To set on without work is beautiful picture -but only a picture. It does not work in everyday life. But the trouble is we misinterpret the passage. The Dlros do not reap and gather into barns De- cause that is not their nature. The lilies do not toll and spin because that is not their work. We miss the laws of our being if we do not follow out our natural life. It is not natural for us to live out our life as the birds or the lilies. But what does it mean to live it normally and naturally? Man looks out on infinite possibilities. A young man asked what is life? He decided it was to do just what he wanted to, and so went into a far country. This is one view of life, to do just as we want to; some do 1t ana teach 1t to their children. These ac-
 President Tucker of Dartmouth says "the strength and weakness of man is in his desires" A man ought to follow. his desires. but he ought to know they are right But an increas- ing number of men choose the opposite path, where there is the most friction Their object is to win at any cost This is the man whose god is success A great many people are interpretlng life in terms of what they can get. IS 1t life to recall what things we may have done to get money. The sin Is not that we seek to win; we ought to win. and can win. There is a region where no one can fail, but there Is a region where no man succeeds NO one succeeds where IL IS 6Sl S-Ai' cost.
 And then in the third place there are those who interpret life in terms or and God. These stand with Jesus. , with Stephan Savanrola, Livingstone and all the men and women on the mission field, with the unnumbered in the Christian church. Like the disciples of old, they have left all and followed Him. For the first time men come to know how natural the Christian life is when they live with Him. Just so long as we hold life a thing simply to be fed and clothed and miss the cross at the heart of it. it is unnatural. When we realize that we are the child of God it will be natural to trust in Him. We take ourselves too cheaply. rake at Gods estimate. Perhaps we have not prayed or maybe we have bartered our birthright, but In the name of Jesus we are still sons ot God. We still can go back home Let us arise and go to our Father.
 After an anthem and . hymn, the