Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-08
FLAYS HYPOCRISY
Of PRESENT DAY
Rev. Julian K. Smyth De-
nounces Prevailing Methods
of Dealing With Evil.
NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH
CONVENTION INAUGURATED
Business Session Listed for Tonight.
Young Peoples Organization
Elects Officers.

A ringing denunciaton of the pres
ent-day method of dealing with evil
was delivered by Rev Julian X. Smyth
OF New York city, speaking at the
opening of the general convention of
the Church of the New Jerusalem in
the United States. which convened at
noon today for it's ninety-flfth annual
session The meetings of the conven-
ton, which is to last through Tuesday,
are being held in the Church of the
New Jerusalem, 10Th and Corcoran
streets northwest. DIR. Smyth is presi-
dent of the convention.
IF there is one form of hypocrisy
more corrupt and more contemplate
than another it is this modern make
believe that evil is to be portrayed
with all its seductiveness and realism,
so that our youth, and we also. shall
wish to avoid it after having viewed
1t and dwelt upon 1t. when all the
time p is our love for evil that is being
appealed to and counted upon" said
DR.. Smyth In the course of his annual
address.
Audience Fills Church.
The National Church, as the 10th
street church is called, was filled with
a large audience. comprising about 200
delegates from Swedenborgian churches
the country over ard members of the
local congregation. The Truth of Life
for Today" was the subject of DR.
Smyth's address, in which he expound
ed tne New church doctrine of life
pointing out the three essentials to
true life. e.. looking to the Lord,
summing evil as sin. and life Of
SCI -, wee I; ~ was In his treatment Of evil
as sin that DR. Smyth touched upon
me hSprocisy of the modern way of
looking at evil
There are some evils which come
OUT against a man. or which, all I'M
hidden. spring up from within and as
sail him. the speaker declared These
ne must resist; these he must wrestle
win IN those great struggles which
are ms temptations. He cannot flee
from them. for their hands are upon
hlm These are evils which, because
OF our weakness. We have allowed to
become evil habits-ways of feeling
Ok thinking. of speaking, of acting.
from these we are told we must desist
we must stop indulging them. We
must drop them. We must cut them
off
The first rule as regards evil. how
ever is to flee from it. At the first
sight of it. at its first approach, turn
from 1T and fee as from something
Not a Popular Doctrine.
This is not a popular doctrine to
preach. me modern man does not like
the idea of running away from any,
'hihs' 10 him that betokens weak
ness, coWardice. The spirit of the mod
ern man Is one of fearlessness, amount
ing very often to mere bravado.
AS regards the present day method
of dealing with evil it is rather to draw
4 [. fn LOT 20
eyes roam over it, to let ones hands
feel of 1t. to become thoroughly ia
miliar with it.
The counsel seems to be: read the
phemous or the Suggestive books sit
down before so-called realistic plays
that you may know about evil Do not
shirk from speaking about situations
and problems which used to be thought
to be indecent, but talk and laugh
ignorance rather than immodesty. DO
not be innocent. he experienced. Don't
be sensitive; be wordly-wise."
Young People Hold Meeting.
The American New Church League,
the young peoples organization, held it's
annual meeting this morning, before
the opening of the general convention.
officers for the esuing year were
elected as follows:
Lawrence Atwood of Urbana, Ohio,
president; Mrs. Anna Rounds Barrett
secretary; William Moody Of Philadel-
phia. vice president: Phillip W. Carter
of Newtonville, Mass, treasurer. and
Miss Clara Browning of Buffalo. execu-
tive member The retiring president
j. Woodruff Saul of Chicago, was ac-
corded a rising vote Of thanks for his
two years service as president of the
organization. 1t was voted that the
New Church League Journal, the league
publication, be made monthly.
This afternoon the members of the
league are picnicking at Great Falls.
Rev. Frank Sewall, resident pastor is
TO conduct the services at the National
Church tomorrow morning, during the
course of which DIR. Smyth will ordain
four graduates of the New Church
Theological School.
There Is to be a business session Of
the convention tonight.