Norwich bulletin., 1916-04-18
FIVE CHURCHES IN UNION SERVICE
Rev. Joseph Cobb Speaks On External Preparation For
Easter at the Universast Church Object of Prayer
Is to Alay the Passions.

The congregations OF five Norwich
churches gathered at the Church of
the Good Shepherd, Universalist. on
Monday evening for the first of the
Holy week union services which will
continue throughout the week. The
churches uniting in these services are
the Church of the Good Shepherd. the
Second Congregational church, Trinity
Methodist Episcopal church, broadway
Congregational church and the Central
Baptist church. The pastors of the
churches were present and assisted in
the service, which was led by Rev.
Joseph +. Cobb. Miss Carrie Champlin
presided at the organ The responsive
reading was led by Rev. Edward S.
Worcester, pastor of the Broadway
congregational church, and he also
offered prayer Rev. Joel B. Slocum,
D. D, pastor of the Central Baptist
church, read the scripture lesson, and
this was followed by an anthem by the
choir. Rev. Frederick w. Coleman,
pastor of Trinity Methodist Episcopal
church, offered prayer.
Rev. Joseph +. Cobb, who delivered
the sermon, spoke on External Prepa-
ration for Easter, He took his text
from Matt. 2I: 1918, And Jesus en-
tered into the temple of God, and cast
out all them that sold and bought in
the temple, and overthrow the tables
of the money changers, and the seats
of them that sold the doves, and he
saith unto them: i is written, My
house shall be called a house of pray
er; but ye have made 1t a den of rob-
bers..
Our topic this evening is the external
preparation, as part of the prepara-
ton for Easter, or the coming of the
true life to man, said Rev. Mr.. Cobb.
We derive our thought from the sug-
gestiOns set forth in the act OF
If there have been allowed to enter
into the outer courts of life some
things that do not rightfully belong
there, it is time that they be cast out.
Preparation for Life Eternal.
If we would come to a full realiza-
ton OF the true life. enter into the life
eternal, enjoy freely the spiritual life
we must make preparation for it by
casting out all that prevents such a
life.
There are no doubt several things to
/ be considered in the external prepare
ton for the full life.
One Of these is selfishness, which
needs to be demOved from the temple
This does not mean that We are not
| to think of self; for if a person had
no regard for self he would suffer nc
loss if he should lose his identity.
1t is a love OF self, or self respect
which induces us to regard our own
interests, which is essential for the
/ Improvement and happiness of Oul
race.
It is the abuse of this love, this sell
! love, which brings great evil. It /:
/ this abuse Of self love which is selfish
ness which is so detrimental to the
| usefulness of man.
He who is so completely wrapt in sell
| that all his thoughts and plans and
I purposes begin and end in his Owl
| individual interest, without regard Il
| the welfare of others, only so far a:
| their temporary we'll being serves Il
| add to his happiness, is a stranger Il
those holy and elevated emotion!
which are the result of Christian phi.
| Ianthrophy.
| He is ignorant OF the real happiness
! that belongs TO man. He may bt
| elatad with the idea of gain mad graft.
| fed with those movements which are
/ to result in making additions to hi:
wealth or in affordinG him persona
| ease.
But is this all that there is to b.
! considered? What is this selfish gail
! compared to the enjoyment of him WHIT
! has a heart TO feel for anOther's woe
! Or q soul to sympathize with suffer
! ing and rejoicing humanity?
! It is not self love that is TO be ban
| ished in its entirety, but we should
| divest ourselves of that self love whicl
| leads to consideration of self alone
/ OF, rather, we should extend that low
! to the whole family of man through
! sympathy with the condition of others