Evening star., 1917-06-02

forceful personality before they could
become effective in history. The chosen
instrument for that mission was Mar
tin Luther. He felt deeply himself and
he wrought upon the very sources of
human feelings in others. And so it
was that the reformation as it actually
took place was the outward expression
of the inner experience of this one
man. There in the rugged soul of the
Augustinian monk was fought out the
battle between two eras.
THE religious life Of America is
characterized by a constant tendency
toward keener ethical sensitiveness.
an increasing emphasis upon the COM
monplace virtues. such as temperance.
and sobriety. and chastity, and indus
try and a sense Of duty and Obligation
and so on; yes, a keener ethical con-
scfousness, but a constant diminishing
of devout sentiment and personal re-
lfgtous devotion. The Americans, more
than any other people under the sun,
attack their problems with high moral
earnestness and with we'll meant ethi-
cal considerations But the trouble is
ways enlightened and praiseworthy. 1t
Is too often divorced from religious
motivation. and thus in the end it
vanishes or declines into actual i'm
morality. The religious life of our
country is in danger of being dissolved
into social and moral uplift, into recrea-
tion halls. reading rooms. free lunches,
gymnasiums. swimming pools. sewing
circles. suppers. and banquets, and
feeds, and open forums, and a hundred
and-o other things that are good
enough and all right in themselves,
but that are positively wrong and
damnable when allowed to take the
place of religion"
A reception was given recently to
Rev. Q. c. Backus, the new pastor OF
Park Road NJ. P. Church. and Mrs.
Backus There were addresses by rep
resentatives of the several departments
Of the church, reading by Miss Lillian
Harrig, and musical numbers by Mrs.
Ruth Lewis, Miss Blackburn. Mrs. Will
son and Miss Guynton.
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DR.. James L. Gordon. pastor OF tne
First Congregational Church of this
city, left today for an extended lecture
tour in the middle west.
His brother. S. D. Gordon. will preach
on Sundays during the month of June.
both morning and evening, at the First
Congregational Church.
Mr.. Gordon is the author of quiet
Talks" books He recently returned
from four-year speaking journey in
Great Britain, continental Europe from
Finland and Russia in the north to
Latin n-speaking countries in the south,
and in China. Japan and Chosen. For
over two years the speaking was al
most wholly through interpretation
Last winter a series of meetings was
conducted by Mr.. Gordon at Garrick
Theater, Philadelphia. covering period
of seven weeks. Some days hundreds
were unable to get in owing to the
crowds.
A reunion of the alumnae of all the
Catholic educational institutions or
Washington will take place tomorrow
afternoon at 4:3o o'clock at Rauscher's;
when Very Rev. DIR. Edward A. Pace OF
the Catholic University of America will
preside.
Rev. DR.. Lewis J. O'Hern. S. c. p. of
the College of ST. Paul the Apostle,
who represents the Catholic hierarchy
in tl1e appointment of chaplains to the
army and navy, will deliver an address
on ''The Needs of the Soldiers in the
Concentration Camps" and 1t is pointed
out plans will be developed whereby
the members of the alumnae. associ-
ations may do their part during the IN
ternational crisis
Patriotic selections will be rendered
by Miss Edna Sheehy. Miss Aylmer and
a chorus made up of the graduating
classes of the various schools.
A formal announcement OF the alum
nae associations to be organized at the
Academy of the Sacred Heart of Mary.
of which Miss Dolan is president; Acad-
Miss Hartigan president. and the Wis
itation Academy. on Connecticut ave-
nue.. will be made.
4 Zs ss ~
The Bea1i Bible class of Temple Bap-
tist Church held it's May meeting in the
parlors of the church recently. with
Dr. N. A. Strait, president, in the chair.
Various committees were appointed
for the coming year and renewed ef-
forts along all lines of work promised.
Addresses were made by Rev. J. j.
Muir. teacher of the class, and Capt.
Fred Beall. after which refreshments
were served.
The women of Temple Church are
doing their bit" every Wednesday in
the church parlors. where they. are
sewing for their country in conjunc-
tion with the Navy League.
In the Chapel of the Blessed Sacra-
ment. at Chevy Chase. the novena in
Wednesday at PM. when the sermons
will be preached by Rev. T. G. Smyth.
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Foundry NJ. E. Epworth League will
be addressed at their regular devo-
tional service. at 6:45 o'clock tomorrow
evening. by Ashby Jump. president of
the Washington District Epworth
League. whose topic will be 'The Ep-
worth League and the War" with Mat
thew 25.31-45 as Scripture references.
Vocal solos will be rendered by Miss
Alma Thomas and c. r. Allen. The
large chorus choir directed by J, Fl.
Gallaher will have special number.
The public is cordially invited.
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In St Dominic's Church the members
of the Third Order of st. Dominic will
receive holy communion tomorrow at
the 1880 o'clock mass. which will be
celebrated by Rev. +. ]. Farmer, o. P.
The novena in honor of the sacred
heart will open Wednesday at 1880
PM, and will be preached by Very Rev.
George I. Conlon. o. p.
The graduating exercises of the
parochial school will take place Sunday
afternoon. June II. at 4 pm. with a
solemn vesper service. when the bac-
calaureate sermon will be delivered by
Rev. John H. Healy, o. p. Of New
York city.
The annual election of the officers of
the District of Columbia Christian En-
deavor Union will be held at the regu-
lar union meeting Monday night. A
reception and social hour will follow
The meeting is to be held at the Yer
mont Avenue Christian Church.
The children of st. Augustine's s
Church will make their first holy COM
munion tomorrow at the o'clock mass,
when Rev. Paul Griffith will officiate.
| The Sunday school will close the sec
ond Sunday of June, after the 9 o'clock
mass The medals and premiums will
be awarded by Rev. Griffith.
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The evening services at the Garden
Memorial Presbyterian Church tomor-
row will be conducted by F. T. Holland,
evangelistic superintendent of the
Christian Endeavor Union, assisted by
Miss Mildred Smith, soloist.
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