Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-19
Prof. Brown of Colby Gives
Able Address at Frances
E. Willard Memorial

The annual Frances E. Willard Me-
mortal service, under the auspices of
the Gardiner w. c.. T. L. was held
Sunday evening at the Highland ave-
nue. Methodist church. The students of
the High school attended in body
and pleasing musical selections were
rendered. the musical part of the pro-
gram being under the supervision of
H. A. Gillespie. In this service the va
rious churches of the city united, the
house being well filled.
The address of the evening was given
by Prof. Henry w. Brown of Colby
College, who was introduced by the
Union president, Mrs. F. l.. Weeks of
Randolph. The speaker was well re-
ceived and his address was filled to
the brim with things interesting and
especially pertinent to these times. He
had chosen for his topic, "A Question
Put to Nature Is God Good?" He
showed that I'VE live in cosmos, not
chaos" that the laws of the Creator
are benificent. and that to mans ig-
norance, artificial methods of living
and sin are due very largely our in
ability to conform to our environment
and live happy lives. He said in part:
in view of the baneful things about
us; tornadoes. droughts. CONGREGATIONS
sin, war, disease and death, how can @
thinking man declare that God is
good"
Very few persons" said the speak
er, probably. really doubt the exist
ence of an over-ruling Spirit yet there
are fou" classes of people who are
hnp 4
who are living a life of unrighteous-
ness and who consequently feel that if
there is a God, there is something ter
rlhle, somewhere. for somebody: those
who conceive that religion postuIates
Il God in human form sitting on a dis
tant throne, q sort of absentee diety
whose chief desire is to be Worship
ped; the agnostic, who does not so
much deny the existence of God as to
declare that if there is one we cannot
know him; those who have suffered
calamities, can hardly reconcile their
Affections with good and just
Father"
The questions raised by the last
group We're the ones considered. Light
Cnng was shown TO be essential to the
/ production Of a certain kind of plant
! food. through its action upon the oxy-
gen and nitrogen of the air
! Storm were shown to be necessary
! in supplying pure air in the deep valleys
and river basins; to furnish oxygen to
fishes and other marine life; and to re-
/ Iicvc the trees of the forests of their
weight of deadwood. Droughts cause
the trees and other vegetable life to
send their roots more deeply into the
soil for a frmcr hold for their own
safety.
Fire was shown to be merely the
method of nature in restoring carbon
dioxide to the atmosphere for the use
of succeeding generations of vegetation.
Mosquitoes, in them laval and pupal
stages, cleanse the stagnant pools, in
which they feed on decaying organic
matter-a great service.
Sin" said Prof. Brown, lis necessi
tated by the moral nature of man. 1t
is our glory that we can sin, it is our
shame that we do" War is not at all
bad, since every great advance in civil
ization has been secured al the price of
blood
Sickness and suffering are largely
brought upon us by our own unwise liv-
ing and the breaking Of divine laws.
To alcoholism and other vices is due
many OF things that We sadly deplore
and yet, since we are souls, our spirit
ual natures gain strength through re-
sistance TO the unwelcome elements that
we must combat in the world as it is
LAS to death-there are some things
worse than death. Besides, few persons
would dare to take the matter of life
duration into their own hands for set
Element. All things considered, then,
can any thoughtful person question the
essential goodness Of our Father in
I Heaven"