Norwich bulletin., 1917-08-13
UNION sERvrce
Rev. James w. eixIer Addressed Large Congregation at Broadway Church,

n0vs JameS w. 6NIor AooF0ooeo
 Large Congregation at Broadway
 Church.
 The union service held Sunday in the Broadway church was conducted by the Rev. James w. Bixler, D. D., long pastor of the Second Congrega- tional church in New London, and of late professor of Biblical Theology in the Atlantic Theological Seminary. The service was very largely attend ed.
 Mir Bixler took as his text the sec- end epistle of Paul to Timothy, sec ond chapter, eighth verse: Remem- Der that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead &C., cording to my. gospel. The empnasis ing to my gospel
 Just recently 2 book has been writ ten by the venerable William Dean Howelis. entitled. My Mark Twain: correct as to information but at the same time it is a great deal more. It Is an appreciation and work full of sympathy and affection. It is his own Mark Twain that Howells shows. An illustration of the same thing is conveyed in the touching little anec- dote of the wounded French soldier of Napoleon's army. Wounded unto death with a bullet over his heart he voiced his great love when he said to the surgeon who was following the course of the bullet Probe a little deeper, sire, and you will find the em- peror. It was his Napoleon enthroned in his heart.
 In his epistle 10 Timothy Paul was telling him of his religion and the gospel which had been given him by the love and grace of God. He never forgot the vision he had received on his way. This gospel was his by di- rect revelation and he never ceased to remember that. He had entefed into the spirit of it and transmitted it in to his life. He held it his gospel, the heart of which was the loving Christ.
 Maybe we feel already that a great principle is emerging from this epis- tie, which is, that only that is ours which we have made ours through cx- perience and made a part of our life.
 In the matter of worldly goods, only that wealth is ours that we use for our development and the good of oth- CTS. The rest is nothing
 Going step higher we find this more vividly illustrated. Foreigners, coming to our shores are amazed at education. It is part of public opin ion that the best that we can give the youth of our land in the matter of education is their due. We lavish ps,Is;r money on osdI, costly appasatus fine fine books. Unless, however. the pupil takes hold and makes all these a part of himself and part of his life they have failed to accomplish their pur- pose. The finest equipment, the mo- blest teachers are lost for him. unless he catches the spirit and meaning that will fit him for his best work in life. That is the real test and all else that he has not grasped is never a part of him:
 Circumstances almost compel us to carry our comparison into the matter of patriotism. We sing. "Our coun- try 'tis of thee'' What does our f-xT fn Ta t+ fnx what we can get out of it or just what does it stand for in our hearts? The great ideals for which tour fath- CTS stood and sacrificed and struggled and died. enduring untold hardships and poverty-are they ours? Do we believe as they did, in manhood, dem ocracy, and liberty? These are very practical questions being asked just ness of these things? Is it our land because it is a part of our hearts and we are willing to die for it or live for it's principles?
 the principles of our religion as some thing which must be experienced by us and, become a part of us.
 The value of a creed is that which has transmitted itself in the life of belief which has become habit and a part of our lives.
 The emotions of religion are the same. They may be genuine as life itself. The will must go into them. The soul of religion Is in our knowl- edge and experience of Christ in our lives. It is a splendid goal toward which we set our faces.
 We may say we have not yet be- come Christians. We have not yet attained the great goal of the gospel, the everlasting gospel of the Son of God and made it our gospel We may change the expression of it till 1t is hardly recognizable but it is still the gospel of the victorious Jesus Christ.
 The blind man to whom Christ re- stored his sight made his confession. He didn't know Christ because of his long wears of blindness but he knew that he could see. He held on to the fact that he had and Christ became his Savior.
 Isn't this a message down the ages % us to take firmer hold on our be- lief in Jesus Christ as our Redeener and Savior?
 The best word in the message is, Remember Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. For strength, life, wisdom guidance and peace He is your and my Christ, Savior and Lord.