The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1920-07-16
REV. F. F. SHANNON
SPEAKS in BOSTON

The Boston Transcript has the fol-
lowing report OF an address made there
a few days ago by Louisa's most noted
son:
Declaring that the soul OF America
haa been temporarily debauched, but
tiltR the, nation is essentially sound
and win never go back on her interna-
tional obligations, Rev. Frederick f.
Shannon. pastor of the Central Con-
gregational Church of Chicago. stirred
his hearers TO applause today at the
meeting in the Park Street Church.
The speaker maintained that absolute
Independence of any creature or ma
ton is utterly impossible, and to at
tempt to obtain it unspeakably foolish.
we shall always keep our indepen-
dence," he said. mo nation from a
cross the seas can deprive us OF it If
we lose 1t, the cause will arise from
within. but for good or i'll we have
been placed together on this planet and
we must realize the great principle of
interdependence as well as that of self
ish independence"
The meeting was held under the
auspices of the International Congre-
gational Council. now convening in
Boston. and the topic chosen by Rev.
Mr.. Shannon was The Voice of God
in American History" He emphasized
the three principles of action which
Christians may interpret as lessons
drawn from the past. Independence,
interdependence, and dependence on
God alone. Dividing the history of this
| country roughly into five periods:
1892, when the drama Of discovery was
enacted: 1920 when the band of Pill
grim Fathers reached these shores;
| 1876, when the embattled farmers stood
for their rights; 1861, when the prin-
| ciple of government of, by and for the
people was tested: and 1917, when
America faced new order Of things
in a new world; the speaker saw be-
hind the shifting scenes the hand OF
the Almighty moving his wonders to
! perform.
mot only do we need today to main
tain our ancestral spirit of a deep.
creating. transforming Independence,
said Mr.. Shannon. but we must broad
| en- our relations with other races and
other nations. Too long have Chris
tian people been the puppets OF po-
Itical parties. wOrshipping the gods OF
this world. The hour has come to seek
| for brotherly interdependence under
the laws Of righteousness, justice and
truth, regardless of partisan selfish
ness and dissensions. We must stand
| firmly by the ideals brought over by
that little company of Pilgrims 500
years ago-ideals that no henchman
of Caesar can properly appreciate,
| ideals inspired by the still, small voice
which parties cannot hear, but which
pleads that the people of Christ may
recognize their brethren OF all nations
and live together in spiritual unity
wrought by the power of the most
high.
But the clearest message sounded
forth today by the voice OF God is
that which calls for faithful depen-
dence upon the Almighty, IL is the
message Of the authors OF the May
flower Pact, who wrote: we have
come into these parts of America 10
enjoy the liberty of the Gospel in pur-
/, ity and increase" Could a more aus
! picious time be chosen to carry this
message to nation pausing at the
! crossroads Of the world in maze or
history No man or group OF men may
have the power today to lead this ma
ton to the highroad of the everlasting
truth for which our fathers died. The
lessop of the past leads inevitably to
the, truth OF the supreme power OF
God. He alone can deliver us out Of our
dilemma"