New Britain herald., 1922-05-16

It may well be that what is to be feared and eounteracted Is not the capitalism we hear about so much as 1t Is what l may call industrialism, using the word in an unwonted but, l think, legitimate sense. as meaning industry for its own sake, that Is to say, for the sake of the things pro- duced or the gain getting therefrom, instead of industry for man, d means of service to his nature and needs, with human interests always supreme,
 Condemns Class Interest
 The teaching of Christ condemns the class interest which puts class above class and the class antagonism which arrays man against man. In- stead, His teaching would bring man in touch with his brother man and putting himself in the others place He teaches the privilege and dignity of service and instead of selfish competi- ton to get ahead of others, the prfn- |ciple of cooperation with others for the common veal.
 The church's best contribution to the life Of collective humanity today is to be not in advertising vaunted panaceas and programs but in touch- ing and moving the hearts of its mem- bers to look on the burdens of others and in uplifting, deepening and con secrating their personal that is spiritual life and so furnishing spiritual power to carry forward to- ward fulfillment the purposes of God s,.onn life and society.
 nelie1ous Training.
 To say this is to say something that is fraught with practical import and demands definite endeavor. There is need of training in personal religion, which should begin with the young. One could not see this church ten days ago thronged with sixteen hun dred boys and girls and not be i'm pressed with our responsibility for those men and women of tomorrow. There is nothing more important for us in America than religious educa- ton. Over and above the time given to this on Sundays, I have long felt and urged that there ought to be time given to religious instruction on some
 
 with education boards that the chill dren may be withdrawn from public school for an hour or two or by using extra hours. The latter is already done with success by the rector of St. James Danbury as was told at an interesting conference held there re- gently, also by the rector of St. Johns Hartford, and, it may be, by others.
 Something like training is needed for older persons. There is need of much more than has been sometimes aimed at in pulpit discourses. There is need of more of definite teaching that our people may stand fast in the faith, and resolutey apply their be- lief to the living of their life; that they may know what the faith is, and why it is to be steadfastly held. and how it may bring one through sacra- ments into vital union with the per sonal Saviour, and what it may mean for daily fife translated into service.
 Signs of Promise.
 To speak of signs of promise, there has been again held at Berkeley a re- treat for laymen, brief because for busy men, which was attended by some forty men. In a certain rural parish a dozen laymen held during Lent weekly meetings for prayer and study of a book dealing with religion and business, and voted to continue their meeting after Lent.
 Opportunities are afforded by con- ferences soon to be held: two at Camp Washington for older boys and for mem the social service conference at Wickford, Rhode Island; the provin- cial conference for church workers at Concord in July, and the Wellesley conference for church work.
 The increasingly felt value of the method of conference ought to in crease our faith in the possibilities questions of faith and order, now ap- pointed to be held at Washington in 1925. For this great event there should be earnest preparation by prayer and by group conferences, about which you may hear in the autumn. The Lambeth appeal to all Christian people, which is not known as it should be and has been gravely misrepresented where it should not be has recently been declared by an eminent Congregationalis divine to mark an epoch. It is an appeal for Christian fellowship as 'an adventure of good will and still more of faith an effort to meet the demands of a new age with a new outlook"
 My Brethren: The thought which underlies this address, and which I leave with you, is the solemnity of personal life today as stewardship confronted by the inspiring opportuni- ties of a time of momentous crisis