The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-11-06
Pres. Plumley Gives Adj
dress at NJ. E. Church
(Continucd from PGge u

see. True it is that all change i!
not progress, but all progress is ;
change. All change is not for the
better, but many Of them are pos
tive improvements. We canno
improve upon the Commandments
the Sermon on the Mount, or mod
fly the truths of Justice, righteous
ness and mercy which they teach
l. is about time we gave up try
inc to do this, but we can give
more strength and power to those
who are laboripg to bring about {
revival Of the old fashioned vita
faith in ideals of christian living
1t is impossible in the materia
world to get something for moth
ing. 1t is doubly true in the mora
and spiritual world. The progress.
which has been made in all line.
OF endeavor in the last 80 years i.
simply wonderful, but with it have
come problems Of commensurate
importance to be solved. In thi,
the good foundation of the past
can be utilized as a basis of sue
ccssfuI endeavor in the present
and future.
The world war shook things tC
tkeir very foundation, yet the eter.
NAL verities were not disturbed
the essential things of life remain;
the fundamentals are fast bedded
in the rock on which civilization
rests. intelligent work is as much
a necessity today as ever and the
proportion Of us who must set our
hands to the task is not reduced.
A consciousness of moral respon-
silility, sense of obligation, of
truth and honor and purity lies at
the bottom of all right action;
without it knowledge is useless;
with it everything falls into it's
ploper place is the universal plan.
Eternal truths remain the same,
the only thing that changes is our
method of adapting them to our
present needs, and when we are
able to DO this with due regard to
changing conditions, we are sure
to succeed.
| am an optimist. | have reason
to be. The world is growing bet
ter every day, and | know it. 1t
IS q truly wonderful age in which
We live. The possibilities it affords
Tor enjoyment and accomplishment
are simply countless in number,
'tnpendously staggering in charac-
.ar and almost beyond our ability
% comprehend. Yet we find fault
With little things; are too narrow
live too much in the
oast andtpresent, not building for
he far future.
We of an Older generation dis
ike to admit it, but it is neverthe-
ess true that the young people of
.oGay know more about everything
n general and many things in par
ocular at sixteen years of age than
We did when we graduated from
College. How to help them to uti-
ize this knowledge to best advant
age. IS our problem. The average
-oung person of today is more or
ess of an iconoclast, seemingly
iisrespectful of constituted autho-
'ity and always self-sufficient in
MS own eXtimation, but neverthe-
ess religious to a degree. The
"ar stripped things of superflui-
ics Millions demonstrated the
'aith that was in them by their
badness and willingness to make
he sacrifice supreme, in what was
/ righteous war. For these the old
hings have passed away, but in
HEN place is found the spirit Of a
,ew America. In the words of
Wary Antin: "Mine is the whole
majestic past, and mine is the
Inning future"
II is a new age we have been
iying in since 1917, though too
G;ny Of Us do not realize it. The
,ettern we made for the world Of
Sl4 is not only out of fashion but
more understood and
today.
Did you ever stop to think that
When it comes to the matter of our
ehgious beliefs and man-made
ulea and regulations, the last
hing we will lconsent to is any j
hing we will consent to is any
VII call up San Franscico by tele-
,hcne, get our party and lhink
of the fact that it takes
My three-fiftieths of a second for
he vibrations Of our message to
,e transmitted across the contin-
NJ. We step into a flying machine
nd ride, our only surprise being
hat we cannot 80 faster. We sit
n our homes and by wireless listen
o concerts given thousands Of
niles away. These changed con-
itions we accept as matters of
act and change our laws and our
we. to conform to modern condi-
ions. Yet, when some simple
uestion arises as to the necessary
hange to be made in a church rit-
Ial or custom or disciplinary rule,
" rise in our might oppose the
start a fractional fight,
determined to disrupt and destroy.
Nc wonder that the younger gen
ration feels that they can do as
much for Christianity outside as