USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > Celebration of the 275th anniversary of the First Church of Christ : Lynn, Massachusetts, Sunday, June ninth nineteen hundred seven > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COU PETION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01102 5233
FIFTH MEETING HOUSE.
Corner South Common and Vine Streets.
Dedicated August 29, 1872. Cost $52,919.13.
Seating capacity, 1,000. Spire 160 feet high.
The organ a memorial to Christopher and Joanna Bubier.
The bell a gift from the Sunday School, cast by William Blake, 1878.
CELEBRATION
OF THE
C
275th Anniversary
OF
The First Church of Christ
Organized June 8, 1632
LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS
Sunday, June Ninth Nineteen Hundred Seven
LYNN, MASS. PRESS OF THOS. P. NICHOLS & SONS 1907
1231501
roodspeed
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/celebrationof27500unse
Preliminary
THE manifest propriety of suitably observing such a unique event as the two hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of this, which in the maintenance of faith and adherence to site is the oldest church organization in this country, was generally recognized, and preliminary meas- ures were taken well in advance for its celebration.
On March 2, 1906, the Church voted to observe, by appropriate exercises, the Two Hundred Seventy-fifth Anniversary of its organization, and proceeded to the appointment of a committee to act jointly with one from the Parish.
At a Parish Meeting held May 1, 1906, the Society re- ceived the communication from the Church, giving infor- mation of its action, and voted to concur with the Church, and the joint committee on the Two Hundred Seventy- fifth Anniversary was organized as follows :
Two Hundred Seventy-fifth Anniversary Committee
Chairman, C. J. H. WOODBURY Clerk, HENRY R. FRENCH
From the Church
HERBERT P. BOYNTON
PHILIP EMERSON
Miss LEILA W. HOLDER
GUILFORD S. NEWHALL
Rev. GEORGE W. OWEN
Miss CLARA M. STATON GEORGE A. WILSON
From the Parish HENRY R. FRENCH FREEMAN H. NEWHALL
J. L. PENDLETON LOUIS M. SCHMIDT C. J. H. WOODBURY
14
Two Hundred Seventy-fifth Anniversary
Deacon George H. Martin and Miss Sadie W. Martin were appointed on this committee and performed efficient work, but resigned before the anniversary meeting on ac- count of their departure for Europe.
This committee held a number of meetings and decided upon the exercises, whose details were carried into effect by sub-committees on programme, finance, invitations, music, decorations, hospitality and publication.
In this work the sub-committees were assisted by a number who were not members of the general committee.
The close relation of the history of this Church with the affairs of the town, especially during the colonial period in which the events occurring in this county have war- ranted the declaration that "Essex County is the most historic county in America," rendered it proper that the Municipality and the Lynn Historical Society should par- ticipate in the exercises.
The invitations were accepted on the part of the City by the Mayor, and the attendance of members of the City Government ; while the Lynn Historical Society, on Oct. 15, 1906, by action of its Council accepted the invitation and appointed a committee on the subject, and a repre- sentative to speak on behalf of that organization. Fur- thermore, the Historical Society took action relative to the erection of a memorial tablet to commemorate the site of the Old Tunnel Meeting House, but this had not been carried into effect at the time of the celebration.
In addition to the above, official invitations were also sent to all the Churches in Lynn, to the Congregational Churches in Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, Nahant,
15
Preliminary
Salem, Marblehead, Beverly and Peabody. To the ed- itors of the Congregationalist, to all past officers of the Church, and to absent members.
A general invitation was cordially extended to the public through the daily press.
The Meeting House was decorated for the occasion with the Colonial colors and also the National colors, in addition to which the committee on decoration made two silk ban- ners which bore the names of the Pastors of the Church, and floral decorations added to the occasion.
The communion set of Colonial silver contributed by various donors was brought out and placed on the com- munion table for the first time for many years, as its use has been displaced by the modern individual cups.
Members of the congregation cordially assisted in every detail where they could be of service. The infirm and the aged were brought to the meeting-house in automobiles and carriages of the members of the Parish.
While the services of those connected with the Church or its ministrations may not require specific mention, yet it should be stated that the thanks of the Church and Parish are cordially tendered to the many whose services were given to this occasion.
Mr. B. J. Lang, who was organist at the old church in IS51 and 1852, renewed his acquaintances and presided at the organ during the afternoon and evening services, con- ducting the musical numbers for which the special chorus had been trained by Mrs. Gertrude Hinman Rice, the Organist of the Church.
A number of the members of the Lynn Oratorio Society
16
Two Hundred Seventy-fifth Anniversary
contributed to the musical portion of the service by joining with the regular Church Choir.
In addition to solos by Miss Grace Tufts and Mrs. Harriet Russell Hart of the choir, Miss Louise Woodbury sang solo parts in the oratorio numbers, and Mrs. Paul W. Brickett played the violin at the morning service.
The services were reported in Boston and Lynn news- papers, especially the Lynn Daily Evening Item and the Lynn Evening News, of June 10, 1907, whose accounts were extensive and accurate.
Several light showers occurred during the day but the threatening, rather than stormy, weather did not prevent the Meeting House from being filled to repletion at each service.
Extensive researches have been made to obtain ac- curate lists of former ministers and officers, and dates when given in full are those of authentic record, and a majority of them are here published for the first time.
C. J. H. WOODBURY, FREEMAN H. NEWHALL, J. L. PENDLETON, GUILFORD S. NEWHALL, Committee on Publication.
17
Programme
Programme
MEMORIAL SERVICE 10.30 A.M.
PRELUDE - Flute Concerto Rink
HYMN 120- "Lyons"
Haydn
INVOCATION - By the Pastor
GLORIA
VIOLIN SOLO - " Adoration" . .
. Borowski MRS. PAUL W. BRICKETT.
RESPONSIVE READING
PASTOR : How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Jehovah of hosts!
PEOPLE : My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of Jehovah; My heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God.
PASTOR : Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even Thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts, My King and my God.
PEOPLE : Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house: They will be still praising Thee.
PASTOR : Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee; In whose heart are the highways to Zion.
18
Two Hundred Seventy-fifth Anniversary
PEOPLE : Passing through the valley of Weeping they make it a place of springs; Yea, the early rain covereth it with blessings.
ALL : They go from strength to strength ; Every one of them appeareth before God in Zion.
SOLO - "Fear Not Ye, O Israel" Buck
MRS. HARRIET RUSSELL HART.
SCRIPTURE Genesis xii, verses 1-5 ; Psalm cv, verses 1-15 ; Ephesians i, verses 3-14. REV. WASHINGTON GLADDEN, D.D., LL.D.
PRAYER REV. JAMES MORRIS WHITON, Ph.D.
ANTHEM - "King All Glorious" Barnby
OFFERTORY - Ricondate Gottschalk
HISTORICAL SERMON - "The Development of Theology in the First Church in Lynn." REV. GEORGE W. OWEN, A.M., Pastor.
ANNIVERSARY HYMN - To the tune of Duke Street . Hatton (Written for this occasion by the Pastor.) Hail! Ancient Church! by God's own hand Led on through generations long; Herald of truth in Freedom's Land; Thy hallowed age but makes thee strong.
For fathers, founders, faithful, all, So loyal to thy destiny, Who here have raised the Gospel call, Our grateful song to God shall be.
Majestic as the rolling sun, We see thy providential way; Thy hallowed history 's but begun; Still grows the lustre of thy day.
19
Programme
Thou, Guardian of this Church, O God, Keep us united, pure and true; The way of faith our fathers trod May we in loyalty pursue.
God of our fathers, God of grace, O make us loyal to their fame! When we shall see Thee face to face May future ages bless our name!
ADDRESS, RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT. Rev. JAMES MORRIS WHITON, Ph.D., New York City, Pastor 1865-1869.
ANTHEM - "Unfold, Ye Portals" Gounod
DOXOLOGY - "Old Hundred" Franc
BENEDICTION REV. WASHINGTON GLADDEN, D.D.
POSTLUDE IN F · Guilmant
MRS. GERTRUDE HINMAN RICE, Organist.
Programme
CIVIC AND HISTORICAL SERVICE 2.30 P.M.
ORGAN PRELUDE - Improvisation upon Luther's "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" . MR. B. J. LANG.
HYMN 1336 - " America" Smith
SCRIPTURE - Deuteronomy iv, verses 1-20 REV. GEORGE W. MANSFIELD, Lynn. Pastor Broadway Methodist Episcopal Church.
20
Two Hundred Seventy-fifth Anniversary
PRAYER REV. WASHINGTON GLADDEN, D.D., LL.D.
CHORUS - "The Heavens are Telling," from "The Creation" Haydn
WELCOME C. J. H. WOODBURY, A.M., Sc.D., Chairman of the Anniversary Committee.
ADDRESS - THE PARISH AND THE COMMUNITY. His Honor, CHARLES NEAL BARNEY, A.B., LL.B., Mayor of Lynn.
ARIA -- "Hear ye, Israel," from "Elijah" . . Mendelssohn MISS LOUISE WOODBURY.
ADDRESS - "The Parting of the Ways between Parish and Town" . Hon. NATHAN MORTIMER HAWKES, Representing THE LYNN HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
ARIA - "O, Rest in the Lord," from "Elijah" Mendelssohn MRS. HARRIET RUSSELL HART.
ADDRESS ON BEHALF OF SISTER CHURCHES REV. FRANK W. PADELFORD, Lynn. Minister of Washington Street Baptist Church.
THE COMMUNION SERVICE AND ITS DONORS .
JOHN ALBREE, Swampscott, and Miss ELLEN MUDGE BURRILL, Lynn.
CHORUS - "The Hallelujah Chorus," from "The Messiah" Händel
(The Congregation will please rise.)
BENEDICTION REV. FRANK W. PADELFORD. MR. B. J. LANG at the Organ.
21
Programme
Programme
THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE
7. P.M.
ORGAN PRELUDE . Lang
HYMN 1312 - "Duke Street" . Hatton
O God, beneath Thy guiding hand Our exiled fathers crossed the sea.
SCRIPTURE- Ephesians chapter i, verse 15, to chapter ii, verse 10 REV. JOHN O. HAARVIG.
PRAYER REV. ARTHUR J. COVELL, Lynn. Pastor of North Congregational Church.
ARIA - "Resurrection of Lazarus" .
Pugno
MISS GRACE TUFTS.
ADDRESS - FAITH'S WIDER VISION. REV. JOHN O. HAARVIG, Allston, Mass., Pastor 1893-1895.
HYMN 1019- "St. Ann's" Croft O, where are Kings and Empires now, Of old that went and came?
SERMON - "The Church of the Future" . REV. WASHINGTON GLADDEN, D.D., LL.D., Columbus, O.
TRIO - "Lift Thine Eyes" Mendelssohn MISSES TUFTS, WOODBURY AND MRS. HART.
CHORUS - "He, Watching Over Israel," from "Elijah" Mendelssohn
BENEDICTION REV. WASHINGTON GLADDEN, D.D., LL.D. MR. B. J. LANG at the Organ.
22
Two Hundred Seventy-fifth Anniversary
The Church Choir augmented by members of the LYNN ORATORIO SOCIETY.
Chorus
-
Sopranos
*Miss A. LILLIAN BISHOP *Mrs. HERBERT P. BOYNTON Mrs. EFFIE THOMSON BREED
* Miss LILLIAN F. FINNEY
*Mrs. SAMUEL L. MARDEN
*Miss C. BELLE MESSINGER
Mrs. CHARLES S. MURRAY Miss MARY A. NEWHALL
*Miss ELSIE OSTRANDER
*Miss GRACE TUFTS
Miss HELEN WATTS
Miss LOUISE WOODBURY
Contraltos
Mrs. ANNIE M. BRAMHALL Miss S. ANNIE DAVIS
Mrs. PHILIP EMERSON
*Mrs. HARRIET RUSSELL HART *Miss BEULAH M. HINMAN
Miss ALLISON P. LOW
*Miss ELLA F. MARSH
*Miss CORA B. H. POWERS
*Miss KATHERINE STAHL
Miss GRACE L. TRAFTON
Tenors
GEORGE L. BRAY
FREDERICK L. ENO
RAYMOND Q. Fox
*CHARLES B. HAMILTON W. FREDERICK HASKELL
*SAMUEL L. MARDEN *SAMUEL H. NEWHALL FRED M. PHILLIPS
ERNEST L. PROCTOR
EDWIN H. RUSSELL
Basses
JAMES EDWARD ABORN *HERBERT P. BOYNTON
Dr. NATHANIEL P. BREED *PAUL W. BRICKETT ROBERT BRUCE
WILLIAM W. BUTMAN
*ARTHUR G. KELLEY CLIFTON E. KNOWLTON
CHARLES S. MURRAY
*ERNEST G. OSTRANDER
*HERBERT W. RICE EUGENE D. RUSSELL
GEORGE W. WALSH
* Members of the Church Choir.
EXERCISES
AT THE
Dedication of the Meeting=Thouse
OF THE
FIRST CHURCH AND SOCIETY IN LYNN,
OCTOBER, 1827.
1. Anthem ..
O praise God in bis botiness, Praise hios in the drawme ot of his power ; Praise bit in his noble acte, Praise him according In his excelleol greatoers ; Praise bulo so the sound of the trompet ;
- Praise bim opon the lole and harp ; Praise bim in the cymhals and dauces, Praise hit on strings and pipes, Let every thing that balb breath, praise the Lord,
2. Introductory Prayer and Reading Scripture.
3. 100th Psalm, L. M. Ist Part
1. Ye notions of the earth rejoice. Before the Lord your aovereign King ; Serve tum with cheerful heart aod voice, With all your Tongues bis glory sing.
2. The Lord is God ;- 'tis he alone Doth life and breath and being give ; We are his work. aud nol our own, The sheep that on bis pastures live.
3. Enter his gates with songs of joy, With praises to his courts repair, Aod make it your divine employ, To pay your thanks aod honours there.
4 The Lord is good ; the Lord is kind; Great is bis grace, his mercy «ure ; And the whole race of man shall fiod, His truth from oge touge endure.
4. Dedicatory Prayer. 5. Hymn. (Written for the occasion.)
1. Within these walls, our fathers reared, And hallowed long by prayer and praise To Thee. who hast so oft appeared For their relief io ancient day" ;
2. We come again our thanks to yield, O God ! thou merciful wod true ; And pray that thou may'st be our shield Since we bave built tby boose anew.
3. O make this temple all thy own, Here may thy truth and mercy shine ; And lel thy heavenly grade be koown, Till every will shall bow to thine.
4 Here may the doctrine of onr Lord, Be pure as once by Cedroo's wave ; Here may our children learn thy word, And know tby mighty power to save.
6. Sermon.
7. Select Hymn.
1. Great King of glory, come And with thy favour, CIOwo This temple as thy dume- This people as thy own ; Beneath this ronf. O deigo In sbow, How God cao dwell wuh meo below. Here may thine ears attend The people's tumble cries ; And grateful praise ascend, All fragrant In the skies ; Here may thy woid melodious sound, Aod spread celestial joye around.
3. Here may The attentive Ihrong, Imhibe thy truth and love ; And Cuoverts jom the song Of serapbimi above ; And wilbag crowds surround thy hoard, Wilh sacred juy, aod sweet accord.
1. Here may our toboro soos And daughters sound thy praise ; And whioe like polished stones, Through long succeeding days ; Here. Lord display thy raviog power, Wbile lempleestaod, sod men adore.
8. Prayer.
Praise God from all blewing. Bow, Praise bim all creatures bere below ;
9. Dorology. 1 Preise him above ye heavenly host, Praise Fatber, Son and Holy Ghost.
10 Benediction.
PRINTED AT THE LYNN MIRKUR OFFICE.
Exercises held October 27, 1827, at 10.30 A.M. Introductory Prayer, Rev. Mr. Taft, of Hamilton; Reading Scripture, Rev. Mr. Oliphant, of Beverly; Dedicatory Prayer, Rev. Mr. Dana, of Marblehead ; Sermon, Rev. Otis Rockwood, pastor, text Psalm 87, verse 2; concluding Prayer, Rev. Mr. Emerson, of Salem.
At a Parish Meeting, September 17, it was voted to invite Alonzo Lewis to write an original hymn, but the Fifth number on the programme bears indications that the honor was declined. At the same meeting it was voted that " none of the committee should Line the Musick at these exercises."
Fellowship Meeting JUNE 7, 1907
T "HE peculiar relation existing between the First Church and the neighboring Congregational churches, by reason of the fact that most of these churches had their origin from the First Church, found expression in a Fellowship Meeting on Friday evening, June 7, in the audi- torium.
To this service the following churches were especially invited: the Congregational churches of Saugus, Clifton- dale, Lynnfield, Swampscott, and Nahant; the Central, North, Chestnut Street, and Scandinavian Congregational churches of Lynn.
"The Unchangeable Christ" was the theme of a strong, scholarly, and timely sermon by the Rev. Arthur J. Covell, pastor of the North Church. The Communion of the Lord's Supper was observed with the Rev. Charles F. Weeden, pastor of the Central Church, and the Rev. W. B. Ronald, pastor of the Church of Saugus, in charge; being assisted by deacons chosen from the various churches. The other pastors present assisted in the various parts of the service. The prayer meetings of the invited churches having been merged into this one service, there was a good attendance, and those present felt that the united life had received an impetus that would be helpful in practical co-operation.
Rev. GEORGE WILLIAM OWEN.
Addresses
T 'HE following addresses were given during the exercises on Sunday, June 9, 1907.
RESPONSIVE READING
PASTOR : How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O Jehovah of hosts!
PEOPLE : My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts. of Jehovah ; My heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God.
PASTOR : Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even Thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts, My King and my God.
PEOPLE : Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house : They will be still praising Thee.
PASTOR : Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee In whose heart are the highways to Zion.
PEOPLE : Passing through the valley of Weeping they make it a place of springs ; Yea, the early rain covereth it with blessings.
ALL : They go from strength to strength ; Every one of them appeareth before God in Zion.
25
Scripture - Rev. Washington Gladden, D.D.
READING OF SCRIPTURE
Rev. WASHINGTON GLADDEN, D.D.
Genesis XII.
1. Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:
2. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.
3. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
4. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
5. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gath- ered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran, and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
Psalm CV.
1. Oh give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the people.
2. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
3. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
26
Two Hundred Seventy-fifth Anniversary
4. Seek the Lord, and his strength; seek his face ever- more.
5. Remember his marvelous works that he hath done;
his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth.
6. O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
7. He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
8. He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
9. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
10. And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant.
II. Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
12. When they were but a few men in number; yea very few, and strangers in it.
13. When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people.
14. He suffered no man to do them wrong; yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;
15. Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
Ephesians I.
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ :
27
Scripture - Rev. Washington Gladden, D.D.
4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and with- out blame before him in love:
5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved.
7. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8. Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9. Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself :
IO. That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him :
II. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, be- ing predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will;
12. That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of Promise.
14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEOLOGY IN THE FIRST CHURCH IN LYNN.
Rev. GEORGE W. OWEN, A.M., Pastor.
M OST heartily do we welcome the two hundred seventy-fifth anniversary of this church's natal day. Not as those who see glory only in the past and who look forward to nothing except oblivion, but as those who see in the momentum that has been gained, a start, and a promise of better things to come, do we rejoice.
Fluently and easily do we speak the words, two hundred seventy-fifth anniversary, but only as we begin to give the period a content, do we realize the vastness and im- portance of the period. The trend of time has been pro- gressive yet not without many retroactions. There has been much of suffering and sacrifice and somewhat of failure, though more of joyful service and glorious achieve- ment.
The time of George Washington and the Revolutionary War seems far distant, but this church had rounded out a full century of organized and beneficent activity before George Washington was born, in 1732. This church is one hundred and fifty-five years older than the Constitu- tion of the United States.
Imagine that Samuel Whiting could return to earth to-day and, standing upon the summit of Old High Rock, view with wondering eyes the ocean and land upon which he gazed of old: the hundred churches, where in his day
FOURTH MEETING HOUSE. As Originally Built.
Corner South Common and Vine Streets as originally built, being the largest in Essex County. Seating capacity 900. Tower 119 feet high.
Dedicated February 1, 1837.
Front steps removed in the summer of 1849 and accommodations for two shoe factories made on the ground floor, each side of the entrance.
٠
29
Address - Rev. George W. Owen, A.M.
was one little meeting-house ; forests, farms and dwellings replaced with massive factories and office buildings; vehicles darting hither and thither with no visible power of locomotion; large school houses; a network of curious wires now and then emitting bright sparks; the sea ploughed by vast steamers unknown to his day. Suppose his vision could be on a Fourth of July or a Memorial Day, and his host should explain to him the tragic, yet grand events that were being celebrated. Suppose he should descend and walk through our streets beholding faces marked with the characteristics of nearly every nation under heaven. Suppose he could enter this building and gaze into the faces of this happy assembly, noting the changed garb, the different thought, the varied religious beliefs and practices. While his astonishment would be unbounded, and while many things might stir his right- eous indignation, yet I think he would feel that he had come into a world where there is as much of faith and hope and love as there was in the world that he left.
For the particular scene of my present efforts, I have chosen a field that has not yet been occupied in our church history, and will attempt to give an outline of the Teaching of the First Church in Lynn, indicating what has been the theological basis of the different periods in our history and tracing the progress and retrogression in thought.
It is often said that the interest in theology is dying, if not already dead, but this is not true. The interest in theology is perennial. The fact that a purely theolog- ical book published a few weeks ago, earned $5,000 in royalties before it was printed, had a sale of about ten
30
Two Hundred Seventy-fifth Anniversary
thousand copies the day it was off the press, and went through five editions in a week, does not indicate that in- terest in theology is waning .*
There is a popular theological anarchy whose ad- herents say that they do not care upon what principles the moral government of the world is based, so long as they can subsist in comfort and prosperity by obeying a few practical rules. One has said that all that sad humanity needs is the "art of being kind," but we must not forget that every art has its science and that without a study of the science the art degenerates. It is the grossest superficiality that does not see that the work- ing principles of social life are based upon the deepest truths concerning God, man and destiny. It is evident that the nearer we get to the truth in these deeper matters, the better will be our working principles. We cannot be indifferent to theology any more than we can be indifferent to the principles upon which our government is estab- lished; for, as it makes a vast difference whether we be- lieve in the divine right of kings or in the divine right of the people; so it makes a great difference whether we be- lieve that God is a tyrant, or that He is a kind Father willing the good of all His creatures.
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