S. C. A. Annual Service

Bvery seat in University hall vras occupied by the immense audience that had assembled to assist in. celebrating tho 37th annual servico of tbe S. 0. A., and to listen to the eloquent address delivered by Bishop Kulison. There must havo been "ally 3,r00 pcoplo present aud with the exceptiou of a I 'ew small boys everyone stayed until the. close of the services, although it was 9:30 o'clock bef the beuediction was pronounced. The exereises oponed with singiug, af ter which Rev. Henry Tatlook, rector of St. Androw's chnrch, read a portion of scripuuv. AnotJier liymn was sunji by th choir, then the Apostle's Ct-mkI and Lord's Prayer werc recited aud tliro? short pray rs by Rev. Henry Tatlock followd. Mr. Gilehrïst, president of the S. C. A., before iutroducini; Bishop luilison to tho audii-nc" said this was ttre 37th annual service of thï S. C. A. He thanked the churches and friends of the association tor the many kindïiessee that had been extended to it also for their Jiearty co-opcr.ition in the services. He tijen iutroduced the speaker of the dreaiag Ut. ){ev. Nelsim S. Iíulison, D. O., bishop of Central I'ennsylvauia. Bishop Rulisou saiil li ■ liad no intcntion of preachinjï on scleotlfic or motaphysical religión, but rathof on practical religión. H 'uad uo special text, but if his hearers speciaily wishol t'or one tuey would find it in át. Matthew ix:i), "Follow Me." The sormua was in the form of an addredS and wns de liverel oxtemporaneously from a few notes. His subject was why tnun do uot follow Christ and enter His church. He comm-ented on the reasons given by mony distlnfruished men for their intellectual and moral attitudes on this question. Among these was (1)' tho statement that it was easier for some than others to obey. True. But hardship is not to be considered when Christ speaks. Tho real meaning of all this kind of talk is that men do not recognizo or realizo their obl'igatlons. He then discussed the subject of obligation. showing that men the wide world over beliovod in God. That thero is no nation of atheists on the earth and that man's obligatiou to oboy God's commands grows out of his relation to Him as a son. He then spoko of tho question of fre-edom to obey or disobey in a very practical mannor and by illustrations showed that men have the power but not the right to disobey. He then discussed üie obj?etions that are made that the church is the enemy of progress- that it is opposed to science; that it pretends to save men by virtiie of intellectual notions and opinions rather than by character trained after Chrlst's, and tbal it makos men soft, weak and sentimental. He took up each of these objections- showing the church as the leader of progross, tho builder of colleges and universities- out of 300 colleges and schools in this country more than 280 were built by Christian men. The church is allled to all that is strongest and most manly in human lifo, and teaches men to believe and love the right in order to live rlght. Speaking of the objection tliat meu inake ttauti the church is for perfect people, h showed in most eonviucing inaunw that the church Is for imperfect pe plc and that a man govs iuto it u! beeause he is perfect, but because Ut wants to tx perfect The objectiou to narrow tests of luciubiisliip wus uexl taken up and il va.s shown üiat tlie church has u rí.rht to exelude any man Wbo belitíyOB the. fundamental facts of Christ's lile ;us contained in the Apostles' C-ree and who purposes to k-ad a Chrlfltlike life. He quoted these aud siinilui' objev tlons which a Kieat judfje ot' the m preme court of the Tuit! States had told hiin were frequently made by sreat lawyers who sympathized with tbe purpose of the church and wouU b glad to enter if they could do a without being obliged to make allv gianco to some philosophicai or mot physical system of purely human lu vention. The bishop sympathized wlMi this objection and inaisted that the conditlons of onti-ance to thu cbunA should be few, simple and spiritual. He then spoke to young men about their fear of being talked about aad of exhibiting religioue feeling. He regarded it as not a high character that. wears its heart upon the sleeve - and that great men do not care to exhlbit their most sacred fwlings. The cburcfc was no place for egotists. He concludexl his excellent uddres with a strong appeal to the manllnett of men, to their reason, their better nature, their love for their kind, X give tbamselyes to Ctarist, ind he declared that the church stood for brotfcerhood, purity, trutli, honesty, justit. and Khowod how it is the safeguard f tho state, the family, human right, proporty and all that men hold deer. The meeting concluded with the doxolgy sung by the eongregation and tbt benediction, pronounoed by lïlshoj Iiulison.