Synopsis
Characteristics Of The Age: A Discourse Delivered In The First Presbyterian Church, Troy, N.Y., On Thanksgiving Day, December 12, 1850 by Nathan Sidney Smith Beman. This sermon surveys the defining traits of the contemporary era, delivered in Troy on Thanksgiving in 1850. The speaker identifies several hallmark features of the age: (1) the practical results of science, where discoveries give way to useful applications, such as steam power, steam vessels, railroads, and the electric telegraph; (2) increased international communication, as nations come to know and interact with one another and world travel and exchange promote peace and mutual understanding; (3) a spirit of freedom, emphasizing personal liberty, critiques of oppression, and the spread of democratic ideals; (4) an era in which religious systems are tested, with a call for a Bible-centered faith that respects private conscience over institutional power; and (5) an age of practical benevolence, highlighting Christian missions, benevolent institutions, hospitals, and social uplift. The discourse argues that science, liberty, and Christian philanthropy collectively anticipate a more just and enlightened world through education, Gospel truth, and universal benevolence.
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