This Changes Everything
Charter Day Address, Bryn Athyn Cathedral,
October 14, 2016
The Rev. Stephen D. Cole
Lessons: Isaiah 65:17-25; Revelation 21:1-5; True Christian Religion 784
I
n our lessons and in our recitation we heard repeatedly about things that
were new: new heavens and a new earth, the New Jerusalem and the New
Church. What have all these new things to do with what we are celebrating
today? For today we commemorate something that happened many years ago,
the granting of the Charter of the Academy of the New Church. And indeed,
let us pause for a bit to consider just how long ago.
Some people, even here in town, think of the Academy as the Bryn Athyn
Secondary Schools. Some people remember that Bryn Athyn College is also
part of the Academy as well. Bryn Athyn has been around for a while now.
In fact, the town is celebrating its centennial this year. But the Academy is
actually older than Bryn Athyn. When the Charter was granted, the Academy
was, in fact, in Philadelphia.
Some people think of the Academy as the educational arm of the General
Church of the New Jerusalem. The General Church is older than Bryn Athyn.
But the Academy is also actually older than the General Church. When Bryn
Athyn became a borough, the Academy was already 40 years old. When the
present General Church was started, the Academy was already 20 years old.
So if the Academy did not start as the Bryn Athyn school system and the
Academy did not start as the General Church school system, what did it start
as? When the Academy started it was independent of any church. When the
Academy started it was intended to be a revolution.
We sit today in a building that is 100 years old. But as we entered through
the West door we walked under the words “Nunc Licet” – now it is permitted.
So what is now permitted? What is now permitted is to think in new ways.
This is what the founders of the Academy wanted to do. They wanted to learn
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