Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-02-16
Advantages Of Christian C0.OperatiOn.

| We take pleasure IN presenting to
our readers an abs :ract from the address
of Russell Sturgis. Jr.. of Boston. before
the Episcopal Congress convened at Phil
adelphia, in December. Mr.. Sturgis has
been quite prominent in Massachusetts, as
4 Gospel Worker Of the Y. NJ. c. A, and
and has had Il fine opportunity of learning
the character and tendency of the work
being wrought by that organization; while
hi, education an Episcol,alian would.
perhaps. tend to make him careful and
conservative, and thereby give his words
greater weight:
| A E.vman of our church. who is now
with his Master. took me bv the hand and
led me into the Young Mems Christian
Association. That was about sixteen
Years 400. and have been associated with
that body in almost constant work ever
since, and rs the topic reads. ''ministra-
tons of the chprrh." | take it that | am
speaking to the point when | speak of a
band of Christian men who are working
for Jesus. and cndeavorin@ TO win other
Young men to Him; theirs l. unmiStake
ABLY a work for tie masses. That organiz-
alton has ~rown, until to-day it is a power
in this Land Some of You know about it.
but dare say the majority have no idea of
the influence which that body is obtaining
day bv dav growing in its power most
marvelou>lv. and eXerting Just the inilu-
ence of which we have been speaking
here toni rht In lS.t2. the first a>socia-
ton in in this country was formed in
Montreal. and within one week, the first
in the United States at Boston-neither of
them having any idea of the intention of
| the other.
| To-day.in lS7J there are 30 associations
in this country and the British Provinces.
numbering very nearly 100000 members.
and when | say members of the Young
Mems Christian Association. | do not
mean simply ordinary per-oas. but mean
as a.reneral thing, a very earnest Kind OF
men and workers. the very bone and sin
ew of the churches represented, as You
would find if YOU attended any of their
conventions. They have property to-day
worth nearly three millions of dollars IN
buildings This organization. by its work
among Young men; by its visltations from
house to house in the worst parts of our
cities; bv its open-air meetings on the
docks and in the streets; by lis work
among the railway employees and among
the Germans: bv its clerical and lay
preaching in towns and villages of cur
land. not here only. but in the West and
South also. is reaching the masses L am
sure that this organization which is thus
reaching the working classes. should re-
ccive the support OF our branch OF tie
Church more than it has Yet done. cam
not tell YOU how panied my heart has
been aS have. gone throughout the State OF
| Massachusetts attending the mon meet
inrs that have been held for three years
in that State, under the Young Mems
Christian Association, to find that. while
every other minister in the town was
heartily at work in those meetings and
feeling confident that the power of the
HOLY Ghost was there. the minister
of our own church WAS either ut
terlv ignorant of the work being done
in these union meetings. OF else was
taking 4 position of antagonism to
them God has greatly blessed the few
exceptions to this rule. and may Ne
bless them more and more feel that
this is great opportunity given me.
where so many of the clergy of my own
dear Church are gathered together, to
protest against such action on the part of
those who should he leaders in every
Christian work l firmly believe that in
no place can we b" SO sure of the presence
and the power of the Holy Ghost rs we
can in the union meetings of the Church
of God. When all in a town who love
the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and in
truth come together and show thereby
that they stand upon the common founda-
ton. then those who are not with them
I;pprecate it. and are directly affected by
the united exhibition of 4 common faith
and common hope in Jesus
bot La * not a -
when our own Church shall take the place
she oumht in every movement of this kind
1t bchooves us.;.s the children. of the Lord.
To keep our ewes open 10 see that we I'M
prove the opportunities that God g ives for
work ANY work that can better he done
in union than :t> IN individual branch of
the Church, it is no dislovallty to enter
upon | plead for the corporation OF my
own Church in the work of the Associa-
ton, because it i the greatest manlie>ta-
ton on earth of the unity of the Church
of Christ feel. when so much Is bein~
said about the sin of Schism, That they
sin the most in this direction who. shut
ting themselves within their own hurch
boundaries. rcfu>c.to co operate with the
rest of the Church. and 81 fight against
God bv hin'lrriny the fullillm"nt "f the
Lords Pravcr-'' That they all may he
one As 1ou. faliti. 'ill III nv .'ii'' ia
| Thee: that they also may be one In us;
that the world may believe that Thou hast
sent me, and weakening the power
which the Church would have hv 4 fall
| front, shoul,ler-to-shouldcr advance upon
all that arrays itself to-day against the
, bl, ssed and one truth of salvation. only
through the imputed righteousness of
Christ and His blood cleansing the belicv-
er from all sin.
The masses will not come TO the
Church,-thc Church must 90 out after
them, and use every means and The talents
of all its members, lay and clerical. to
reach and influence them Inc Mctho-
di,t. more thin any other denomination,
has utilized all its agencies in their work
among the masses; and the Ritualist to-
. dav adopts the praver-meeting. the open
, air preaching, and the revival measures
l because he sees the success. TO some ex-
tent he does reach the masses. As a
T Church. the Episcopalian,as has been SAID
! here this evening, does not reach the mas
- ses. We might certainly do more Stlll.
all the branches of the Church, working
: individually, cannot do the work which
: can be accomplished by the Church acting
as a unit The masses are TO be greatly
), influenced, not bv denominations, but. as
u we have lately seen in the wonderful
, awakening in Great Britain, by the Church
as whole.
Il An apparatus on purely scientific prin-
@ ciples has been invented bv Professor Zim-
-t,i OBJ, 1,ain