New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-13
THE CHURCH CONGRESS.
THE FUNCTION OF WORSHIP.
A MINISTER WHO THINKS THAI SERMONS HAVE

A MINISTER WHO THINKS IhAi cfhmONo hA'N
SURVIVED THEIG USEFULNESS.
Hartford, Conn, May l2.-The Congress OF
Churches was called order this morning by Governor
Harrison lho Rev. Dr. Burton opened the discussion
on tue function OF worship In promoting the growth OF
the Church He said that while preaching IA much al
mred by many, worship is more efficient IN chectng the
same result Worship naturally gathers up those truths
that are essential. II worship undertook u sat
ur,te us with those truths which Christians have
meyer been able 10 agree the result Ou.d be draw
ont OF the communion of saints Worship does liz good
work when 1t confines To the catholic truths aud II
also makes scrpural rather than philosophical
or rational further said that the people shonld take
some active part IN the service. and that the spirit OF
Professionalism requires that public prayer should be
eon,non prayer There are ecolesiastical Bouri'ons
who never forget anything and never learn anything
Ka.A Raandsnan thought that wofship wls IN
hereut In human nstinctand just because our
Father s spiritual having spiritual nature, Sorship
must from very nature Of the case be spiritual
only what is spiritual worship wha, Is spiritual
How slowly the Church has been learning this vat lea
son To this day the coniessors OF JAcohs v ell aro
discusing questions OF liturgy and vesmens and ritual
OF reordi1a and rcbaptism and church order.
Bishop Coke OF Western New-York said: This should
be called MT Congress Of Churches. but Of Christians
He took up the subject OF Creed. aud said that almost
the highest act OF worship uniting in the Creed lie
thought that the plan for unity had better begin at the
Apostles Creed. ..,- .,
uar press In America toward religion. IL l. To the secular
@ -, tl,e large conception which it may take what
Is best for Christian society IN America 10 itS strong
Affirmation what all men cOnoede To be- Tie Concrete
paiii,es i'm religion to ITS growing determination
CsiIally AS one the great factors OF human society,"
that people OF all beliefs must look more aud InOre Tor
thai SUBSTANTIAL unity among AiHecan Nhr'uah9 ""oH
"A broken Christianity constantly mperils . . .
Professor Samuel NJ. Hopkins OF Auburn ~ r., us
pusse the subject from tue standpoint Ui the Church
with which he was most faIDiar-the Presbyterian.
which Church. he declared most OF all others needs to be
,ratTnce sad raises, TO appreciate The function OF
He Dla
the worship Of God occupies the most nnlmportant an
least part of the services The pron
uent feature of every Presbyterian service Is the sermon
Whatsoever precedes is distinguished not as devOIiOna
bat merely rs introductory service. The wor.hip Is
not for lis but for the sake Of the homietical
grafton that Is to follow me sermon as means of
drawing people TO the mouse OF God has measuraDy sur
The Rev Thoma. X. Beecher of Elmira, thought that
the basis OF truth OF worship was the Holy GHOST
lie himself realizing tile great alouHioIty unwilhngy
assumed had not been able TO lead his people 10 any
CnnroI, but he had tiled to lead them to God.
President Long OF Antioch College, declared that the
Nneeeuth Century would 20 down into history as the
aye OF light and liberty and explained the progress or
Iihe .allty since tue century opened ~ .
Quaker. Of Haverford College Penn. lie said that wor
sip must worship O Christ Christ aud tue Holy
Snrit are the watch words OF Quakersn. Can not"
he asked all adopt that PLATFORM lie closed by allud
| Ing 10 the hoeratin3 WORK accomplished by the
I'm some remarks the attitude OF the secular press
ia Aluerca toward religion the Rev Washington Glad
den saId: The attitude of the average American rdn0r
| toward religion Is one or calm superiority. II
rs not only topic he handles with the all OF mastery
economy he understands just AS wei! as he does reil
gon There are excep but the typical journalist Is
| nothing II not lnfalnDle Ihere Is all oo-
| yious cause for this. Is not the sup
| ny OF KNOWLEDGE, IA Of all other commodities,
regulated by the demands Put an American In posi-
tion where ne Obliged 20 know something anu ike
BIZ saueerss pupils. he goes and knows H. Though not
over reyerrnt toward religion, the secular editor does
take an interest it, Thirty the great mayor
ty OF the papers practically ignored religion
Occasionally you md managing editor now VINO Neems
10 think religion is matter OF no consequence 10
| but the number - small, Tor Their papers
fail 10 survive The great majority OF successim dhy
papers manage this matter very Inherently lDry fecog
religion "a great special Tact they perceive LhdJ
the continuous series OF religious movements aud events
IL an IMPORTANT OF the news or the day, quite IA
| worthy 10 be chrnnleed hs the dOslghts And the
divorces; and they observe that the people most ln
with The WORK OF the cnucncS are H.
teIgpt aud thrifty likely to subscribr for newspapers
and TO nd vertise in them class TO when tue manager
can well afford pay particular attention. lcoud name
dozens OF newspapers, East aud West that never were
prosecuted for righteousness sake ana yet devote
| much space to religious news The astonishing
| feat Of teiegraphiDg the whole OF tue revised
| version OF the New Testament to Chicago
| next morning will long he remembered 1t nndoubt
edly the most prodlgiOus scoop ever achieved by
American newspaper The Increase of attention to
ligous matters is due to better
ureheson the scope aud function OF the newspaper
That religion Is better recognized ana more energetic
force IN public affairs tDan IL was Twenty-Five years
4 Is ne In measure % the agency OF the secular
press Is repOris Of religious utterances are generally
Intelligent and accurate. A fair outline Of what II
snid and done at viii be found IN the jour
this and will be tcegraphe1 10 all parts OF
the country Tine value of meeting viii be indefinitely
multiplied 10y the secular he "rlcr Even III the casual
reporting Of II n surprising now wen most OF
these pencil pusrrs contrve u get hOd OF the substance
what IL said faithful teacher or the ChriStan
law and gospel indebted "a these reporters for
great extension OF his influence. AS rule these young
men bright. courteous aud thoroughly likeablc'