The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-13
THE CONGRESS OF CHURCHES.
Points from the Remarks of Some of the
Principal Speakers in Attendance.


churches was called to order at 1880 this morn
ing by Governor Harrison. Rev. DR.. Burton
opened the discussion on 1.-THE Functions of Wor-
ship in Promoting the Growth of the Church
He said that while preaching is much admired
by many, worship is more efficient, effecting the
same result Worship naturally gathers up
those truths that are most essential. If wor-
ship undertook to saturate US with those truths
on which Christians have never been able to
agree, the result would be to draw us out of tn
communion of the saints. Worship does its
good work when it confines us to the catholic
truths, and it also makes sermons scriptural
rather than philosophical or rational.
Rev. Prof. S. M. Hopkins, of Auburn, ~ Y,
followed.
Rev. Father Grafton, of the Church of the Ad-
vent. Boston, said it was not the union of the
church which had been lost but union among
Christians.
The Rev DR.. Boardman, of Philadelphia fol-
lowed The first of the formal speakers was
Bishop Coke, of Western New York. He said
this should be called, not a congress of church
es, but of Christians. He took UP the subject
of the creed, and said that almost the highest
act of worship was uniting in the creed. He
thought the plan for union had better begin at
the apostles creed.
Rev. Thomas K Beecher said the basis of the
truth of worship was the Holy Ghost He him
SELF realizing the great responsibility unwilling
ly assumed. had not been able to lead his people
to any church, but he had tried to lead them to
God.
President Long, of Antioch College. declared
that the nineteenth century would go down into
history as the age of light and liberty, and ex.
planned the progress of liberality since the cen
fury opened
Rev Washington GLADDEN., in his address on
''rhe Attitude of the Secular Press in America
Towards Religion" said that, though not over
reverent toward religion, the secular edftpr does
take interest in it. Thirty years Sgo great
majority of the secular papers practically
successful daily papers manage this mat
ter very differently now. They recognize
religion as a. great special fact; they perceive
that the continuous series of religious move
ments and events is important news of the day.
quite as worthy to be chronicled as dog-fghts
and divorces and they observe that the people
most intimately concerned with the work of
churches are intelligent and thrifty, likely to
subscribe for newspapers and advertise
in them-a fact to which managers can
well afford to pay particular attention. The
astonishing feat of telegraphing the whole re-
vised version of the New Testament to Chicago
on the day OF its arrival in New York, and print
ing it next morning, will long be remembered
1t was undoubtedly the most prodgious scoop
ever achieved by an American newspaper.
That religion is. better recognized and
a more energetic force in public affairs
than it was twenty-five years ago, is
due, in some measure to the agency of
the secular press The address of Rev. Mr.
GLADDEN., who is present from Columbus, o.
opened the discussion of the question upon
which he spoke.
United States Senator Hawley said that of
the II, 314 periodicals printed in the United
States, 1868 constitute the secular press
devoted to news, politics and family read
a Is this the Republic 's snS h Trss sT
is growing and growing Out of over 5000 daily
papers not one processes to be religious People
talk now Of its attitude toward religion as
if this press were something outside of that SO
far as good secular press is part of religion
it cannot disconnect itself from religion if
it desires to, and it does not desire
to. leader of a great paper, Dir. Dana. of the
New York Sun. has said that every newspaper
ought to be religious paper. The secular press
is glad to report religious meetings, etc, but
there was time.when it did not. Now tens of
millions of people, not knowing they are being
taught or moulded, are hearing every other de-
nomination kindly treated.
Mr.. Hawlev continued The press publishes
nearly everything. How do all these people
know what Robert Ingersoll has been saving to
condemn religions Have they all been to hear him,
or have they read his speechesl If you
don't want things In the papers, you mustn't
have them happen You can't present the con-
dition of the country without telling what Inger-
soil says. Mr.. Mclean, editor Of the Cincinnati
Enquirer. sitting in the Riggs house in Wash
ington, saw cripple go by.
''There, Ingersoll' he said, 'sYou are going
around the world trying TO kick out the crutches
from under cripples like that, and not giving
them leg in place of them"
General Hawley said he did not believe the
pulpit had lost its power No other orator had
the chance the minister has. He goes into a
building consecrated to sacred uses, and he has
an audience prepared and softened for him.
What other orator has that chance9 The human
voice never can be supplanted by cold type
The last speaker was Professor Piiny Earl
Chase, Quaker, of Haverford College, Pennsyl-
vania He said that worship must be the worship
of Christ. Christ and the Holy Spirit are the
watchwords of Quakerism. "Can we.n he asked,
''all adopt that PLATFORM He closed by abiding
to the liberating work accomplished by the Uni
tarians.
THE American Congress of Churches has for
its object Ito promote Christian union and to
advance the kingdom of God by free discus
sion of the great religious, moral and social
questions of the time" The first item in this
! statement, Ito promote Christian union." is of
such vast importance that it ought to be clearly
before all Christian people
American Legion OF Honor.