The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-10-21
The congregational Convention.

The annual union fall meeting of the
Davenport and Rock river associations
of congregational churches opened in the
Edwards Congregational church, Daven-
port, yesterday morning, and organized
by the election of Rev. a. Harper, of Port
Byron, as moderator, and Rev. j. Reed,
of the Davenport district, and Rev. C. L.
Morgan, of the Rock River association,
rs sctbcs. Rev. Reed conducted devo-
| tional exercises. A JOINT business cons
mittee for the meeting consisting of Revs,
Bushnell, Winston and Blakeby was APP
pointed. The day was devoted to bust,
ness, reading Of interesting papers, etc. ,
and in the evening Il number of addresses
were read, principal among which was
one by Rev. c. j.. Morgan. of Moline, on
the subject of "OrGaniZed Church
Work "Thc value of organic ltion need
cd no eulogy," Mr. Morgan snil, in this
living and active age. No public minis
ter or speaker could keep abreast with
the thought of his day unless he organ
lied his time, reading and thinking. The
work Of the divine law could not be car
ried forward commensurate with the age
if lacking the essential requisite of or,
ganizltion. Every member of the church
should know his place at work. The best
of organized work is consistent with the
largest liberties. The chief end of the
church was to spread the gospel and there
must be zeal for work Without II sur
vey of the field and organization how in
eilcc,ual must our first advance be. What
was lacking was the system of the field
The ordering and marshalling of the
forces would be church to many. The
propclling power OF every church must be
the motive which brought Christ to earth.
They were likely in this day to be bound
hand and foot with the dead formalities
No one would toll for mere speculation.
The pastor feels there Is nothing so im~
portant as rescuing men. How few homes
there are where household devotion is
maintained, The pastor secs sons and
daughters graduated out of the church,
sees men going to ruin beneath strong
drink and the victory of the power of evil.
The work of pastors and church was to
enlarge the channels so that the word can
reach the largest number Some people
living within the sound of the church bell,
who might formerly have been pillars in
l., 4. A., 1
are seldom seen at the services. lie urged
efforts to secure the attendance of the
children at the morning church services
and bible Instructions at home. Much
hap>hazard work was done in the
churches. The ladies pulled one way.
the children another, the pastors in every
off at tangent. He recommended the
appointment of certain committees to
assist in the church work. Social recog-
milton had become such an important
factor in Professionalism that it must be
recognized. 1t was impossible to deny
the fact that the laboring classes were
drifting away from the churches, which
he ascribed to social alienation. For the
growing popularity of card parties and
similar amusements the church was large
ly responsible for not providing some
thing better Order, system and organi-
cation was needed in the campaign of the
church against sin"
Sterling was announced as the place of
holding the next association convention,
when the audience dispersed and an adj
journment was taken.