Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-01-17
THE CHURCH CLUB.
It's Objects. Aims and Religious Bear
ings discussed by bishop Coleman.

inGs discussed Dy Blshop coleman.
The Church Club Of the Protestant |
Episcopal Church of the diocese Of Della
ware held special meeting last evening |
in the rooms of the Builders Exchange. |
After short business session. at which |
the Rev. d. j. Cummins of Smyrna pre- |
sided in the absence Of the president, the |
Right Rev leighton Coleman. D. D., LII.
d.. bishop Of the diocese, delivered lee
ture on the subject; "The Religious and
Social Bearings Of Organizations of the
Nature Of the Church Club.
He opened by saying that he would
talk on the subject as previously given
him, The Social and Religious Learnings
of Organizations of the Nature of the
Church Club" He said in part:
This is period Of clubs, associations
trusts, combinations of some kind, and
SO the churchmen here formed club. D
trust, but not a monopoly. II is n period
of clubs and il is not strange that the
churohmen have taken hold. | am thank
full that it is a church club; it was
happy idea to bring those together out.
side of the club to find out what the club
wishes to accomplish. The club has a
bearing; 1t was so intended by its pro
moters; it is not a Juvenile club In the
presence Of SO many rival organizations.
many of them for evil, would
it not have been pity if
the Church Club had been formed with
out an object2 This club has been heard
Of IN many other places. / received a
letter a short time ago from the bishop
of another parish asking for our plan Of
work. Therefore In more ways than one
the eyes of the nation are upon Della
ware He spoke of the great gain by the
social bearing OF such clubs, and also Of
the danger of sociability developing into
mere frivolity and TO dissipation. There
Is little danger Of such development in
this club. The semi-annual meetings are
interesting and call many laymen TO-
1 gether, who would not otherwise meet.
He thought that the allegation that
churchmen were less sociable than other
| grades, was not correct. the church itself
is for all conditions Of men and so Is the
club. Wherever this church has been
] started II has exerted refining and ele-
waiting influence
THE line has been too often drawn be-
tween the church and society. There are
many things in society that all can enjoy.
We desire to influence society and we
can through this club To give
the world clear conception Of what re-
| ligion is, that it is not another name for
! gloom, that it is not necessary to wear
long faces but that as churchmen they
are fulfilling the destiny of social a.
ture"
Regarding the religious bearings Of
such clubs he said in part: "No one can
be member of the club without inn
proyement, il he works in the right
spirit. II a member of the club Is espe-
cially dereliet in what is easily seen by
| others then Of course the club fails to in
fluence the community and the indi-
vidual Members should devote much
time TO self-examination as q means Of
selfimprovement,
This club Is a representative organiza-
tlon, and for several reasons may be dis
tinctly recognized as the representative
of the church in Delaware. A member of
the club gives his connection with the
church moro publicity, and this in itself
will make a strong bearing on the com
munity. The development Of this club
will influence every parish in the state.
1t is received favorably even in the remote
dioceses, and its works for good cannot
be estimated. BY its means great deal
Of unsupplied capacity viii come forth,
In this city the church is hardly fitted
for development in proportion to the de
velopment Of the city, New buildingi
are needed.
"A great field is open in the dissent
nation of church literature, spreading thl
doctrines Of the church, and in brealVin,
down mere parochial lines, which ar
such an obstacle to church extension.
$50 it is that am anxious to have thi
. club prosper; II is for sociability and 70
industry. | want you to be heavy .ol
the church working earnestly. l wan
the ladies TO work in this cause, 70
, although they may not become member
they may persuade their husbands, o
brothers, or sweethearts TO Join. hop
q such an influence will go out that wi
make men ask, why is it2'.. and not b
z satisfied until they come 10 the cours
/ and demand a share.
The address lasted over an hour an
/ was listened to with interested attention
!. A vote of thanks was then unanimousl
+ passed to the bishop for the lecture.
q Previous to and following the lectur
! the Star Sextette. composed of w. N
4 Hamilton, IT., William j. Fisher, Jane
4 Cameron, Charles Curtis, ESP, A. W
. Armstrong and James Geary, with J. 7
!, Roberts accompanist, rendered vocs
selections which received merited az
plause from the audience The Los
. Ship, by White, "A Plant, by Glueck
. and THE Letter, by Hatton, were rel
4 dered in order On motion of Bisho
r Coleman the sextette received vote q
n thanks for the most excellent singing