The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-08
MEETING Of MINISTERS.
Interesting Proceedings at the Con-
gregational Church in This
City Yesterday.
Synopsis Of the Address Of Mr..
Howell on Moral and INTEL
lectual Inddelity.
Proposal to Establish Conversational
College in Helena-Meetings Called
for This Morning.

The meeting Of Congregational ministers
in this city has thus far been very pleasant
and interesting. A large amount of bust
ness was transacted yesterday and address.
es were delivered by Rev. VIM. G. Fowler,
Rev. s. A.. Wallace and Supt. H. G. Sim
mons. The evening exercises were opened
with singing by the choir, in which the
sweet voices of Misses Mosher and Wake
helm were heard to good advantage.
committee on resolutions was then appoint
ed, followed by short prayer. Rev. E. B.
Howell then delivered very fine address
on the subject of choral and Intellectual
Infdelity," of which tho following is a brief
epitome: When he first arrived in Helena
he looked down upon the valley spread out
at her feet and the range of hills beyond
and thought it a scene of wonderful beauty.
The mountains seemed to him
as though enchanted; the peace
of God had settled down upon
them-a peace grand and serene. A bust
ness man in this city had told him there
was no Sunday in this country and if there
was any God west of the Mississippi river
he had never discovered it. In their search
for gold many people Of the mountains,
said the minister, had forgotten God.
Churches had been established, but that
was not the object for which they came
The pilgrims who landed on Plymouth
Rock came to establish churches. The in
fidelity of this west country impressed him
very painfully: Infidelity affects the intel
lect and sensibility. Faith grasps things
that transcend reason and occupies the
heart and brain. It was SO likewise of in
fidelity. There was both moral and intel
lectual infidelity. An infdel means life
of unfaithfulness. There have been men
times. Human nature is about the
same now as ever. The speaker gave e1-
amples of those who have intellectual
doubts, but whose hearts were all right.
He cited John the Baptist, who asked if
this was indeed the Christ, or seeing the
Savior for the first time. nd Thomas,
who declined to believe il tbs ,surrection
until he had seen the sounds no he flesh of
the Savior and thrust his 81 YRS into
them. There "Tpre erEef5 @i5A sinful
hearts who Et5 II" nv w@@ Christ's
Teachings ai7 r5EIaH, Mh go on in
their eiZS Hi Fa gianaly dc at Christian
itr ,-al vii. continue IL d . 90 as long as
t-a7 l-- ~ the.r sins. 1t is interesting to
Ngwms fa rta.o = SO widespread inf
57'ty in sIe ygs.. There is an atmosphere
Vt Ill., Jt 5 % the sulphurous smoke of
E.ette, IN are careful about the atmos-
pagf ley breathe, and keep the streets
Al in order to preserve their health.
hey should be more careful about their
spiritual atmosphere. There are too many
saloons and too many gambling houses.
| that pour out upon the community a kind
Of malaria, spreading an atmosphere which
for one who loves Christ and his ways. One
who starts out to find out the will of God
has only to turn to the Bible to find the
whole truth.
Upon the conclusion of the address a
beautiful solo was sung by Miss Mosher.s,y
| low III SINoNrr Sr,@,-
resume of church work in Montana and
their establishment, and paid glowing
| tribute to the women's missionary work.
He found great cause for encouragement in
Montana. In Helena a larger church would
soon have to be built to accommodate the
congregation.
Rev. W. S. Hawkes. paid fine tribute to
Montana as the empire state of all the
Rockies and Helena the beautiful. He re-
lated droll anecdote about an early Mon
tana preacher, stating that in reading the
parable Of the prodigal son the minister
him." Montana will probably have two
more Congregational churches by July l.
He is firm believer in educa-
ton; the church first, then the
school and the college, He hoped he might
see the day when he could walk through
devoted to Christian education. There is
nothing of greater value to the people and
he hoped they would seize the opportunity
and have the college here which the Con
gregationalists proposed to establish Su-
perintencent M. 8. Bell delivered very i'm
pressive address to the ministers and COM
plimented them upon the manner in which
they had held on in spite of
adverse circumstances and established
churches throughout Montana. Many fail to
reach the result of their labor through ina
bility to stick to it. Montana has boon one
of the enemy's outposts, and those men who
have helped to redeem it will be held in
loving remembrance by generations of the
future. He asked their hearty corporation
in carrying on the work, and spoke in this
vein for upwards of half an hour.
1t was announced that meeting will be
held at the First congregational church
this morning at $3.50 for missionary work
and at 10 for business. The ladies will
hold a meeting at the same place at II
O'Clock a. m. for the purpose of organizing
missionary society.
Rev. Mr.. Simmons stated that he was
, firmly convinced of the necessity of estab-
!. fishing a Congregational college in this
, city, and introduced the following resolu.
ton, which was unanimously adopted
That the ministers would like to have both
men and women of Helena come to the
meeting this morning and talk the matter
over.
1t was also decided to appoint a commit.
tee of nine to take in hand the matter OF
J founding Christian college in Montana
select a site and secure bids. Helena should
be made an educational center. said Mr.
Simmons. 1t has better opportunity thar
any of the cities of the eastern states.
A