Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-01-23
BERKELEY TEMPLE. BOSTON.
REV. CHAS. A. DICKINSON's IDEA
OF PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY,
And How He Is Attempting to Carry II
Out---a Church whose Doors Are Open
Seven Days in the Week.

PROM the New York sunday Tribune
Berkeley Temple, at Berkeley street and
Warren avenue, is one Of the churches
which every person interested in practical
Christian work ought TO visit If he desires
to see what can be accomplished with
liberal supply Of money, due amount Of
consecration and plenty of common sense.
The church building is not a new one nor
Is 1t especially inviting from the outside. hut
1t is always open and there is a spirit
within its doors which makes the stranger
feel at home the moment he crosses its
threshold. Work is the watchword of
every one interested in the enterprise from
the officials TO the humbest members in the
congregation The pastor believes that sell
tishness. if not the root of all evil is a root
Of the evil with which men come most in
contact, aud this spirit pervades the entire
congregation
The Temple is situated within reach of
the people in the Back Bay on the one side,
while it is surrounded by people who live
in boarding houses and receive a moderate
salary at the same time it is not far from
those who are termed 'the other half Of
Boston There are a few men of wealth
in the church, but the majority are work
ing people
Forty years ago the church was the Pine
street church under Prof Austin Phelps, to
whose pastorate DR. Henry NJ Dexter of
the COngregationalist succeeded Under
him it became the Berkeley street church,
and later the Berkeley Temple, designed to
meet the wants Of people Of moderate
means or Of no means at all.
The Rev Chas. A. Dickinson, under
whose supervision Berkeley Temple has
grown in two years from struggling CON
gregation 10 one of the strongest D the
Congregational denomination in Boston,
was born in Westminster, Vt in lSlg, the
year that DR. dexter became pastor Of the
Pine street church Before entering the
Phillips-Andover academy Mr. Dickinson
was a school teacher He was graduated
from Harvard in 1876, and three years
later from the Andover theological semi
nary. While in Andover he was the acting
pastor Of the Riverside Congregational
church in Lawrence. Mass. and at his grad
uation he was called to the pastorate of the
Payson memorial church Of Portland, Me-,
where he was ordained and settled in 1919
He remained there three years, and on the
retirement of Dr. Barrows of Kirk street.
Lowell, Mass. he was called to that influ-
ential church. Five years were spent here
in the midst Of a most delightful work, but
the young clergyman was not satisfied with
what his wealthy people were accomplish
ing He saw the trend of the city's popu-
laton, and knew that, while the Kirk street
church was flourishiug today, it must adapt
itself to the changing conditions Of the
city, or it would cease to he Of any power
- years hence.
Mr.. Dickinson's ability as an organizer
and a spiritual leader was evident from the
hauIunuuu nf hds nd ha haA
plan on foot while in Lowell which he lie
sired very much to carry out 1t was in
the direction of his present work and some
publicity had been given to it, but before
an opportunity had been given to perfect
the details or even to secure the concur
renee of his church, he was asked if he
would consider call to the Berkeley street
church. He said that he would not do so.
He wished to complete the work which he
had undertaken in Lowell Soon. however
he was invited to preach in the Boston
church. aud did So before an audience num-
bering perhaps l2O in the morning and -
III the evening. Later he received call to
this city, and in his reply said that he would
accept 1t on three conditions First, that
all the pews should be made absolutely free {:
secondly. that the church should promise to
raise 1000 a year for three years ; and
thirdly, that he should be free to conduct
the work according To his own ideas aud
not be hampered by traditions or committees.
10 his surprise the members voted unani-
mOusly on the first condition, and signed a
paper to that effect, making the pews free.
They also agreed to the third condition. In
regard to the second, that of raising Sl5,
900 year, this was not so easily assumed.
They concluded that they could raise 5000,
and that the Home Missionary society
would give them $500 Mr. Dickinson
saw the willing spirit manifested, and he
went to some of his friends in Boston, who
in three days agreed to make up the def
cheney, $500, so that when he met the peo-
pie for the first time after their call, he was
able to promise them as much money as
they had offered to give, and he at once be
gan his work.
The pastor says that some people com
plain of his method of work because there
is too much machinery connected with it,
but he believes that what is needed in the
church is not less machinery, but more
steam not fewer heels, but more of the
living creature within The most fitting
sample of vigorous working church, he
thinks, is not a compleXity of wheels, but
living tree-an organism, every part of
which is vitally related to every other part,
the whole rooted and grounded in love and
bearing abundant fruit.
The four roots upon which the work was
| developed were First, parish comprising
some 5000 non-church-goers, determined
by a careful canvass of the so avenues,
| streets and courts in the vicinity of the
church secondly, the Berkeley street or
ganization and edifce thirdly, the gener.
Gus contribution of Christian friends and
fourthly, the idea and plan of the new en-
terprise. Then comes the stem or trunk of
the tree, which comprises the various Of
fcers and chief committees of the church
and parish.
A sentence from Mr. Dickinson's confes-
sion of faith, if it may be so called, will
show the spirit with which he has under
taken the vast work The Gospels, as
study them, are the history, not of a relig
ious recluse and mystic dreamer, an acute
scholastic, or a vague sprtist but of one
who mingled with men, and ate with pub
| licans and sinners. whose teachings were
superlatively practical, and whose life flow
ed out in constant ministration to the sick
and sorrowing, the outcast and the down
cast, the tempted and the tOi-worn.'
Associated with the pastor in his con
stantly growing work are two assistant
pastors and an evangelist. There are alsC
eight deacons and four deaconesses be
sides these helpers, he has six or more stu
dents from Andover seminary. These
Young men give their Saturday afternoons
and Sundays TO the Berkeley Temple work
Some very pleasant dormitories have been
| fitted up in the church tower for the use OF
the students which form delightful home
for them every Sunday. 1t is impossible
in this brief article to give an idea of the
various committees that have their rooms
and their nights for meeting, or to speak
of the Chinese work, the Christian En-
deavor societies, the Yoke Fellows band
the Bible training classes the various lines
Of missionary work, home and foreign, the
Kings Daughters, the hospital choir, the
summer gospel work, the temperance union
the outpost wOrk-these are a few of the
agencies by which the pastor is multiplying
/ himself
/ There are two reading-rooms, one fol
men aud one for women, which are open al
all hours of the day and evening. There
| is a church office, with its various depart
ments relief, employment. dispensary
country week, and justice of the peace. Ii
/ this last department efficient work has beer
/ done by one of the assistant pastors, anC
/ the many expressions of gratitude which
/ have been received, warrant the continue
tion of this secular department Under tn,
home department are home workers, home
makers, willing workers, kitchen garder
( and Talitha- Cumi circle. This last brancl
is led by DIR, Julia NJ, Plummer and wa
instituted for the purpose of teaching girl
to think deeper and better thoughts ahou
womanhood in general and about their owl
womanhood in particular. Simple practica
talks are given on physiology, hygiene, dress
occupation, marriage. amusements etc
Mr.. Dickinson is fortunate in having as
sociated with him two editors Of "Th
Congregationalist. the Rev. Howard A
Bridgman and Miss Frances j Dyer II
has also one or two editors from "Th
Youths Companion and is himself an edi
tor of "rhs Golden Rule The Rev h