Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-20
OLD AND NEW WAYS,
Both Find Advocates in the Episcopal
Congress at Boston.
TOO MANY CHURCH SOCIETIES.
Organized Work Is Not to Take the Place of
individuality.
THE ADDRESS OF A PENNSYLVANIA

BOSTON, Nov. 19-"New and Old Paro
chial Methods" was the subject discussed
this morning in the Episcopal Congress BY
Dr.. G. W. Shinn, of Newton, Mass. Rev
DR.. E. W. Bradley, of Brooklyn, followed
with an essay on the same subject. As tc
the methods of church work be asked:
When would it be understood that the
Church could not compete with the world
in the matter of entertainment: By and by
the resources of our church people to enter
tain their congregations will have become
exhausted. This will naturally lead to the
opening of the theaters Sunday. This
viii be the logical consequence of the great
and growing entertainment feature of our
churches. The Church could only win he
way to Christ by fighting. Never could it be
won by coaxing. Our methods are not ag-
gressive enough and not evang elistic
enough. We want men in this warfare
against the enemy OF mems souls. If we
fail Rome or Satan must occupy the land.
The emergency is great. 1t is not new ma
chInery that we need so much as a reStor-
alton OF the old.
Org rganization Carried to Excess.
DR.. Bradley was followed by Rev. Lang
don Stewardson. of Worcester, Mass, who
took the ground that the distinction be-
tween the old and the new parochial
methods was best seen in the simplicity of
the former compared with the complica-
ton that mark the latter. Organization has
been carried to an extreme within the
churches, and has no good result when new
societies and clubs are introduced, when
there is no spiritual demand for them.
Much of the organization within the Church
to-day, according to DR.. Stewardson, so far
from promoting spiritual growth, is posi-
i've or dro lo
work of the Church.
The Church is not supposedto cater to all
the physical, intellectual and social wants
OF its people. When parish finds that it
can accomplish spiritual aims through the
channel of any of these church societies it
should be adopted; but when, because one
Of these has proved a success under excep-
donal circumstances, it is regarded as a
necessity in all parishes, then church organ
lzation has transcribed its proper limits.
A Defense of the Modern Methods.
The first speaker for the afternoon was
Rev. E S. Lindes, of New Haven. His ad-
1ress was in the nature of plea for the
modern methods, having their foundation.
as they do, upon the successful, though
simpler, methods of the past. He protested
against the indiscriminate and sweeping
condemnation of all church societies.
The speaker pleaded earnestly for dis
crlmlnation. In the first place, organiza-
tions should be simple The work of socie-
ties should not be substituted for personal
work, nor should the church be permi ted
TO obscure the personal element that made
he preaching of ministers in the past so
successful
Rev. Henry T. Jones, of Wilkesbarre,
.as the last speaker on the programme.
lie followed on much the same lines as
hose of Rev. Mr.. Lindes, speaking in favor
+ the methods of parochial work as they
1ist to-day. The need of the day, said he,
not for simpler or more perfect organ
sation in the matter of church work, but a |
Gller and more complete conservation to |
rod |
The only volunteer speaker of the session