New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-20
METHODS OF PARISH WORK.
DISCUSSION BY The EPISCOPAL CONGRESS
THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF Or
GAN1zAT1nNs SET EORTH

THE ADVANTAGES AND DdsADvANTAGEs OF Or
CARNATIONS SET FORTH.
Washington, Nov 10.-The third days session OF
the Episcopal Congress held in the amory OF the
National Rifles Bishop Dudley, Of Kentucky, presiding
The Rev. DR.. c. w. Shinn, OF Newton, Mas. read the
first essay of the session on the general subject OF
Anew and Old Parochial Methods All the methods
Of parish work he said, may be grouped into four
classes l. Those which atm at the religious education
Of young persons and the ignorant. g Those seeking
TO for the poor, the sick and the disabled
g. Those for reaching strangers and Others who are
out of the way. 4. Those which promote Christian
fellowship.
one Of the underlying principles In doing the best
work is the recognition Of the lay element helpers
There have been periods when laymen and laywomen
have not been welcomed helpers, but that day has
gone although there not yet In this Church large
made OF the lay people there should
be- The aspect Of our Church has not seemed kindly to
many, her children have not done much as they
might toward moulding the tone of the place In which
they live. Happily all this is changing. Witness the
work OF Of these organizations and the WORK
done by old organizations in improved FORMS Here
accounts gwen Of tho st. Andrews brotherhood,
the Girls Friendly Society, the sunday move
ment as led by the Joint committees, and working
mems clubs. Especial was laid upon the mis-
sion OF the vested choirs in bringing under religious
influences large numbers Of men and boys who other
wise would have strayed away from the Church.
Sometimes the best thing for parish to do was not
to follow the lines Of work adopted elsewhere, but to
branch out for ITSELF
The Rev. Dr. Z. A. Bradley. OF Brooklyn, followed
with a nessay on the same subject. He said at pres
emf the Church in America had only fragmentary
financial system. II Is terribly deficient in respect to
money matters. The Church could not compete with
the world in the matter Of entertainment The Church.
he declared could only win the world to Christ by
fighting II never could be won by coaxing. Then
cfva
enough. II Is not machinery that we need so
much as a restoration Of the old.
Dr. Bradley was followed by the Rev. Langdon
StewardsOn of Worcester. Mass. who took the ground
that the distinction between the old and the new
parochial methods was best in the simplicity
Of the former as compared with the complications that
mark the latter He went to show TO what an ex
tent the differentiation Of church work had gone
along the line of guilds and ciubs. lie was OF the
opinion that spiritual growth had in wise been
nourished by this mass OF machinery organization
has been carried 10 extreme within the churches
and has no good result when new societies and clubs
are introduced. The Church is not supposed 10 cater
TO all the physical intellectual and social wants OF
its people. When parish finds that 1t can accom-.
psh spiritual aims through the channel OF any OF
these church societies 1t should be adopted but when
because one of these has proved success under ex
ceptiona circumstances and 1t is regarded as a ne
cessity in all parishes, then church organization has
transcribed its proper limits.
The first speaker for the afternoon was tho Rev.
e. s. Lindes, Of NewHaven His address was a plea
for tho modern methods. having their foundation. as
they do upon the successful. though simpler. methods
Of the past Churches it is true have been organized
up their last possible limit but these societies have
their own spheres. and II is good work. too
Organizations should be simple. Complex institutions
are difficult TO manage and generally unsatisfactory
There should be adaptation to new conditions ana
hutxx hat aS1 eeu OF
10 be good and successful should never be abandoned
The work of societies should not be substituted Tor per
sonal work. $1,000 - .
The Rev Henry l.. JONES' OF Wilkesbarre Penn. was
the last spe the programme lie spoke In favor
of the methods of parocfa work as they exist to-day
The parish house with It's ramifcations and numerous
conveniences Is but evidence Of the development OF
church work. Still, II is better in matters OF TINS so
| 10 have too little machinery rather than TOO much
The only volunteer speaker was the Rev. W. Lawton
| Melicbampe from North Carolina He spoke on the
success that attends organized effort In the large city
churches as compared with the uBorganzed work OF
| smaller parishes. o., . -
The topic for discussion at the evening session was
Catholic Protestant Tendencies In tho Life OF the
| Church. Papers read by the Rev. Carl f. Gram
| mer Alexandria Va: the Rev. Stewart Means, New
| Haven Conn.,, and the Rev. DR.. Henry \. Satterlee
New-York. The speakers were the Rev. j. O. = Hunt
| ngton and the Rev DR.. Arthur Brooks, OF New York.