The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-21
DTOCESIN MISSIONS.
Their True Policy Discussed on the Last Day
Of the Church Congress.

After the hymn My Soul His Wondrous
Love-" the Rev. Gustaye A. Christensen. OF
New York city, read q paper on the topic
He said there were more than six millions OF
the uneysngelized. OF this number two
| thirds might avail themselves of re-
ligiOn if they were so inclined. One hundred
million dollars were expended annually IN
large cities. while 10 the missionaries were
sent out only about four million, although
they were nearly one-third OF the total.
He believed in the ncentration of WORK IN
large cities II this were done the needs OF
the church in the large cities would be less
manifold. About twenty or thirty years ago
paris es which were not self-supportlng We're
no better of now. He saw no reasons
why these parishes should not be self
maintaining. The Church, however. was IN
his opinion. making steady progress even If
1t barely held its own. ct 1t suffice 10 say,
he continued. that it would not be surpris-
ing If we should find that the sound which
went out from Chicago i've years
ago and two years later was echoed
at Lambeth must ever be set TO
another key and become a yet more
inviting overture. The Episcopalians could
not proceed very far along the line until
they learned the intellectual CONCEPTIONS
| which support their spiritual life. la clos
/ ing his address the speaker said that the
church of the future would give forth its
| sweetest music when the varying notes were
| IuNO bhS Einuh hlaio'Dhf MAb7o
sound would go ont into all the world, and
the cOnverglng streams of her life would
! empty at last into the river which maketn
| glad the city of God"
The Rev, John :. Lindsay. Of Washington.
! followed He prefaced his address by saying
! that Washington was the banner church
city of America in proportion TO its popula-
! ton. 1t very often happens in the diocese.
| he said. that no interest IS shown in the
welfare Of the various dioceses outside the
bishops home. This congress should find
some way TO keep up the interest in religion
and reach the people in the rural districts.
This he said. would involve the expenditure
Of money, and he had no fear that 1t would
not be forthcoming when its use was made
known.
Mr.. Lindsay said he had never in his life
gone 10 business man aud asked him for
Decuniary assistance for great cause and
been refused. Ii was always given him gener-
ously and cheerfully, and be was sure that
money for the religious welfare of rural dis
tricts would again be contributed literally.
The Rev. j. 4. Born. of Morristown. \. y,
diocesan missionary said that his parents
and their parents had spent their lives in for
eign missionary work. II would be some
what strange. he said. if he did not love the
cause in which his ancestors had spent their
lives. He said that the Church az the present
time was not IN condition to claim its
full strength. The clergy and laity
and 80 the Church worked with both hands
behind its back. The sad confession
must be made said Dir. Born. that the
Church was not responding 20 its birth. The
Church ought 10 claim everything on earth
and il was half afraid 10 claim ANYTHING. Its
ministers ought to be sayinglconstantly. we
have not only the good thing TO offer. but the
very best.n He maintained that the Church
of Christ on earth was never intended 10 be
an everlasting protest. and held that the Pro-
testant Church was afraid of being Roman
lied.
Rev. George G. Foley. Of Williamsport, Pa.
was the last speaker on the programme. Mr.
FOlev said there was much need for money
TO carry out the purpose OF diocesan missions.
but he did not 60 with DIR. Christensen as far
rs the latter went. There was, IN his opinion.
a great deal more discrimination 20 lie used
in the assignment of the men TO missionary
points than mere getting of money. The church
did not simply want the money but II wanted
10 know how % use It. He recognized tie
value of religious sentiment the love forsouls
but the common sense methods must be sup
plemented for the proper distribution OF
money for diocesan work. He said that the
Episcopal Church could well initiate the busi-
ness methods of the Methodist Church, which
could with It's business principles build a
church every SIX hours.
Rev. II. Z. Nichols Of New Haven. Conn,
also made a brief address. lie said many
Episcopallans did not attend services in cer-
tain places because the other churches-COn-
gregatOnal, Presbyterian, 6c.-were more
popular, and because they would rather stay
at home than attend church where the kpls-
copal services were not performed. He did
not believe IN this policy. In hls opinion II
was better 10 attend any place Of divine
worship on Sunday than none at all.
The country grocery store. he said.
was much worse than the meeting
places Of iniquity in larger cities. He urged
his hearers TO keep the country churches
alive aud 70 help ministers in their RELIGIOUS
needs. In Connecticut years ago. lie said.
the country people attended church every
Sunday. going over the worse roads for miles. |
Now these churches had teen andOned I
and were occupied by foreigners. lie tn ught |
II more interest were taken IN missionary /
work the old interest would be revived and /
the country made better.
Rev. >. Gibbons. OF Nova Scotia. an rs |
Quinau made an interesting extempOrane-
Gus address. He told several witty incidents |
OF missionary life IN Alaska. and said he was
a firm believer in the principles that men
should be selected for their work who could
adapt themselves to the circumstances that
them. Ministers should. among
the rural inhabitants. use the plain
est language possible. The frequent
use of technical terms selected from
the Bible was not always understood by
the uneducRted people. These uueducated
DeOple wanted the WOrl OF ArOA lFtaclbQ 10
them not only by the mouth. but by the
eyes. and if the eyes did not show love of
God the words Of the preacher had little
effect
Bishop Dudley then made short address,
after which recess was taken until 2.JO
o'clock.
The final session Of the congress was held
this evening. the topic OF debate being Per
sonal Religion"
The first speaker introduced was the Right
Rev. O. w. Whitaker. ID. d., of Philadelphia.
There is no personal religion. he said, without
emotion. One must feel the nearness OF God
else he could not have the true emotion.
There can be no personal religion without
.ome knowledge OF God. No one can come
INTO fellowship with God without going into
service commanded.
DR.. Parker Morgan followed. He said the
subject was one that might be dstasteiui 10
people who did not like 10 speak of their per-
,onal affairs but some OF the most dlstastetul
things in lte were greatest and grandest. lie
lid not believe O minister in his sermon
should 90 beyond his own personal expe-
-ience. Personal religion meant that one
should have faith in the being and tine su-
,reme sanctifying, indwelling p wer Of the
loly spirit f God Personal religion. he
aii could be divided into four classes
.irst. meditation and prayer. second. reye-
emily reading, marking and inwardly digest
no Gods word third by careful waiting
mon his ordained means OF grace, and last, |