The Portland daily press., 1894-06-08

AT Denver Yesterday-fCev. FRANK L. Day
ley Formerly of Portland Among the
Speakers Who Were Heard-The Ad-
dresses Are Interesting And Well Worth
Reading.
Omaha, June 7.--At the meeting of the
Home Missionary Society today, addresses
were delivered by Rev. f. T. .Bayley of Dem
yer formerly of Portland, Me-. and by L. H.
Cobb, D. D., of New York. Rev. Washing
ton Choate, D. D., the secretary. read a
paper entitled Home Missions for the Sake
of America
Among other things the speaker said:
The Congregational idea shaped the civil
lization of New England, and wherever
that idea goes it's necessary effect is to cre-
ate higher, truer, stronger self-govern-
ment in men and women, which idea is also
the strength of our nations life. Congre-
gationalism has thus mighty motive to
maintain itself in the older and rapidly
changing States, and to reduplicate itself
throughout this newer and growing
part of the land; n the country and
in the city; among those of American ances-
ry, and of European or Asiatic; among the
decendants of the once enslaved race and
Lie cOuS Ol LILO NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. VI uiiO
oneness of it's primal idea and that of a DEM
ocratic nation whose very existence de-
pends on what the Pilgrim polity aims at
self-governing people.
A true Congregational Church is a pure
democracy. 1t emphasizes supremely the
individual, and the force which works most
directly for the highest and strongest per-
sonal character in all it's qualities -intell-
gence, moral integrity, purity Of purpose,
spiritual aspiration-is that which is most
nightly shaping the nations civilization.
In the NorthAtlantic States 81 Upper cent
of the POPULATION is in cities of 5000 or more
inhabitants. Change the standard of meas
urement to the point where those condi-
tions, which really constitute the city in its
power and also its danger. began to exist;
make the standard 5000 instead of $4,000, and
the preponderance is actually with the city.
Of Is Western States which are within the
field of this national society. in which COM
parison can be made with the census of 1880,
not one is there that has not nearly 25 per
cent of it's towns decadent. Of the 1900
towns in those IS States Gncluding such as
California, Oregon, Minnesota, Kansas, In
diana, Florida, Texas, and excluding none)
1900 are growing smaller. These towns are
feeding the cities. In many of them we
have planted a::chureh-and most frequent
", the first to enter and minister to the up
building of Christian citizenship. Shall
the church withdraw and leave the dark
ening conditions to deeper darkness? If SO
what shall save the village, the agricultural
region where to-day are 10000, 600 of our popu-
lation? The decadence of the town means
the deterioration of the social, educational,
religious opportunities. This is incipient
barbarism.
The one question now is, How shall the
great task be accomplished? 1t is question
of method to-day-of the most effective and
really constructive city evangelization.
This is the heart of the problem now. Bos-
ton, Hartford, Jersey City, Milwaukee have
established the Institutional Church; and
this society lends it's aid to this form of meet
ing the city's needs. Chicag o, Brooklyn, New
York, St. Louis, Denver, are reduplicating
the church of our fathers, perhaps broad
ened and adjusted to modern conditions,
and we join hands in this method. Social
settlements are under trial. 1t is day of
experimental effort. The conscious neces-
sity is urgent. But not yet is it certain
that the key to the problem has been found.
Great sections of our cities are wholly un-
touched.
This was discussed by James S. Ainslee
of Fort Wayne and Henry Hopkins, D. D.,
of Kansas Citv.
This evening REV. DR.. William Kin
caid, the secretary, spoke on Home
missions for the sake of the world -
He said in substance: Let us
| consider what is the bearing of this Ameri-
can home missionary work in which we are
engaged, upon the future destiny of earth.
Is it true, as Rev. M. W. Montgomery said,
| that the United States of to-day is the
| mountain top of the hopes of many ma
| ions?'' Is it true, as Prof. Austin Phelps
| declares, that 1--WE should look on these
| UnitedStates as first and foremost the chosen
! seat of enterprise for the worlds CONVEX
sion;" that ''forecasting the future of
| Christianity, as statesmen forecast the des-
| tiny of nations, we must believe that as
| goes America SO goes the world?" Is it true,
| as Dr.. Josiah Strong affirms, that he does
most to ChristianiZe the world and to.hasten
| the coming of the kingdom who does most
| to make thoroughly Christian the United
| States''? 1t is our conviction that these ut
| terances express the simple, sober truth,
truth that should give shape and color to
every plan that American Christians adopt
| for bringing the world to Christ, truth upon
which we should mediate and pray until
our whole being is fused into one glowing
aspirtion and purpose to save this pivotal
nation upon which the destiny.of the world
| shall turn.
| America occupies conspicuous position,
exerts peculiar fascination and exercises
exceptional influence among all people.
| h. nd .orlxy To-
ment of this continent. and especially