The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-14
A NOTABLE GATHERING.
Many Prominent CIergymsn at the
Church Congress in Boston.

At the first days session OF the big
Episcopal Church Congress at Trinity
Church and Music Hall in Boston yester-
day, Hon. Rathbone ~. Gardner
OF this city was the first
OF the appointed speakers upon the
subject, "The Duty of the Church in the
Matter Of Secular Activities
A synopsis of his address Is as follows:
This topic may be discussed under three
heads: (l) Has the church any duty N
the matt.r OF secular activity? CD II SO,
what u that duty; anu, 80 how 10 1t 10
Secular activity is broad term. 1t may
be taken here to include everything out
side these religious activities which per-
tain To the maintenance OF the Church as
an organization, the conduct OF its
services, the ministoring TO the
spiritual needs OF its members and provi-
sion for its growth aud extension. There
arc doubtless many who would claim that
these comprehend all the activities with
which the Church need concern herself.
Those who assert this must base their as
sertion 10 one or two hypothesis.
10 That the Church is an end in and
of Itself
CO. That being means 10 an end, the
end which it is intended 10 accomplish IS
sGnpiy the cultivation OF a religious sem
timent, and the salvation of its members
from sin in this life and some kind of
punishment in life to come.
In neither Of these hypothcses can
agree. The first is to assert that Jesus
Christ came or earth merely 10 found an
institution. The second is TO restrict the
object of His mission within which lie has
never sanctioned.
The Church then having duty in the
matter OF secular activities, What is that
duty? Q.) There is duty TO accomplish
for mems bodies; the duty which
the church's Master Himself realized
end performed before Hs entered
upon His mission OF teaching. This u
the Church has always recogn lzsd by sne
main tenance OF orphan asyluins, hospitals,
homes for the sick and aged, and is recog-
nizing more fully snd II aili emily today,
in the establishment OF gymnasiums,
clubs and even dancing t.As5ps. 80 Ii -
the duty to care for II EMS minds; tho
duty which the Church has also likewise
recognized in the esta biishment of schools
and colleges, ana which today it is carry
ing out in the maintenance ot schools
for manual and technical training.
The necessity Of tie Clurc Is engaging
in work OF this kind was nevel 80 evident
as today in this psriod charac-
terized by change and almost by
revolution. 1t is evidenced
by the political upheavals which we see
around as; in the bringing TO hit Of un-
suspected corruption in National. State
anu NONtIHlHeAAs AZ - eNl-
dencod more strongly by existing indus
trial disturbances.
There are certain things that the Church
must do in order even 20 prepare herself
for this duty: "a. She must cultivate
and give expression TO the wish to help,
T.Tsr whch aoms thus ~, far She she, she rn.. h..
ticularly, through the authorities en-
titled to speak her voices, acknowledge
her duty TO engage in the task OF solving
these problems. (3). She must under
stand what the problems are
and give 10 her ministry an
education which will fit them
10 cope with them. (4). Having learned
TO comprehend these questions, she must
speak openly and plainly with reference
To them. even at the risk Of offending those
on whom she has been accustomed TO rely,
and destroying, for the time being,
her own peace. (5). She must abandon
her alliance with wealth, IL such an
alliance exists. In order FOR the Church
20 solve these problems she must,
sDove everything else, acknowledge
that God is still revealing Himself TO hu-
manity; that His voice did not become
silent six thousand or two thousand
years ago, and that in every true word
90 7ld good deed done He is heard
and seen.
Ct OF this kind OF participation
in secular activities would be TO infinitely
broaden the Church, 10 lift her out OF the
region OF mere sentiment, 20 commend
her 10 ali manly ana earnest men who are
doing a work for he right, and TO attract
and bring all people 70 her.
Rev. Joseph HutcbiEson of Providence
was introduced ~ the lirst appointed
writer on the subject and the Others
writer's and sp.aEers were: Rt. Rev.
Nelson $. Rulion, Assistant Bishop
OF Central PfunsylyaHla who con-
Quoted the services, Bishop Lawrence,
Of Massachusetts ofiiciatod az celebrant in
the communion service, Rev. Charles ID.
Eansdy, DID, OF New Rocheilo; Rev.
William ID. Macon, Rsy IouisJ j. Osborne,
OF Newark, ~. j.; Rev William Bayard
Hale, OF MiudlebOrO, and MIR. Talcott
Williams, editor oi the Philadelphia
Press.
On the platform were bishops Lawrence
OF Massachusetts, Sessuns OF louisa ma,
Rulison oi penusyiyauia and Ihompson
OF Mississippi; Dean Hodges of the Cam
bridge Theological School, Rev.J.W. Kra-
mer, acting secretary OF he Congress, and
nfh har of "A offruw