The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-15

do it? Again, the church never has
done this. 1t Is true that there was
almsgiving at the gates OF the ancient
monasteries when the brawling oil the
beggars became SO loud as To annoy the
monks within but the effect was so evil that
when the monasteries in England were
swept away the Government was obliged
to exterminate the neglected beneficiaries,
rot simply because they were beggsrs,
but because they were sturdy beggars.
1t does not seem that this was the sort
of activity which the Lord contemplated
for his church. II he had the rudiments
for the development, the needed powers
would have at least been furnished.
The personal habits of Christ do not in
dicate hat il was so intended. His heal
ing of the sick was incidental. His great
work and mission was TO teach the eter-
nal truth.
Tie church would endanger itself to
enter their outside field, it would become
institutionalized. We may see the results
to a certain extent in the Catholic church.
Its unfortunates are taken from the homes
and herded in institutions, and so the
home, and with 1t the State, Is deprived
Of its sanctity and responsibility.
matter are compatible. My wish would
be to have the church as the
principal agent for the alleviation
of all human suffering. But
what is the church really for. Men OF
our generation are hungry for God, more
SO than ever before; the cry is not for
need the inspiration from on high.
1t is the work Of the church to provide
that and she must not jeopardize her
power by attempting to use weapons that
are not here.
Rev. M. Crapsey Is typical Episcopal
clergyman who would be described as
hatn Grof hon
thoughtful. His words last evening bore
out tnat impression. He said that when
he had received the invitation OF the
Churchman's Club to speak upon Secular
Benevolence he was really at loss to de-
fine either secular or benevolence and
"now,n he continued ~ am told there Is
no church."
Icannot agree with the rector Of st.
Stephens. There IL q church and the
church is benevolence incarnate. The
word means goodwill and our Lord and
Saviour was the incarnation OF good
will, not in the eternities alone but 10
time, yesterday, today, tomorrow. From
the beginning to the end of his
life, unless / have read it
all amiss, his purpose was to go
about doing good OF all kinds. Every act
of his was one Of benevoence; He taught
the truth but He removed the pain
and alleviated suffering. He in
terpreied for humanity that law
that for bade the man to reap the whole
field, and charged him to leave untouched
q portion of the gleanings that they might
be gathered by the poor.
Emerson has said that constitutions are
the shadows Of great men," We go fur
very substance of Christ. It Is to the
world what Christ was. II it was His work
TO do good IL is the work OF the Church
TO do good. He gave the bread
OF the spiritual and of the temporal life
and so must we. For l was hungered
and we gave me meat; l was thirsty and ye
gave me drink. i was stranger
and We took me in; naked, and ye clothed
me; was sick and ye visited me; / was
in prison and We came unto me-" The
whole doctrine OF the church Is 10 abolish
sin, sickness and death. That Is the pur-
pose OF its organization. God must be
shown TO men as well as told to them.
We cannot discuss the question, for
there Is no question. Benevoience, good
will, that is the church, IL is the worship.
IL not these I agree with Rev. Mr.. Neon
nell--there Is no church.
There is no such word as secular In the
voca bulary of the church. The spiritual
and the corporal are equally parts oil her
life, melt her can be ignored.
The first-compelling duty is TO unite
man with God In sacramental worship,
the second Is spiritual teaching, to make
men conscious that they have souls,
and the third duty Is benevolence
and charitable work. The hand
OF the church as well as It's voice must be
manifest. liz Is no longer voice crying
in the wilderness. That was enough for
John the Baptist, but with Christ came
the healing and the care of the body.
The trouble with the Protestant
Episcopal Church II that she has not
evolved nor differentiated enough. Now
let the hand follow the mouth, the
working accompany the teaching.
How far we shall go In organization
ii merely matter OF detail and of wis
dom. But the wisdom will come with ex-
perience, and eventually by wise as we'll a.
benevolent provisions the poor will be
cared for aud he aims b. house shall not be