The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-06-19
l86TH ANNUAL MEETING


| is MT. BOX WIRING IN the Cosmopolitan
on 1.-The Young Man and the Church"
and saying that it is not true that the
young men of our day are ungodly or
disrespectful of sacred things; on the
contrary that very many of them are
just as DESTROYS of attending church as
the church is anxious to have them;
that the usual plan of the clery to an
nounce a series of Sermons to young
men," or Sunday evening talks on "the
manly sports and amusements of the
day" is pulpit bait that does not largely
take; that what the young man asks for
is a common sense religion, a vigorous
affirmative religion to help him meet
the requirements of his daily life. He
wants to feel, when he goes to church,
that there is a man in the pulpit who
understands him, who knows and APP
preclates what are the problems which
a young man has to face, and who tells
him in a, clear, honest, practical man
ner how he must solve these problems.
He wants an affirmative rellgion-not
negative creed. He does not seek
from the pulpit the groundwork ON
which to build a "goody -goody" boy,
but the strong, honest, fundamental
principles on which he can rear a ster-
ling character.
And we say amen" to this all from
beginning to end, and, as we say it, ask
how 1t is possible for evangelical Chris
tianity to provide this to the young men
to whom she breaches, apart from her
convictions of these eternal doctrinal
facts which underlie her whole being,
and condition her whole work.
Is it necessary in order to doctrinal
preaching with reference to sociology
or municipal reform or young mem that
we should resurrect the old idea of doc
trine for doctrines sake, regardless of
the element of time, in ignoring of mems
disposition of mind and without respect
to any adjustment of the doctrines to
the issues in question?
Why, it has been the failure to take
these things into consideration that has
killed doctrlnal preaching in the past
and deserved to do so. 1t lis the mem
DRY of this failure and the fear of this
failure and the occasional injudicious
temperance of this failure that con-
dennis it and outlaws it to-day, but that
with a due regard to these things 1t
can be preached, that with due re-
gard to these things 1t needs to be
preached, and that with a due regard
to these things it must and, as we come
better to understand the essential ne
cessity of the evangelical Christianity
factor in the issues Of the day, will and
shall be preached, there is, candidly and
honestly, gentlemen, no doubt in any
of our minds. May God give us all
grace and wisdom and real, good nine
tenth century common sense to bring
it about
A general discussion followed In which
the Rev. Samuel Scoville of Stamford.
who is a son-in-law of Henry Ward
Beecher, Rev. John Dopew, Rev. H. L.
Hutchins of Taylor church, New Haven,
Rev. DR.. Joseph Anderson Of Water
bury, Rev. W. w McLane of the Col
lege street Congregational church, Rev
Mr.. Wallace and Rev. Professor Harris
of the Yale Divinity school took part,
The discussion was along the line Of
doctrinal preaching, setting forth the
great doctrinal truths of Christianity
DR.. McLane endeavored to impress on
his audience the Importance Of altruism,
the living for something besides self
Where" he said, would one find a
motive like the life of Christ, who
though poor, lived to another besides
Himself?''
The teaching of regenera ton in all
the practical problems of human life
was also spoken of as being important
for the preacher. The Christian doc
trine was said to be the highest motive
that could be brought to bear on human
life.
Rev. r. t. Hall delivered an address
entitled "The Relation of the Ministry
to Public Questions He said that the
restoration of civic life was something
we ought to be interested In. 1T Is
nothing new" he said 1T has been
done before, but it is harder now to ac-
anything in the complex con-
ditions of dense population and high civ
ilization. Such as men as Rev. DR..
and Rev. DR.. Smyth, the
honored pastor of this church, have to
be recognized as powers in the commu-
nifty"
Rev. E. P. Parker Of Hartford, Prof.
Blackman, Rev. DR.. Smyth, Rev. Dr.
Anderson. Rev. DR.. Scovill and others
present engaged in the discussion. The
introduced the work of popu-
lar reform in a good many Of Its diff
ferent phases They said that 1t did not
pay to denounce politicians indscrimi-
nately. They are not all rascals Many |
Of them believe in the right thing. They |
that ministers make their relations with
their local papers such that they could |
made use of them. Much had already |
been accomplished in this, as many of |
the newspapers of the state are now on
the side of righteousness.
Prof Blackman said that public ques-
lions are greater than political, There |
were social questions, too, to be consid- |
cred. care we willing to apply what
we preach" he said, "in all things? If |
one should be called from the church |
In Middlebury to the First church of |
Hartford, from salary of $500 or $500 |
to one of as many thousands from |
smaller opportunity to a larger, and the |
church wanted you to stay, |
would you consent to submit to the |
of some disinterested per- |
son, say a justice of the peace, and
abide by his decision?'
After the discussion the meeting ad- |
ourned for tea, which was served by |
he ladies of the First church.
THE EVENING SESSION.
The meeting assembled again at 1880
o'clock, and the Rev. DR.. Joseph Fl. |