Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-14
UNITY OF PURPOSE.
Interesting Address by Dean Hodges on Advan-
vantages OF Cooperation.

A most deeply interested audience as
scmbled Monday evening. at the Con-
gregational chapel, to hear the address on
How the Millennium Came to Pitts
burg, by Rev Dean Hodges of the Cam
bridge Episcopal college.
Mr.. Hodges is man of deep thought
and great power as lecturer and was
listened to with much interest
In his address, Dean Hodges said in
effect;
There is disease which has for many
years afflicted the church, and which
some consider inourable / don't. 1t Is
the disease of division. This disease makes
the church weak, While just now there is
special need that the church should be
strong.
In the days when the church believed
that its chief work was to prepare the in
dividual to go to Heaven. division did
not greatly matter. But, today, when
we know that the purpose of the church
Is to bring Heaven down here, and when
the work of the church is not only with
the individual, but with society, it mat
tiers II great deal. The problem of the
city can be solved only by united
strength. The devil is not afraid of mobs.
In order to make an impression and to
accomplish any reform, we must work
together.
Naturally there are many physicians
for this disease, and many prescriptions.
Some prescribe submission, but this is a
dose which we all want somebody else to
take Others prescribe legislation, but
this means talk without end. Still others
prescribe cooperation. Let us, at least,
do what We can. Let US take the nearest
step. This is the newest thing in the
church unity movement Ii is being
tried, today,in many parts of the country.
In Massachusetts, at Springfield, at New
ton, at Aver, and at Jamaica Plain, there
are movements of this kind.
You have begun one in Augusta. /
want to tell you what we did in Pitts
burg.
Pittsburg is accurately pictured on all
maps as black spot that, even through
the smoke, we caught some stray CLEANS
of the millennium. 1t began with a union
Sunday school teachers meeting. at
which we got together so teachers, and
had them taught by people of a dozen
different denominations. Then we or
ganized a meeting of the ministers
Protestant and Catholic A these meet
ings we divided the part of the town in
which we lived into districts, and as
signed district to each congregation
Each minister was held responsible for
his district He ascertaned and reported
the names and residences Of people who
never went TO church, and they were
looked up. The sanitary social and po
litical needs of the parish were discussed.
Then we started a paper, called The
Kingdom, which we made the parish
paper OF 20 churches, and used it as the
organ of the church unity movement.
Meantime, INF another part of the city,
among the tenement houses, Protestant
minister and Il Roman Catholic priest
held a series of Sunday afternoon musical |
services, with great chorus and orchestra
and 5000 people in attendance. And,
shortly after. in another section, among
the mills, we started a college settlement,
having among its managers, Presby-
terrain minister, and Episcopal minister,
a Unitarian minister and a Catholic
priest.
After all is told it seems but little; per
haps, however, it is the moro valuable on
that account. For this, and more, too,
can all be done, anywhere, by anybody.
| congratulate you that you have made
a good beginning here in Augusta.
After the address, the subject Of church
unity in work was discussed, and views
expressed as to the advantages of concen- |
trated efforts by the members of the
different churches.