The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-27

order to bring this about. He quoted
from Bishop Potter and Dr. Hall on this
subject. He said: eff we could unite, if
the great Catholic church could bring
about a reconciliation, millions of men
who are now Indifferent to religion,
would became Christians Unity dons
not mean uniformity, but recognizing
the difference in mankind we can bring
about unity of purpose which will re-
suit in much good in the world.
Mr.. John FL. Cole the secretary of the
Church of Club of New York, was the
next speaker. He said that the very
movement in the establishment
OF ! church clubs O is gan evolution
which expresses the intense activity
in the church itself. In forming the
first club ten years ago it was deemed
best to make it conservative, educational
and giving an opportunity of suggestion
rather than exception. We believe that
any other object would endanger the
movement. Any concrete effort to execute
the suggestion of any one of these
clubs would lead in factional feeling
which must be avoided. When people
have said to us "Why don't you do
something" we have replied, "This is
a talking club and we are organized to
talk" The church club idea is to discuss
those points which pertain to the well
fare of the church in which we all live.
In the New York Club we discuss topics
on, hoo
sions we endeavor to bring out different
views and in this we have found great
success. We have departed once from the
policy I have indicated in the founding
of the 'fEast Side House," but we soon
found that the maintaining Of this house
of lectures in carrying out our education
al ideas.
The work of the club in an education
al way could be best carried out through
social intercourse. 1t is in this way that
good results are shown. What we need
is to know one another better and to
have laymen meet outside of the pa
rochial lines. The clubs should be strictly
diocesan
These clubs should act as the advisors
of thu bishop and should work with him
to carry out the work Of the church. The
contrast between the st. Andrew S
Brotherhood and the Church Club is that
the first is strictly parochial, and the
second confines its work to broader fields
within the diocese.
The national movement of Church
Clubs is bringing the East in closer touch
with the West and the Nor tn to the
South and if there is anything more de-
sirable than this, do not know what it
is.
There is a great deal of crude and loose
thinking in these days and one thing
the laymen of the church can do is to
inform themselves on these questions be-
fore they do much talking. This crude
talking and thinking is one Of the in
armities Of our age. conceive the duty
of the church is to work upon human
nature and not the discussion of econo-
mics. 1t is because we think the world
should be regenerated in our times that
we become so easily discouraged 1t
will be centuries before the true Christian
ideal can be brought about. There is
great danger in some of the things that
have been attempted in these economic
questions.
But one thing laymen can do and that
is to take a hand in the political ques-
tions of this country. How much in our
time are we giving to politics? Aren't
we neglecting the very foundations of the
stateg Do we go to the polls? No, we
do not do this, but we should do it. If
we should take more interest in politics
we would bring about the reforms one
looks for. The failure Of the arbitration
treaty and the supremacy of Mr.. Platt in
forcing on the people charter for New
York which the people do not want, show
that it is impossible for the popular will
to govern these things as they are now
conducted. Politics in this country are
on the wane, but a Christian man should
mingle religion and politics.
1t is our duty to reflect calmly on all
public questions and not act hastily or
without due consideration.
Mr.. Coles remarks were very warmly
received and heartily applauded Rev. j.
S. Moody, Rev. Charles F. Lee of New
CASTLE, Rev. Walter G. Stewart of Bath
and others, spoke briefly.