The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-02
METHODISTS
in SESSION.
December Meeting of the
Social Union.
THE WORK OF THE YEAR.
Rev. Mr.. Dickins0n's Address on
"The Institutional Church."
THE WORK OF THE YEAR.
VOTE OF THANKS TO SPEAKER.

: The December meeting OF the Metho-
dist Social union was held last evening at
Tillinghast's Assembly roons, Westmin-
ster street. The time from TO O'Clock
was spent in n general reception. AZ
O'Clock, about 125 people sat down to
the elaborate supper served py the Union.
This was followed by short business
session at which the president Harmon
;. Babcock. thanked the Union for the
honor shown him in his reelection as
president. but announced that candidates
for this office should prepare to run Tor
the next year as he would decline To serve
after this year. The report OF the treas
urer Henry A. Fitield, gave the total re-
pts for the wear as $500. 81, total ex-
penditures s662. 80. leaving cash balance
OH hand S206 65. The report was received
and referred to the auditor.
The report of the secretary. Charles X.
Tburston, summarized the four meetings
held during the year and stated tnat at
the May meeting IL bishops of the church
were present. The mem bership Is now
6i. The report was received and ordered
placed on file.
Henry A. Corbett and William Il.
Chase were elected mem bers of the Union.
The address of the evening was delivered
by Rev. Charles A. Dickinson OF Boston
HIS subject was 1.-The Institutional
Church." He said in substance: In prin-
ciple this subject Is worthy Of study.
The institutional church has its critics,
and that is expected but IL Is here to
stay. 1t Is easier today 60 start an insti-
tutional church in the West than In New
England. People err in emphasizing the
less important features Of the work and
lose sight Of the central idea.
The obif ct of the church is to represen {
Jesus Christ To the world. Method and
appliancess might differ at various times
but the. object is always the same.
It exists to evangelze the world, and
it's chief function Is not preaching, but
ministering.
The church must try to save all men
and all of the man by all mean a. The
churches have been unwilling to take the
people that are right at hand, and have
catered rather TO the church going por-
tion of it.
The institutional church stands for
'free pews' Ii has to find out what the
non church 0oers like and avoid what
they don't like. The pew rent, l believe.
is unscriptural. TIE institutional church
must keep its doors open all day and
every day. Ii also insists on recover | n 8
the ministries and preroQatlvcs tina,
belong to the church, but in the past have
slipped out OF her grasp. All the work
that the charities, lodges and guilds are
doing must be taken up and done by The
church.
We are unconsciously picking butter
cuDs and daisies on the eve Of n very hur
ricane. We have not begun 10 cope witt
one Of the great sociological problems
that threatens to overthrow the present
regime, that of capital and labor.
1t Is discouraginR To try to solve any o.
these questions, but we must get int
them and get hold Of the multitude.
We are fishing for men and all tn,
means used are for that end-to make III
better fishers.
The cost of setting up the institutions
| church does not enter into the problem.
1t costs less to run it than IL does l.
| n nj ntain the fashionable church, and th
! latter is bound in self defense to aid IL.
In this age OF organization We mus
organize. The trouble is not that We hav
| too much machinery, but too little steam
The institutional church is not
secular as long as it works for betterin.
| mankind.
The Union extended vote of thank
| to the speaker.