Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-24
MISSIONS.
Annual Meeting of the City
Board Held.
ReV. John H. Bourne. Rev. Arthur ST.
James, George c. Whitney and Rev.
Woodman Bradbury the Leading
Speakers at the Pleasant
Street Church.


city mission board was held Wednesday
evening at the house of worship of the
Pleasant street society. Nearly all the
pastors of the Baptist churches in the
city occupied seats on the platform, and
the church auditorium was well filled
with interested listeners. President f.
l., purkee OF the Main street church,
presided, and around him on the plat
form We're: Rev. Woodman Bradbury of
the Pleasant street church, Rev. Harlan
7. smith Of the Dewey street church,
Rev. Arthur St. James of the Beacon
street. and Oak hill missions, Rev ]. H.
Bourne of the Quinsigamond chapel,
Rev. Guy F. Wheeler of the Greendale
church, Rev. Hiram Holway of the John
street. church, Rev. Frank D. Penney Of
the Lincoln square church, Rev. T. Rich
ard Peede Of the South church, with
George F. Whitney, treasurer of the
board
The exercises opened with an organ
overture by Mrs. Calden, followed by
scripture reading by Rev. Leo Boone
Thomas. Prayer was offered by Rev.
Harlan P. Smith, and President Durkee
made the address Of welcome. Mr. Dur
kee spoke of the work of the mission,
stating that it was organized i'm 1880 for
carrying on the missionary effort among
the French people of the city, beginning
with Rev. ]. N. Williams and coming
down to Rev. Arthur St. James. The
home board paid half of the expense,
and the state convention the other half
The mission at Greendale, with gratify-
ing prosperity, had become an indepen-
dent body during the past yNRr, with
Rev Guy F. Wheeler as pastor, who,
a A ATi,iI 1 law ic 4o
that church, his office as superintendent
of missions closing at that time. He told
of the different missions conducted, the
Finn mission by the Harlem street and
Quinsigamond church, and the Quinsig-
amond chapel by the First Baptist The
Baptists of the city should feel encour-
aged in their efforts. DIR. o. F. Gregory
Of Baltimore, in speaking of the Bap-
lists of today in Baltimore, said that
some were half Baptist, some whole
Baptists or Baptists and others Baptists
and a half. What is wanted is more Bap-
lists and half.
AS the first speaker, President Durkee
introduced a man who, he said, was full
of zeal-Rev. John H. Bourne of the
Quinsigamond chapel In opening, Mr.
Bourne said that when he first came
here it was intinated that this vas a
city noticeable for the quick anu fire.
was accordingly secured, and that was
how he happened to be here H ound
three fallacies current in church circles
in regard to missions AMI nis~ion work.
The first fallacy was that we should
form missions for the sake of multiply
ing them, thinking that by increasing
their number we are increasing the
ranks of the denomination. In reclaim
ing the state Of Delaware to che Bap-
III; OH
a field already well organized, there
being seven churches, four of which
were strong and influential and the re-
naming three receiving the remains and
crumbs of the four larger. Consequently
the missions fell through. We should
never. build a mission where there is no
field. 1t may be sign of weakness
rather than of strength to establish mis-
sions. a drawback from other churches
which might be strong. At Quinsiga-
mond, where 1t is the only church among
the English-speaking people, there is
field for a mission. The policy should be
not necessarily more churches, but max
ing those already established centers of
strength.
A second fallacy is that mission
should be a UNCONVENTIONAL ash-barrel
and repository for everything that has
outlived its usefulness in larger
church. even in respect to having forced
upon them superannuated ministers
whom the established societies have dis
carded.
accordingly more essential is it for a
mission to have the best, and not an
old outfit and faded carpet. II the mis-
sions merit existence, they merit the
best. A third fallacy is that II the mis-
sions want the best that they can Sc
~ n
one might expect helpless, newborn
child to fight its own way. \ mission
is in a hostile territory. 1t receives
more repulses than assistance. and those
for whom they are established should
have the mission inviting rather than
secondhand shop. Mr.. Bournes
address was well received,
and made a strong impression.
Rev. Arthur st. James Of the Beacon
Hill and Oak Hill Mission, spoke upon
his work among the French. He said
that he always found warm response
from those of the same faith and other
sects He told of his routine duties at
the two missions. The mission, he said,
is work and not child's play. You find
the people learned in part of the truth,
but truth they have mixed with error.
We teach them to love that which they
hated and to reject that which they
have loved, the statutes, pictures and
frimmery of the religion to which they
have been attached. Recently a Bible
was placed in the hand of a lady. and
on a call later it was found that she had
disposed of it. A priest had told her
that the only safety for her salvation
was to burn the Bible, and burn the
Bible she did. Another Bible was sup
piled in its place later, and she was
taught to feel that it was the truth
and the light So others are constant
ly trying to undo what we are striving
to do. Some have thought that the way
to bring forth the full power of the
mission was to teach English: but we
have heard of the man who could speak
seven languages, but not the truth in
any one. Give them the English lam
guage but also the word Of God AS we
find them, they may seek It at St.Paul's,
at st. Johns, at ST. Bridgets and st.
Patrick's; but what they want is the
word of God.
Rev. Frank D. Penney OF the Lincoln
Square Church was the next speaker
He said that it was the first time he had
addressed the united congregations, but
he was glad to be present where Chris
tan fraternity reigned supreme. At the
bottom of all religious work was Chris
tian fraternity and helpfulness that
reaches into the holies of the heaven
1t is not organization alone, but fra
ternal love of the Lord Jesus Christ
Some say Why speak of the Romanist
but let me state that where there are
those without the true work of God, II
is blessed privilege to Lead them to
the truth and the light of emancipation
L.