The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-11

the paper which he read, but the otner
writers and speakers did not agree with
the New York churchman. Rishop Potter
and Rev. Rufus Clark were the appointed
writers on the topic and Hon. Robert
Bowler, of Cincinnati, and Right Rev.
Davis Sessulns, bishop of Louisiana, were
on the programme as the appointed
speakers on the topic. Neither of the ap
pointed speakers were present, Bishop
Sessums being absent owing to illness,
and Mr.. Bowler not having reached the
city. Col. Bradley Thompson took Mr..
Bowler's place on the programme and
Rev. w. c. Pope and Rev. Charles S.
Lester were voluntary SPEAKERS on the
topic.
The congress opened with the reading
OF prayer by Bishop Gilbert and re-
sponses by the audience. Following
hymn sung by the audience Right Rev
Henry B. Whipple bishop Of Minnesota,
welcomed the delegates Oh behalf OF the
clergy and laity of Minnesota. He alluded
to the preliminary organization of the
congress which was first broached at a
meeting held in the study OF Bishop Pot
ter in New York, twenty-e:ght years ago.
Continuing he said that never had the
church graver problems to solve than at
present and they never could be solved
except by the gospel of Jesus Christ. The
things which separated brothers within
and without the church were human opin-
ions and were not necessary for any man
to accept for salvation. There was no
question, social or civic, affecting the
of
not have an abiding interest. In this
view the church congress was founded in
order to get d clear view of truth. The
nineteenth session of the church congress
met at a time when great questions
loomed on the horizon. No branch of
the church ever had mere glorious mis-
sion or one freighted with greater re-
sporsibiIities. The heather world was
open to have carried to it the gospel of
Jesus Christ and the church must be
at the forefront of missionary work. 1t
must hold up the olive branch Of peace
and say to all followers of Christ "Ye
are brethren" The outlook was in the
church, and the last message received
from that great Christian statesman.
Hon w. E. Gladstone was when l
remember the Church Of England in my
boyhood and then see what the great
church is today, I can only saw. what
said of the Church of England is true of
the church in America today"
Bishop Potter who was the first of tho
appointed writers to discuss the topic.
prefaced his address by explaining the
relations of the church congress to the
secular side of common life. Church
bodies might not deal with great uues-
tOns of interest and it was for this rea-
son that there had grown up in Eng
land and this country church congresses.
No votes were taken, no resolutions
adopted, nor any attempt made to af-
feet legislation. One of the bishops of
the church had questioned as to what
the church had to do with any such
question as was to be discussed. He
contended that it was the right of everv
Christian man to deal with great cues
tions and policies, and 1t was impossible
not to discuss them. They could not
be discussed in the pulpit, for he held
that in the pulpit there should be no
politics, but every one should be Re-
publican or Democrat outside the church.
He thanked God that, because he was a
clergyman, his rights as an American
citizen could not be taken from him.
Every man could enlarge his vision Cf
truth, and this was his reason for say
Ing some things which might be objec-
tionable to some of the audience He
then proceeded with his paper saying
In part:
imperialism is an unfortunate word in
this discussion, because, Of course in one
sense, 1t has no appropriateness. The
bes; authorities define an imperialist as
meaning one who belongs to, or supports