The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-30
CLOSE OF THE CONGRESS
REV. GRAHAM TAYLOR, OF CHICAGO,
Is GIVEN AN OVATION.
Social obligations of the Church Dis
cussed by Him-The Day Ses-
sions of Interest.

The Congress of Disciples of Christ came
to end with last nights session. The
address of the evening was made by Rev.
Graham Taylor. of Chicago. on the "Civic
and Social Obligation of the Church.. His
appearance was greeted by great applause,
and his stirring appeal for better fell
lowship among men deeply affected the
large audience present. The time for hold
ing the next congress was fixed for March
26 to %. .JO1. The place of meeting was
referred to the following committee: f. ID.
Power, Washington; Hiram Van Kirk, Chi
cago; s. NJ. Cooper. Cincinnati; H o. Bree-
den. Des Moines; R. e. heterogeneous, Eu-
reka, Ill.
The meeting was presided over by the
Rev. Jabez Hall, who paid high tribute
to the life work of Mr.. Taylor in introduce
ing him TO the audience. Mr.. Taylor said.
i'm part: wherever there is anything
growing you will find that one formatory
is worth more than a thousand reforma-
tories. The world is growing; cities and
towns are growing; the social life of the
world is growing in completely The mis-
sion of the church to society is more form
alive than reformatory.
1.-The formative social functions of the
church are, first, the ideals instilled by the
church,; second. TO initiate social move
ments, and, third, TO supply the sacri-
fetal spirit. The ideal that is revealed to
finds its illustration in the Son of God,
who was sent among men. God gave us In
His Son ideal man, who was so much
better than the rest of us that We think He
must have been God. Realizing that Christ
was the ideal, 1t is the social function OF
the church to run up the flag which shall
embody that which Christ was and what
He expected man to be. Not only Is Jesus
Christ Gods idea of what man should be,
but He represents the ideal OF relation
ship among men. The religious life goes up
no higher on the perpendicular than 1T goes
out on a horizontal. If We had loved our
Nation no less, but loved international
patriotism more, there would nave been
more brotherhood among men.
when we take the whole evangelical
movement there is no question that we
have come to a dead center. We are not
keeping pace with the world. am AFRAID
il is because we have not needed the
prophets. We have not come to the rescue
of the workingman. There is not enough
of the reality of religion in our relation
ship with our fellow-man The right or
private Judgment is the most absolute de-
mocracy that ever existed. We have lost
in a large sense our touch with humanity,
and we should do all in our power to re-
gain It, Is not the church discriminate
ing to-day between capital and labor! Does
1t not make distinctions in social cast? III
you want to see how closely the laborlng
masses are allied TO the church just see
how few noses they count In any or the
boards of trustees of our churches. We
are making a mistake; the laboring man
should be returned to the place In which
he belongs, beside the capitalist and men
of high social standing.
cit should be the duty of the church lay
men to establish such organizations as
would bring about the regeneration or So
ciety. There is demand for social de-
mocracy, and the gospel of Jesus Christ
has struck the earth under the very feet
of the laboring man. They say TO their
wealthy brother. Don't sing "Blest be the
tie that binds and then cheat us out OF
our birthright In the cities many OF the
people are worse housed than the cattle IN
the barns The little children in those
houses are foredoomed and foredamned.
Religion needs to be humanized. Rather
than follow the existing order OF each man
for himself or that might is right, would
flv to socialism as to the bosom of my
mother, for socialism is human. What is
wanted is some real brotherhood. Until
we show that spirit those whom we wish 10
teach will have little faith in our efforts
to HELM them 1t is our duty when we go
home TO try I'm the future to give little
social extension to the tenets OF COM
mon faith
Just before the regular session special
session was held TO. consider the adVisabillty
of establishing a pastoral training school.
1t was decided to recommend TO COM
mittee the consideration of place for a
school and the method by which hnancial
aid may be secured.