The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-30
THE ECUMFNIcAL CONFERENCE.
Rev. DIR. Newman breaches of Its
Spiritual Importance.

Rev. DR.. Stephen NJ. Newman, pastor
of the First Congregational Church,
preached yesterday on the Ecumenical
Conference now being held in New York,
describing the general character OF the
meeting. the work being done, and the
broad spiritual Significance attached to it.
He paid particular attention TO the st
phase of the theme and expressed the be-
lief that the conference indicates the con-
tinual and partially hidden working of the
spirit Of Christ. and forecasts closer uni
~ Of work and purpose amorg the chu: ches
OF the Christian faith.
Dr. Newman said that the conference
STANDS the foremost among phenomena of
the kingdom Of Christ at the present me.
Let me give you said the m.nis ter,
"a more definite idea OF it. because the
more definite the view of this great gath
erng by any disciple the deeper, | tn nix,
will be the sense Of relationship betMs en-
the disciple and the worldwide worker.
First, let us make discrimination so that
We can see Just where vast meeting Il e
thus is to be placed. We all lie i've,
though we scme times forget, that God hy
his spirit, is Working in the world steadily
and powerfully for the redemption OF man.
We believe that his working is vast be-
all surfaces. II is By the side OF every
family hearth. 1t is in the groups of all
households. 1t is in all portions of TIE
world where iniquity aboundE Christ nsver
surrenders the field. He never vac2tes
any h.sss1 place. he has been in all chimes,
striving with the ccnscicnces CT men. e
has been everywhere, encompassing all
movements. The man WHO is engrossed in
commerce. or politics. is rot outsi 5e OF MS
% SC gt4hI ahat,- f,-.,
effort of God, is the spiritual life of the
race and the soil from which all hop
grow and out of which all things pfon.-
ising must come. The holding of this
church service is the result OF that life.
The sending of Judson and Mills across
the ocean is the result Of that life. TIE
thought of William Carey, tie poneer mis-
siorary OF modern times. TO save the worlI
is The result OF that life. These tlinl
are the products which we can see. Trey
are single products which appear, and We
say that they are coed. I'VE must lot
forget however. that back o. these visible
products lie millicas OF unseen stEiyines
and inspirations which are likewise tie
result OF that life and are never b:ou mt
to sight in this world.
Through the century just closing thrra
have been coming TO view wCn-e.fdl
phenomena. the result CT the presence #
that life Of God in the souls OF men, doing
its work CT sacrifice Tor the weary and
the heavy laden"
Dr. Newman called attention 10 the i'm
portaEce CT the conference. 1t had re-
ceiyed dignity and standing in the o7in-
ion of the people by the presence of Pies
dent Mckinley. General Harrison, ard
Governor Roosevelt. The EN- nent dc cgst 5
from foreign countries we're more
July impressed with its significance wien
hey were welcomed by the Pres ident #
he United States. a former President, and
the Governor OF the State in viii n tie
was held. Ii is significant, d
I is important. DR.. Newman decla { d. rep
'eserting as it does nearly all the Chris-
ian sects of the world II has rot been
IN oratoTical meeting. Dr. Newman sail.
lie had not heard one address in viii
he sentimental side CT the delegates had
'een appealed to. They were the for work
md il was generally un5crs,ooI that thew
new their duty and would co it without
icing urged to a recognition of it By tie
Use of exhortatons. All the meetin
we're carefully and systematically planned.
treat care was taken in selecting tie
uhjeots ard in assign ng them TO s2eik-
RS. The general aim vas to gain as
much information en- missionary work rs
possible. create a spirit of cO-opcration
rom ali quarters. and find out the result
4 the mission work carried en- in tie
ast.
DR. Newman said that it hal been
rcught out at the conference that Chri
ian work in the East has prcgrs ssed IN
most satisfactory degree In China ana
ndia Christian schools are largely attend
d and are becoming mere and more pcn-
liar and Christian teachers are in great
emand.