The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-16
Large Attendance at Session
In the TrOcadero.
TWO INTERESTING ADDRESSES.
Prof. Wilson Speaks on the Question 20
Social Religious Conditions Demand New
Methods p'-Or. Fauncss Remarks

The annual meeting OF the Rhode Island
Baptist Social Union was held at the
Trocadero last evening. with President
George +. Weston In the chair.
There was a large attendance OF mem
bers and guests. who listened to the
speakers with appreciative interest. The
\. NJ. {. A. quartet furnished the music,
rendering several selections in an excel
lent manner. A reception was rendered
President Weston and his wife from &
until o'clock. when all adjourned TO
the large dining matt. where n bountiful
repast was served. after which the Rev.
III. Il. Hutchins invoked divine blessing.
After the transaction OF business Presi-
dent Weston in a brief address introduced
Prof George @. Wilson of Brown Univer-
sity. who spoke on the topic: DO Social
Religious Conditions Demand New Meth
ods?' Prof. Wilson said I'm part:
A trust that / cannot be accused of
having answered mat question when
have concluded. and | trust that / cannot
be accused of having answered any ques-
tion. i am merely going TO ask questions
and let you answer. them for yourselves.
1T is not my purpose to hit any one in
regard to some local conditions and
should any remark strike home, 1t is
not meant i'm a pointed sense IL we
should compare with other denominations
II would he very interesting 1t would
show that some OF our old families have
gone over to other denominations
" why is this SO? Can we not stop
them? What should we do to retain the
elements OF our foundations? We shall
have to fihd a new way to retain them"
Prof. Wilson spoke at some length
comparing the Catholic church with the
Protestant churches. showing how well
the Catholic church. Is established and
what an excellent system il has of know
ing the members of each parish. That
there are many lessons that the Pro-
testant churches could derive there is no
question. The Roman Catholic church
has been established for centuries ami
has prohtod by experience. The speaker
concluded by saying that those fields that
have been most intensely cultivated are
bearing the most fruit. ~
President Weston then introduced Pres
ident Fauncc of Brown University. who
spoke briefly. Introducing in turn .Archi-
bald A. Hill of New York. whose adj
dress on ''rhe Social Settlement It's
Spirit, Methods and AIM was delivered
in a mastery and interesting manner.
Mr. Hill started in a small tenement OF
the west side of New York city I'm a
neighborhood where the population is
greater than in the most densely crowd
ed part of East London. The speaker
said that only those whp live I'm work
ingmens districts can realize what these
poor creatures need lie went into such
district and settled I'm small tene-
menG gratlually branching out Until he
extended the settlement to the whole
house. Now plans for a new settlement
building right in the neart of this dis
trict have been made and while the
building will -nntbe the largest it viii
be the most complete for the work ever
built.
After benediction by Rev. Mr.. Hutchins
the meeting adjourne,.