The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-14
EPISCOPAL CHURCH CONGRESS
Continued from page Two)
LAST EVENINGS SESSION.

reality the formal opening OF the congress
OF the Episcopal church convened In the
Mathewson Street Methodist church last
evening. Not only was the great audi
torium filled TO its utmost capacity but
two great AUDIENCES overlooked into the
adjoining assembly rooms and these too
were crowded
The occasion for this great throng lay
In the fact that the topic OF Christian
Science was TO be discussed by some
OF the abiest writers in the country.
These included Mr. Theodore +. Seward
OF New York; Rev. William r. Hunting
don. ID. D.. OF New YORK: William NJ
Polk, M. D., New York: Mr.. W. A. Pur-
rfngton. also OF New York; Rev. Il. w.
Donald, ID. d., OF Trinity church. Bos-
ton, ana Rev Arthur Rogers of West
chester. Penn.
In the enforced absence OF Bishop Clark
the meeting was formally opened By Bis
hop Co-adJutor William n. McVickar. VINO
expressed regret that the venerable bis
hop could not be present and occupy the
chair. a letter from Bishop Clark was
then read by Rev. Henry Stone or New
port.
BISHOP CLARKS S LETTER.
The letter was in part as follows:
My Dear Brethren: / wish IL were in
my power 10 address you In person this
| evening, but ! have outiived the period
when our strength is declared TO be out
labor and sorrow and l must leave IL
With my younger brother 10 bid you well
come and TO express our deep sense oi
the privilege we have of meeting you IN
| our diocese for the second time.
The letter here refers TO the first plan
OF organizing a church congress many
4, years ago in New Haven and continuing
I, referred TO the fact that the questions
! which agitated the church when the con-
/ gress first entered upon its work. twenty
| five years ago, had now lost their inter-
est and new questions and difficulties had
! arisen.
Among these Bishop Clark emphasized
! the following as attracting the marked
| attention OF the clergy today, viz: The
! great social evils which disturb society,
intemperance and Righteousness in all its
/ terrible forms. gambling and riotous iiv-
Ing. the ease and recklessness with which
z the marriage VOW Is broken; the prevail
I ing neglect OF public worship; the con-
version OF Sunday into a mere day of
/ amusement: the neglect Of their civil du-
! ties on the part OF so many OF our good
! citizens; the concentration OF wealth into
| the hands OF few and the impoversh-
, nent of so many OF our people; the mo-
nopoly of trade by a few gigantic estab-
/ lishments; these and many similar ques-
| tons are attracting In a marked degree
the attention OF our clergy.
Continuing the bishops .etter lays great
| stress on the religious education of the
young and closes with a touching bene-
| diction as follows:
This is the last time shall ever be
/ privileged TO address an assembly like
| this. With me the day is far spent and
1 the night is at hand. As stand on the
/ borderlAnd which separates time and etcr-
| nifty and look back on ministry of moro
| than three score years, I cannot hell
| saying TO myself. What would | not give
] Il fr u.ffh
| the benefit of all that experience has
! taught me. ] exhort you, my brethren, 10
! enter upon your work as you Will wish
| you had done when the end comes.
Put on the whole armor of God and
4 keep your souls pure and undefled. Lay
! aside every weight and sin that doth SO
easily beset you, always looking unto
/ Jesus as the author and fnisher OF your
/ faith. as the one 10 whom you can 60
! with the burden OF your own sins and
| with earnest suppiication for those 10
1 whom you minister
ADDRESS OF WELCOME
Following this letter Bishop Mcviokar
| delivered an address OF welcome. refer
| ring 10 the time. nineteen years ago,
J when the Congress met in Providence.
, In eloquent words tho bishop referred to
/ the changes which had been wrought in
the passing or the years
He spoke OF the burning questions
! which came before the church body at
! that time. questions which had now cea.-
| ed TO be. Continuing, touching reference
I was made 10 some OF the great leaders
| OF that congress who had since passed
away.
Among I ose were Phillips Brooks"
said the speaker, head and shoulders
above us all-and the young bishop OF
Michigan. John Henry Hopkins, Garrison
and others"
! DR. Mcvickar closed by bidding the
I congress hearty welcome TO the cityano
TO the homes and hearts of It's people
THE DISCUSSION.
| Following tho address of welcome tho
/ discussion OF the evening was opened BY
Mr.. Theodore i. Seward OF New York In
beginning. Christian science was defined
and continuing the speaker said In part:
Christian science introduces a new psy
chology adapted 10 the nature OF child
| hood, which Jesus said was essential 70
entrance into the kingdom OF heaven
''T'he text book Of the system. Science
and Health, with Key to the Scriptures
I is often misunderstood because IL is writ
ten from the standpoint OF idcalism or
the purely spiritual Christian science
gives its followers a new enthusiasm in
studying the Bible because its psychology
intorprets it's language spiritually and not
materially"
Rev. William R. Huntington Of New
York followed Mr.. Seward speaking as
he said I'm beginning on what ne con-
ceived to be the defects In the system.
The third paper. by Or. William NJ.
Polk, dealt with the question OF Chris
tan science from a medical point of view.
w. r. Purrington n brilliant lawyer Of
the New York bar spoke on the question
! Of Christian science from a legal point OF
view.
Rev. DR. Donald OF Boston spoke most
eloquently and discriminatory on the sub
iect commencing what was good In the
system and speaking most charitably up
| on what he could not accept.
Rev. Arthur Rogers was the last
| sneaker and handled the subject In mas
| tcrrul. vet distinctly opposing manner.
After a few words by John Brooks Lea
! witt. a veetrymsn Of New York. In de-
fence Of Christian science. the meeting
| cios.d with the singing OF hymn and