The colored American., 1901-01-12


& progressive church may be seen
In the hberslity Of its spirit. PersUs'
sion rather than coercion; example
Instead Of constant precept; applying
the Gospel in the place Of Tebuke; ore
senting better way for the one objec
tlOnable, disciplining positively al d
yet by love rather than by court mar
tlsl. It's spirit to the christian wOsId
may thus be expressed. ''In the essen
tials OF salvation, unity. In the non
essentials OF salvation, liberty. In all
things, charity"
The pFogre ssive church may be
known by It's way of procedure. 1t be-
comes versed in methods and ways and
means. IL tries all methods holding
only that which proves for the best.
IO reaching men it would follow the
Apostle Paul, and so become all things
to all men to save them COnseTvA'
t1sm attaches to Its usage only as affect
ing principle but never method. In
ways and means it is as bread and va
ried as necessity requires, keeping OF
course definitely in mind the properties
of Gods church and the importance OF
christian example and influence. This
is the spirit of what Is known as the
ms .itutional church. Upon this the
fourth anniversary Of our organization
it seemed fitting that l take the same
text and practically the same sermon
that used at our opening service Jan
uarY 3Td, '97. In this you get my ideal
church toward which for four thirty
years we have been positively pushing
0ur way. The church that we are en-
deavoring TO establish is an organism
ratLe er than an organization. 1t IL
spirit rather than machinery BY this
we mean that it is to exist for the hIgn
| est we'll being of its membership and
of the community. The eye Is to be
open, the heart sympathetic aud the
| hand ready to serve IN all practicable
wsys. This can be illustrated by what
we have, in humble way, really done
during the sc years.
At the founding Of our work there
were no kindergarten training schools
| for our young women OF Vefv moderate
means. It was at the suggestion and
cOOperatiOn Of his church that the first
training class was organized and thus
helped many Of our young women TO
| fit themselves as teachers Of kindergar
ten schools. Other classes have since
heen organized, aud Howard Universl
tv now has an excellent beginning
Under the immediate direction OF Prof,
L B Moore with definite plans for en-
Iargement II the future for kindeTgsr
teners. Our work in that line is now
d me but who can doubt the wisdom ol
our part in helping the community 10
this nsrticuIar. Cur school of needle
work graduated last year seven youDe
women prer ared to teach. The class OF
this wear ia an interesting one. These
Young women may find positions III
the ststes if they are willing to go tol
them A. TO any phase or purely ecu
cationaI Y ork we shall simply aim tt
do what is not being dofle and what We
can practically do. Religious training
IcIsszes. mothers and chiIdren's meet
linpa bows and giTls' clubs, resdlnt
room ard the like will hardly be sup
nlanted by outside organizations on
he's been an open door church from tnt
fret and it is my hope that 1t may O'
even more so IN the future. Ihus far
and as pastor, speak knowingly, on
institutional features have been posi-
tive help both spiritually and finan clal
, IIv Let no one misinterpret our all
, in this work. We have no pet schem
| or innnrsctical experiments,
We simply wish to begin each yea
> with the definite purpose OF doing an
J and sll of the things possible for TN
good of mankind and for the spread =
Christ's kingdom about US. II
. means temporary help WELL or perna
9 nent plan all the better. LII snaLl nleaI
; bv the grace of God. right, PosltlV
spirit and life purpose to TINS enc 50 IL IL