The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-10
THEY DISCUSSED THE
CHURCHOFTHE FUTURE
Rev. DIR. MCkim, Rev. Mr.. Blunt and
Chief Justice Stiness Speak Be-
fore the Churchman'S Club.

The 39th dinner OF tho Churchmen's
club was held at the EloIse last even
ing. The attendance was not only large.
but IL was exceptionally brilliant. Among
the guests We're Rev Randolph IL. Nc
Kim, ID. D., rector OF the Church OF the
Epiphany of Washington, ID. c.. Rev
Simon b. Blunt. Rev. George McC. Fiske,
S. 4. D., Rev A. NJ. Aucock and Rt
Rev. william n. McVickar.
President l.. ID. Bassett preceded the
speaking by a touching reference TO the
late John Waterman, who was a valued
member of the church and club.
The topic discussed was THE Church
of the Future" the speakers being Rev.
Messrs. McKim and Blunt and Chief JUS
tice John ii. Stiness.
Rev. Mr.. McKim said that he assumed
that the man of the 20th century will
not be satisfied with the multiplicity OF
sects which have prevailed in the last
century Through this multiplicity there
was instead OF the voice of one Church
"A babel of voices and divided Christian
ity involving economic waste and weak
ness OF attack upon sin.
The 10Th century men will revolt against
this system and will desire and agree TO
get upon a common ground OF work with
"A spirit of unity. They will assemble un-
der one venerated banner. that of the
Apostles creed, and march as they have
for centuries. Differ the Greek, the
Roman, the Anglican and the American
churches may In other ways, they unite
on the Apostolic creed. Rev. Mr.. Mchim
ventured to hope that the time will come
when there will be a desire for unity
and when the divisions of sect viii
be swept away.
The coming city OF God will be city
whose builder and maker Is God, and
the men of the Goth century will not be
satisfied with a church made by differ
ent hands than those of God. Men Will
seek divine author and maker Tor the
church I'm which to worship
The church OF the future will be built
upon n doctrinal basis. 1t must nave
definite, distinct dogmatic confession,
simple and brief with no probability or
vanishing skeptical attacks. III must pe
built upon a faith distinct ana clear rec
ognizable as the faith OF the ages.
Ii will not make the mistake or the
church of the early ages in formulating
elaborate dogmatic definition. IL VIII
make a distinction between faith apd
theology The faith will be Interchangeable;
but the theology will keep pace with the
mutations OF time.
II will be full of busy men, 1t Will marx
the reign OF applied Christianity 20 meet
the many demands Of man. IL VIII nave
no allegiance with Rome or Canterbury
Americanism and Romanism cannot sleep
peacefully i'm the same bed.
There will not be so much sympathy IN
the future church for the divinity idea or
bishops. Pectoral crosses, pastoral stars
and other meretricious adornments will
not move the future churchmen. THEY
will be won by simplicity rather than by
splendid ceremonial and spectacular ex-
hibitions The church OF the future will
be the church of reconciliation.
Rev Mr.. Blunt took decided exceptions
to some of the thoughts expressed by
Rev Mr. Mckim and by the forcefulness
of his argument. and his stand for the
ceremonials of the church, won hearty
commenda ton, He said: The Church OF
the Future Il one which may be treated
in two distinct ways, the nrst of which
would be by asking the questions, what
will be the future OF the church which
we represent. or what scheme of religion
shall be the predomlnating influence OF
the future ages?~
The first method would be. at least.
mere prediction based upon the narrow
assumption that our own Anglican
Church is the only Christianizing. civili-
zing and moralizing influence In the
kworld and this would not be logical
Conclusion unless ii could be proven by
logical reasoning.
THE second method of treatment would
not be mere prediction or a simple guess,
but n logical theory which can only be
evolved by that mode of reasoning which
We commonly call induction
II mean, that we shall collect all the
evidence we can. and from that evidence
build up a theory, which, when substi-
tuted by divine assertion, will become
a moral probability which is generally
known as a fact.
"lt must be united church.
LET all bitterness and wrath and anger
and clamor and evil-speaking be put
away from you with all malice.
And be ye kind. one TO another, ten
der-hearted. forgiving one another. even
as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven
you How can Won exnect peoDIe to seek