The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-09
He MAKES
BRILLIANT
ADDRESS.
Rev. O1. Joseph H. Ss|den
Speaks Before Tho Congre-
gationa| Club.

IT want 20 consider with you some OF
the social and religious conditions that
confront the church at the commence
ment of the Goth century" was the strik-
ing and original manner IN which the
Rev. Joseph III. Selden, ID. D., OF Green
wich, Conn, opened his brilliant address
last evening at the Trocadero. before the
members OF the Congregational club.
The Place OF Church I'm the Life of
a Busy People" was the topic selected
for discussion by ReE-pFr SeldeH, and lac
treated IL eloquentiy.
DR.. Selden as the program aptly stated.
is man from the West and he sifted his
subject In that hearty. vigorous and
forcible manner so much I'm keeping with
the environment of the young and ener-
getic country.
An excellent repast was served and
then short business session presided
over by Vice President Prof. NJ. f. Da-
Wis, was held when matters of routine
nature were quickly disposed Of.
After the chairs had been pushed back
Prof Davis introduced William r Forbes,
vice president of the Worcester Congre-
gational club, who made brief but witty
speech. eulogizing his native heath as
well as Providence and drawing COM
PARSONS between the second and third
cities OF New England
Mr.. Forbes remarked that Worcester
was making a frantic effort 60 oust
Providence from its place as the first city
after Boston. but added that every time
the Massachusetts city made a gain.
Providence did likewise lie further said
that IL was very evident TO him that n
Worcester ever forged ahead OF Provi-
dence IL would be i'm the dim future.
DIR. sELDEN's ADDRESS.
ON being introduced Or Selden opened
his address with the sentence referred 10
I'm the beginning and went on To say that
III we turn toward the past for the
great changes that have taken place in
life we would be surprised 10 find how
near we were the frontier OF our exist
ence.
II have not come here to present TO
you a drastic picture OF our life and
neither have | come here in the mood OF
encouragement. but simply 10 show what
serious problems confront the church
life.
II do not wish to criticise our modern
age, but I believe there never was a
time when religion was so encountered as
IL is today. The question might be asked
what Is the cause of IL and i'm answering
it one would be forced to say that the
rush and hustle OF business life Is the
primeval cause The man OF today Is too
busy to attend church.
There is great movement becoming
clearer and clearer that there must sure
ly be a political emancipation as well al
"A social emancipation. We only ask that
men shall make their riches honestly and
spend them generously. The time is not
far distant when the nobler ideas OF life
will find the hearts of men.
Now we OF the Anglo-Saxon strain
what can we hope OF a generation reared
in city fiat having no more idea OF a
home than a wandering nomad?
This state of affairs In our domestic
life has a very bad effect upon the |
church The man who lives In fla.
soon tires of the hustle and hustle OF
the world. yet he stands aloof from the
church lie is perfectly willing 10 spend
his wealth on the churches. yet he dis
dams TO attend himself There Is no
evading tho fact that we are getting face
10 face with the great question OF the
chGrch's fast decreasing hold on the toll
ers. We do not see them In the congrega-
tion and they are fast parting from the
church.
CHURCH LOSING HER HOLD.
Then again the church is losing her
hold on her own contingency. In spite of
the many things to attract our children
To our churches, they seem TO hesitate
and IL is the rule for the attendance 10
be steadily on the decrease
- fhis century witt bring about many
new developments I'm the busy world and
men will be more loyal 10 their church.
The redemption OF Lord Jesus is the
redemption OF the world.
THE world awaits a leadership today.
wide and broad and statesmenlike. The
church should assume this leadership. bur
before II does Il must loose it's traditions
and its bigotries. I believe IL we listen we
shall hear his voice calm and regular.
calling US TO his place and now is the |
great time for the church to advance to-
II.