The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-13
DISCUSSION
WAS SPIRITED
Congregational Ministers, Talk
of the Tendency Of the Times
to Optimism and Many Deplore
the Fact
DISCUSSION FOLLOWED
Mr.. SEDWICK'S PAPER

The Proper Way to Extend the
Invitation to the Eucharist as
Presented by Rev. DR.. Lewis
Found Associates of Many
Minds
Worcester Central Association OF
Congregational Ministers met yester-
day in the library of Central Church.
In the morning there were two speak
ers. Rev. A. w. Hitchcock of Central
Church gave as the "concio ad clerum'
the sermon which he preached to his
congregation last Sunday morning. 1t
was well received, practically the only
criticism being the one made by Rev.
DrDaniel Merriman, pastor emeritus of
Central Church, who said that the as
ISOLATION needed sermon prepared es-
pecially for it and preached directly to
it.
Rev. A. H. Sedgwick of Shrewsbury
read paper on 1.-The Optimistic Spirit,
and the Constructive Method" One
criticism made to this paper was that
the subject seemed to call for phil
osophical discussion while Mr.. Sedgwick
discussed from q practical point of
view.
In the afternoon Rev. DR.. Alexander
Lewis read paper on How Shall We
Extend the Invitation to the Euchar-
ist" in which he maintained that
church membership should be
requisite to participation in the sacra-
ment of the Lords Supper. Most of
the debate was over this point and the
consensus of opinion seemed to be
against DIR. Lewis, both according to
the practice and theory Of the ministers
J present.
! Rev. IT. E. Babb, moderator, opened
] the meeting at 10 o'clock. Rev. A. G.
Todd, scribe, read the minutes of the
last meeting, which were approved. Rev.
IA. w. Hitchcock Of Central Church
conducted devotions and then gave the
"concio ad clerum" His text was in
Philippians 1; $40, his subject,
Love" Love" he said, us the all
conquering power, 1t is the law of life,
remaining always the same and of alb
solute efficiency. Love is absolute
knowledge; our other attainments are
at best only partial. The love of the
father as tender and responsive as
deeper, this is what the church needs.
Instead it says with Peter, when Christ
asked him, Lowest thou me?" Lord,
thou knowest that we are friendly to
thee" True culture, the ethics Of
Christ, is based on love. Passion for
Christ gives spontaneous culture. Paul
says the life of love shall be judged of
in the sunlight. 1t will be life of
noble simplicity, translucent and pure"
Rev. A. H. Sedgwick of Shrewsbury
read paper on 1.-The Optimistic Spirit
and the Constructive Method" He be
gan by stating that a splendid optim-
ism is taking possession of men. Ye
relentless investigation and criticism
he mentioned as characteristics of the
day AS examples of incorporate
criticism he cited the Schley case and
the Roosevelt Booker Washington in
cident. He deplored these tendencies
as giving a wrong and pessimistic i'm
preston.
He said "There is great tempta-
ton for a clergyman, seeing the evils
of life, to spend too much Of his time
denouncing them, thereby casting de-
preston on the audience, and If fol-
lowed UP, making himself a pessimist.
The minister's attitude should be one
of buoyant optimism.
"A minister was once asked by a
gloomy minister acquaintance, What
would you say if / were to tell you
that all the rivers of the world would
/ dry up tomorrow" I would say" he
replied, "go thou and do likewise"
There is philosophy as well as humor
in his answer.
! ITO believe in the successful out
come of the great struggle in which
we are engaged should be a matter of
! principle with us. Perhaps the dismal
note which characterizes 80 many pull
pit utterances is responsible for so
many empty pews. Some men cannot
be reached by telling them of their
sin, when they may be approached in
other ways"
Before the discussion of the paper
Rev. w. w. Jordan introduced Rev.
DIR. A. Huelster of the German church
of Clinton, and Rev. Mr.. Hitchcock
presented Rev. DR.. S. e. Martin, a
Presbyterian Clergyman Of Philadel-
phia.
In the discussion each Of the clergy
men present was called upon by the
moderator in turn. Nearly all APPROX
ed both the sermon and the paper
though often making suggestions in re-
gard to details. Rev. r. w. Phillips
said that Rev. Mr.. Hitchcock did not
put enough passion into his delivery.
Rev. ]. A Gaylord and Rev. c. Awhile
were fearful lest the positive optimism
Of the paper should lead to Universal
Hstic tendencies. Mr.. White remarked
that he didn't hear the word damned"
in it, Dr. Martin of Philadelphia paid
a high tribute to Mr. Hitchcock s
sermon and delivery. He had heard II
first Sunday morning and it grew upon
him with a second hearing.
Several of the speakers had referred
to the attitude of the prophets Of Is
rael as being either optimistic OF pes
simistic Rev. o. G. Bailey, when call
ed upon, said, Israel went to smash in
spite Of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the rest
of the prophets" He did not know but
that we of the present might go to
smash whether the preachers preach
optimism or pessimism He believed In
a never dying God. a." he said, don t
like much either optimism or pessi-
mism. 1 believe in looking things in
the face"
Rev. John E. Dodge Of West Boyls-
ton said that a good deal Of optimism
was needed in his town which has
been partially swept away by the Met
ropolitan water basin. He said that
while visiting the big dam at South
Clinton with a friend he made the re-
mark that they were now getting down
70 the dam business" At the time he
had not used the word in the sense Of
condemnation, but afterward had
thought that II might be applied in that
way His people. he said. feel that a
curse has followed every movement Of
the Metropolitan water works company.
He said that he had taken ii as his
mission to arouse them from pessimism
to a brighter outlook.
Rev. Mr. Huestler Of Clinton said
that there had been time when he be-
lleved that all men were going to be
finally saved. He knew his Bible bet
ter now. He said he was optimistic in
regard TO his work in Clinton. He told
how he had offered his services to the
~ nd frrrn he