The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-10
IN and OUT OF
The CHURCHES
Baptist Publication Reviews the
Conventions Recently Held in
This City and Points to the
Need of Work
APPLICATION FOR
ORDINATION DENIED
Congregational Council Would
Not 0rdain a Young Graduate
Because He Lacked Adequate
knowledge of the Traditions
and Methods

knowledge of the Tradition;
and Methods
At one of the meetings Of the Baptist
Square Church attention was called to
the headlines which prefaced some of
the newspaper articles on the meetings,
and particularly to certain headings in
The Spy. Some of the Baptist folk were
slightly indignant at the idea that their
annual anniversaries should furnish to
a newspaper no more cheerful or more
interesting items for display than the
ones which were chosen. They were
even indignant at the newspapers for
rot choosing more hopeful phrases or
thoughts. But the fact remains-the
papers were right. The majority OF
them based their headlines on the an
nual reports. the addresses of the pres
idents of the societies, and of other re-
spcnsible persons, and not on catch
phrases. The Spy tried to give each
day a sober and fair estimate of the
days meetings as whole and to be
truthful, could have hardly displayed
other headings than it did.
Last weeks issue Of the Waterman,
the leading Baptist publication in New
England, gives a full account of the
Worcester anniversaries 1t also has
an editorial on THE Future of New
England" which was evidently written
by Rev. DR.. George E. Horr, the editor
in-chiaf, whose address in seconding
the annual report Of the secretary OF
the convention, it will be remembered
was one of the most pessimistic in its
view of present conditions Of the whole
series of meetings.
Dr. Horr admits the discouraging out
look as shown by the events Of the
last year but says that this should on
ly stimulate to more earnest work in
the future.
He says in part: THE tone of the
Massachusetts Baptist Convention
which was held last week at Worcester,
was somewhat psssimistic as to the re-
ligious future Of the state and of all
New England. The facts that We're pre-
scented, both in the official statements
and in the addresses were certainly not
very encouraging.
After making the statement that, IT
spite of economic changes and foreign
immigration, the religious forces o!
Massachusetts are the most stable anc
aggressive of those to be found in any
portion of our country he quotes fig
ures to show that last year with this
single exception of New York, no state
in the union save one-quarter as mucn
10 home missions as Massachusetts
and that Massachusetts gave more to
foreign missions than any other state
He adds: 1--WE are not poor, and we are
not weak and have no reason to be dis
couraged."
In his address at Worcester, DR.. Horr
emphasized chiefly the changed condl
tions brought about by the enormous
flood of immi grants; mostly Roman
Catholic in faith. In this connection he
says editoTially:
1--WE cannot change the economic and
racial transformation of New England
We may deplore it, but there is no use
of grumbling about 1t, or crying over
it. 1t is a fact to which we shall have
to adjust ourselves. And, rightly view
ed, it is an opportunity-an opportunity
to bring the Gospel, and the results OF
q high Christian civilization to bear up
on the French Canadians the Poles, the
Hungarians, the Italians, the Swedes
and the Firms that are filing up oul
cities Perhaps Paul would not have
deplored the foreign immigration tc
New England so much as some of us
do. Perhaps in his mind the opportuni-
ty of bringing the Gospel to bear upor
these strangers would have more than
unbalanced the disadvantage coming
from the effect of their presence among
us upon our standards, ideals and ira
ditions AT least that is an idea worth
thinking of, and if it has any force 1t
transforms the whole situation.
ut is clear to us that we have reach
ed a time in Massachusetts and in all
New England when we are called in the
Providence of God to stop lamenting
about changed conditions, and are
summoned to address ourselves to act
ual facts.
"Probably everything that was said a.
Worcester was true, and 1t was spoken
not as discourag cement but as an incen-
tive. Now that the actual situation has
been so fully presented, we have an APP
neal of tremendous force coming to ev-
ery church and every individual in our
churches to provide the means and the
men by which this situation may be
changed"
OF late the Baptists have been laying
much stress upon the teaching of the
principle doctrines of that denomina-
lion. This is one of the objects of the
Baptist Young Peoples Union. 1t is MOI
emphasized in a spirit of oigotry, pul
from a feeling of the leaders in the de-
nomination that If the Babtlst Cnurch
has a right to exist, land they think
If has) It owes to itself the teaching OF
IFS doctrines. Another demand which
Is being made by the farsighted is fo1
a higher standard of education and cul-
ture among the young people.
The Congregational is another de-
nomination which believes it has q
right to exist, and it insists upon it,
ministers knowing the reason why.
council at Huntington, Mass, re-
Gently declined to ordain Rev. George
Rordon Ross. a graduate of Boston
University School of Theology, on tbs
ground of his Inadequate knowledge
of the traditions and methods Of Con.
gregational churches and insuthcien'
training as a student"
Mr.. Ross ability and character are
unquestioned He is expected to remain
in charge of the Second Church al
Huntington, where he has been since
July, and to continue his studies II
preparation for ordination later
Rev. DR.. Philip S. MOxom of Spring
field. moderator of the council says of tn
case in the Congregationalist: There
was no question of dogma or of charac
ter. but only of fitness for leadership II
the CONGREGATIONAL Church. The actor
of the council is in line with the mos
enlightened demand of the times-tha
the leadership of the church shall b.
raised and not lowered. The sense o
responsibility-a remarkable develop
ment of conscience with respect to tn
church at large-compelled the fina
action. think this council marks al