The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-17
MINISTERS MEET
Rev. Mr.. Ever Reads Paper on
ministry Of John ths Baptist"

A meeting OF the Baptist Minister'S con-
ference OF Rhode Island convened in the
vestry in the First Baptist church. this
morning at 1890 o'clock.
The gathering was presided over by
Rev. Frank Rector OF Pawtucket. The
first 10 minutes OF the meeting were de-
voted 10 brief reports of the various
churches represented.
A resolution was also introduced con-
veying the sympathy of the meeting TO
Rev. Mr.. Dixie of Woonsocket. whose
wife but recently passed away
The interest OF the meeting centred in
a scholarly essay presented by Rev. ]. X.
Ever. of the Union Baptist church and
entitled, THE ministry of John the Bap-
tist"
The essay was In part. as follows;
"The voice of John the Baptist broke
the slumbers OF four centuries. For four
hundred years. and more the people had
just been sleeping over the great prob
lens OF time and eternity.
so far as one can learn from the Holy
writers there had scarcely been a ripple
on the surface of the religious thinking
of the times.
Malachi had spoken; and some remem-
bered what he had declared.
"Pious men, waiting for the 'consola-
tion of Israel had read
Unto YOU that fear my name shall the
sun OF righteousness arise with healing
I'm his wings and had wondered when
would the time come for the fulfillment
of these prophetic words.
'"rhis they knew that before the com
ing of the Lord to his temple there would
arise another who would prepare the way
They had turned the leaves OF their holy
writings, and had read, Behold, [ Will
send you Elijah, the prophet. before the
coming OF the great and dreadful day OF
the Lord
Like all true ministers of religion. this
Elijah was TO convert men from the error
of their ways.
lie shall turn the heart OF fathers to
the children and the heart of the children
to their fathers lest come and smite the
earth with curse
From Malachi to John there is an 'aw-
mo sound comes to us across that
trackless deep.
mo star shines mid the darkness Of
that night.
When Columbus neared these unknown
western shores birds. branches and ber-
ries met his wistful gaze.
HE began TO be assured that he had
not hoped in vain. The change in the
f4fAeftft+4Ate ~++tef-ft1ti- -A+ff4-+9 be
lieve that now, at length. he was To be
rewarded for his ceaseless toll.
And when. at last. he saw the distant
light on the Bahamah shore he knew that
his great ambition would not terminate in
an empty dream.
But from Malachi TO John there Is
nothing TO indicate how soon lie shall APP
pear, whose presence was 10 be like re-
tiners fire and like fullers sope.
In those days OF anxious thought and
patient hope mysterious man appeared.
"He was sent from God.
His name was John
with fiery words and forceful mien he
stirs the people from their dreams; so
that Jerusalem and Judea and all the
region round Jordan not only fiocked TO
hear him, but also submitted themselves
TO the ordinance Of believers in baptism
at the prophets hands"
At this point I'm the discourse Mr.. Ever
pointed out some distinguishing charac-
teristics of the ministry of John the
Baptist as follows:
First: His great moral earnestness,
Second: His great fearlessness IN ut
tering the message demanded by the age
i'm which he lived.
Third: The ministry OF John the Bap-
tist is seen I'm the fact that IL sustained
right relations toward the son OF God.
MIR. Ever enlarged eloquently and logi-
cally upon these three divisions OF his
subject. and at the close OF his PAPER
general discussion ensued upon important
and interesting points of the same.
The final meeting of the Congregational
ministers for the season was held in the
Bible room OF the Beneficent church.
There was n large attendance and the
time was occupied in general discussion
on the topic, Are Double Pastorates I'm
Large Churches DeSirableI"