The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-23
MINISTERS MEET
Methodist and Congregational
CIsrgymen Hold Sessions.


The regular meeting or the Providence
| District Methodist Ministers associa ton
! was held az 1890 this morning with the
| president Rev. A. j. Coultas, in the chair.
| Devotional exercises were conducted by
Rev Mr.. wilkins after which the report
| OF the secretary was read and matters OF
| routine business transacted.
The chief interest OF the meeting CEN
tered In a paper on Alfred the Great"
by Rev. Joseph Cooper OF Centreville,
R. L.
The paper was an extremely well writ
ten story OF the noble life and works of
King Alfred, the i000th anniversary OF
whose birth was recently celebrated In
all parts OF the world.
by way of introduction Mr.. Cooper
spoke as follows:
A thousand years have passed since
Alfred the Great laid down the work he
had done so well as TO reap his reward.
This year We celebrate his decease. glad
that God permitted such "A man to live
for he left behind him an example the
splehdors OF which Will never fade. His
was the work of foundation building. for
the superstructure, massive and magnih-
cent, which after generations were TO
rear.
Alfred was one Of the early toilers.
working with poor and scant material
yet conserving the good the past had
10 offer and making possible a future of
still nobler achievement Not his 10
see the fretted dome, crowned by It's
golden cupola, shining in the sunlight OF
off 4.
concrete deep In nations life.
Trace the history OF the English people
down the track OF a thousand years and
you VIII IND one OF the largest tributaries
that flows into that full-volumed stream
is the life and work OF this royal man
1T should be ours TO recognize the per-
sonal value OF men, no matter who they
are or what position they hold Repubn-
can sympsthies should not blind ms 10
royal msnliness. whether found in ple-
king was pstriarohal father 10 his peo-
pie. The personal equation counted far
more than the hereditary right. The king
must be, as the Germans called him. the |
man who can or the able man.
He must be first 60 lead the armies |
in the field, the first 10 guide the nation |
At this juncture Mr.. Cooper gave an |
eloquent description OF the general con- |
dition OF devasta tion, war aud ignorance |
N England in s7l, when Alfred ascended |
The Interesting story was told OF his |
noble character. which made his first
thought. after he became the king that
Of making the defence OF his realm COM
plete and the good OF his people secure.
Alfred's love OF truth nduJsiteth hk
Alfred's love OF truth and Justice was |
also dwelt upon at length and the fact
brought out that his one great aim was
TO DO Justice to the poor and him that
hath no helper. Continuing. Mr. Cooper |
told OF the revival OF learning in Englaad
under Alfred and OF his life, not only as "a
King and a warrior, but also as man OF
letters. so that his name has been handed
DOWN through history as the father of
English literature"
In closing the essayist paid the follow
ing tribute 10 Alfred and the character
stics which made him great.
alfred was prominently the able man
IF his country, and his reign rivallad the !
glory OF his contemporary. Charlemagne.
lie would have been kingly. though his
brow had worn no earthly diadem. Good
ness Is the highest Imperialism. Moth
ng is royal but love, nothing Is kingly but
mind. That sovereignty that ought 20
'ule In human affairs is the sovereignty
II personal value, OF brain and of char
lcter.
There never was a time when true
heroic man was more needed. For AL
red to have been "A dlssolute. worthless
nan would have been 10 change all Eng
ish history. IL was this one mans SUI
ierlatiYe greatness that saved England
lie saved his kingdom although I'm ruins
md from the ruins built an empire.
1
essor Edward give away his kingdom
q the church and was canonized. Alfred
protected the church and maintained firm
aith I'm God and the Romish church gave
linn no thanks for IL, but he lived In the |
leart OF his people and became the hero
4 their poetry and the maker of their
lestinN
There was nothing fanatlcal about Al
red. While he believed i'm the church |
nd lived IN harmony, with Rome, he re-
used 10 give up his kingdom TO it's con-
rol lt Is these things which command !
ur reverence. IL is 10 the moral and
mental qualities Of this one man that |
modern civilization traces back its most
lotent streams
The congregational minister's meeting |
vas held In the Bible room OF the Be-
ehceut church this morning, when a pa
er upon a deep theological theme was !
cad by Rev. Frank J. Goodwin. pastor
4 the Pawtucket Congregational church.
ne paper which was entitled THE Rab-
inical element I'm Paul's Life and The
logy," was followed by "A general dis
usslOn