The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-31

port They evidently look upon her not
as a mother but as a rich step mother,
and think it is their right to try and
get all they can out of her.
"One other thing 1 want to speak to
you about and that is the magnitude
of the work which confronts the Bap-
| fists in this state. 1t is often said that
economic prosperity contributes ad-
vancement to the kingdom of God.
believe this is pure fallacy and that
| there is no connection between them.
| Here is a mill which employs Ameri-
can worlxmen, They build up homes
| and develop type of life which rep
| resents the best in American civiliza-
ton. The owners of the mill think they
| can make more money by substituting
for the Americans, foreign born. work
neutrality-suspicious. Poles. Italians, etc.
They are brought in and instantly de-
| terioration of the community ensues.
The standard of life is lowered, morals
are lowered, the type of civilization is
lowered.
| THAT, brethren, is the precise prob
| lem which is confronting Baptist
| churches, Congregational churches,
Methodist churches in many towns of
the state. The greed of capitalists
works for the deterioration of our cit
| iZenship and our civilization
| There is another fact. This new
population not only stands for a lower
| type of civilization but it stands very
largely for the Roman Catholic faith.
1 know 1 shall be criticised, but | am
| going to say it just the same CAP
plause). There is so much Christian
ity in the Roman Catholic faith that it
is exceedingly difficult for a higher and
Epurer type of Christianity to reach the
Roman Catholic.
1.-THE, peace of Westphalia closed the
80 years war in 1648, dividing Europe
religiously and politically. 1t is most
| significant fact that not country that
was Catholic then but is Catholic now;
and not country that was Protestant
| then but remains Protestant today 1t
is an astounding fact that in $50 years
| Professionalism has not wrested single
| square mile from Catholicism, nor has
| Catholicism taken a square mile from
Professionalism. More than that doubt
| if there is place or community on
| the planet that has changed In It's re-
| ligious complexion from Catholic to
| Protestant, or vice versa, save Where
Immigration has been the cause.
Yet in Massachusetts we are con-
| fronted with this problem. Unless the
| church bestirs itself and awakes to
sense of the danger, doubt that Mass
achusetts itself may become the single
illustrious instance of the CONVEX
sion by a Protestant community to
Catholic community by their force of
immigration, mere weight of numbers.
"Those who say the giving of few
hundred dollars excuses us are terri
bly, wrong"
A short discussion followed, the first
speaker being Rev. A. M. Higgins
Rev. DR.. Robert G. Seymour said he
wanted to approve of DR.. Harris ad-
| 4. ftrTvl,a 80 Don, .aafet
stares us in the face" He said he
could affirm the truth Of the statement
that Massachusetts is the best giving
state in the union. The living vita
question today in the advancement OF
the Redeemers kingdom is the question
of money, nothing else hinders the
evangelization Of the world. He said
pastors did not talk enough about
money. Deacon o. NJ. Wentworth of
Boston said he believed there was
something grander and more important
than money 1t is lack of interest in
the salvation of souls that hinders the
work. The report was then adopted.
The address of President E. P. Farm
ham followed.
Fathers and Brothers. The Massa-
lchusetts Baptist state convention ac-
Icepts with sincere gratitude the in
vitation of the Lincoln Square Baptist
lChurch of Worcester for it's 99th an
nual meeting To not a few of our
constituency, from all portions of the
state, the suggestion would commend
Itself as both agreeable and wise to
convene regularly for series of years
in this central city of the common
wealth. The city of Worcester ought
to be a good viewpoint from which to
look out upon the entire state of Mas
sachusetts as a field of Christian la
Dor, and in this particular it can be
said of Worcester what cannot be said
of all our cities-it is what it ought
Ito be. Every religious problem in the
Estate can be examined In clear per-
spective from this central point Of
view.
Permit me to engage your attention
briefly upon certain of these problems.
In the fuller discussions of these four
days, much light 1 doubt not, will be
thrown upon them.
Beginning at Worcester we have
first of all the problem of the city. See
what is here involved. In many of
Jour cities we have hints of these prob
lens to be unraveled-the problem of
1.-THE conservative family church, Of the
slowly-expiring downtown church, of
the peoples church with its various
means and appliances for the eVangel-
Iization and regeneration of the entire
man, the mission Sunday school and
to house visitation and outdoor preach
ling and singing. In addition to all
these problems in single city, in
Single tongue, we have the problem of
numerous tongues and races. Boston
is a Babel Fall River is New Canada
in New England. Lowell and Law
renee. and Haverhiil and Salem. and
Lynn and North Adams, and SPRING
field and Holyoke, and Worcester
and a dozen other communities, are
from one-third to one-half and two
thirds foreign in language, in custom,
in religion. The tabulated statement
already distributed needs interpreta-
ton. 1t needs the Interpretation of
open minded Christian men and wom-
zen, who, seeing the plain import of
! irresistible facts. shall be willing to
apply themselves with renewed con-
lsecration to the solution of the massive
and intricate questions involved.
Explain existing conditions as we
may; marshal statistics to our aid to
/ the limit of our ability; admit the IA
voring conditions that exist in a few
scattered bases throughout the state,
/ it will not be denied that there is oc-
casion for deep solicitude. Positive ig-
norance of the high fellowship open
/ to every human soul in Jesus Christ
! is widespread. Indifference to the
claims of righteousness; disregard of
/ the Lords day; depreciation of the
value of church membership, and of
the ordinances of the church; an in
creasing sense of freedom from bond
| age to any religious faith-these
things deplorable and disheartening as
they are. are common and well known
THE great demand of the hour is
! the commissioning Of Christian dis
ciples; the re-establishing of the con-
viction that the Christianity Of Jesus
Christ is alone equal to the task of
organizing an aggressive and efficient
I Christian church or of developing a