The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-20
Christians Of All Denominations
Must Come Together.
NOT A QUESTION OF DOGMA
ADDRESS BY Rev. {. 0. Burr al Meeting OF
Fedsraiiu, OF Churches Yesterday al
Mathswssn Street Church.

At the second annual meeting OF the
federation OF churches and Christian
workers held at the Mathewson Street
Methodist church yesterday afternoon
and evening. there was large attend
ance OF members, and In addition TO the
business transacted there was an address
by Rev Everett ID. Burr OF West New
ton.
The annual reports submitted by the
secretary and treasurer were very en-
couraging. Officers were elected for the
ensuing year rs follows:
President. Rev. s. NJ. Dick. pastor or
the Mathewson Street NJ. r.. church; Sec
retary. Rev. Edward Holyoke pastor OF
the Calvary Baptist church, treasurer,
Frederick n. Jackson.
A tabulation has been made from the
returns OF the religions census OF the city
which will shortly be made public and
the results given 10 the churches for the
purposes OF giving information OF the
work to extend the influence OF religion
10 larger numbers of people
At the evening session the annual ad-
dress was delivered by Rev. Everett ID.
Burr who said I'm part:
Religion is becoming more as Christ
meant II to be. a living fact and not
mere question OF dogma or creed. We
have been apt TO define religion In accord
snce with our ideas. but with the begin
ming or this new century we are at iedbt
clear on one thing and that Is that II is
our work TO bring the Christians OF all
denominations or OF no denomination to-
gether.
There must be for such federation
the one concept of the Christian religion
that that which makes man Christ
ian is living closely with Christ. Church
organiza ton. creeds, ceremonies will not
do, for they are many dead sticks
and all put together they will not vitalize
one human soul.
A MATTER OF LIFE.
1.-THE redemption or city r. NOT dues-
ton OF politics or OF creed. but IL is a
matter OF life. and thus II we grant that
the giving OF life Is the function OF the
church we can see the value Of church
fedora ton In our civic life. This new con-
cept of Christianity. this sort OF biologi- |
cal concept of religion Is the basis OF
federation.
There is such a rapid shifting OF hu-
manity and such sudden changes OF con- |
ditions that II is impossible for n church |
TO do Its work unless there Is neigh |
borhood vigilance by which every single |
phase OF life In which human soul is |
living may be known. Such a watchful |
care of humanity Is not possible outside |
of foderative movement |
For this work there must be a thor |
ough examination by house-to-house |
canvass OF the neighborhood. Summing |
parties and visits by tactless persons OF |
small coteries OF church workers are not !
efYectual. We cannot know the conditions |
OF the whole neighborhood by such |
means. If we are going to the heart of |
the problem. We must do IL by combined
scientific study for the purposes of social
and religious life"
The speaker then went on 10 arraign In
rather strong terms what he called the
hpdQ In vyti N
ganizatons like the Salvation Army dis
tributed it's philanthropy by big public
dinners, az which the prosperous sat In
the galleries and watched the poor peo- i
pie feed like so many cattle.
THE HOME THE CENTRE.
Continuing. he said: "No child should
be made 10 feel that II is the child OF the
people rather than the child OF Its pa
rents. The poor should be traced 10 their
homes and the philanthropy distributed
there. The social centre from the point
OF view Of Christian philanthropy should
be the home,s no matter how humble IL
may he. and no one should desecrate II by
spectacular philanthropy.
"The fcderative movement IL also nee
essary for a genuine municipal progress,
which In not In the hands OF the church.
but OF the political party which happens
10 be In power. The veal OF n city is de-
termined by the conditions OF it's several
separate communities We cannot fift up
the finer residential portions at the ex-
pense of the poorer neighborhoods. The
only way for - city 10 progress Is to
lift up the citizens by a systematic, pro-
portionate attention TO all of the phases
OF municipal life.
There must be readjustment OF
church methods or we go into the grave.
for the grave varies from the pit only
in that II is deeper. This must be done by
all OF the churches. and when they real
ize that there is ono great service which
the church can render TO humanity then
will n rise to the heights which Christ
contemplated