The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-30

lleNe christ would advocate. III not In the
exact manner ] shall explain. al least In
the same spirit"
Philip paused moment and looked
over the congregation earnestly. The
expec ctation OF the people was reused all
most 10 the point of a sensation as lie
went on:
II have consulted competent authorl-
ties. and they say that our church build
ing here could he moved from it's present
foundation without serious damage TO the
structure. 4 part Of IL would have 10
be torn down 10 assist the moving but
II could easily be replaced The expense
would not be more than we could readily
meet. We are out of debt, and the prop
erty is free from incumbrance. What |
propose. therefore, is very simple thing
that we move our church edifice down
into the heart of the tenement district.
where We can buy a suitable lot for
a comparatively small sum. and AT once
begin the work Of Christian church i'm
the very neighborhood where such work
Is most needed.
There are certain objections to this
plan. | think they can be met by tho
exercise of the Christ spirit of sacrifice
and love. A great many members will
not be able TO go that distance to at
tend service any more than the people
there at present can well come up here.
But there are six churches left on II
street What is to hinder any Chris
tian member of Calvary church from
working and felowshipng with those
churches II he cannot put In his service
In the tenement district! None of these
churches Is crowded They will well
come the advent OF more members.
But the main strength of the plan
which | propose lies I'm the fact that If
ii he done IL will be live illustration
of the eagerness Of the church TO reach
and save men. The very sight of our
church moving down of from this street
to the lower part of the town will he an
object lesson To the people, and the
church will at once begin TO mean some
thing TO them. Once established there,
we can work from IL as a center The
distance ought TO be no discourage
ment TO any healthy person. There Is not
young woman I'm this church who is
In the habit of dancing who does not
make twice as many steps during an
evening dancing party ar would he neces
sary TO take her to the tenement district
and back again. Surely any Christian
church member is as willing TO endure
fatigue and sacrifice and to give as much
time to help make men and women bet
ter as he Is to have good time himself.
Think for a moment what this move
which | propose would mean to the life
OF this town and TO our Christian growth.
At present we go TO church We listen
10 good choir. we go home again, we
have pleasant Sunday school. we are
all comfortable and well clothed here, we
enjoy our services. we are not disturb
ed by the sight of disasreeabe or un-
congenial people.
But Is that Christianity? Where do
the service of the self denial and the
working for mems souls come in? Ah
my dear brothers and sisters what is
this church really doing for the saliva
tion OF men In this place? Is II Chris
tianity TO have a comfortable church and
go to II once or twice a week to enjoy
nice music and listen TO preaching. and
then go home 10 good dinner. and that
Is about all? What have we sacrificed?
What have we denied ourselves? What
have we done to show the poor or the
sinful that we care anything for their
souls or that Christianity IL anything but
comfortable. select religion for those who
can afford good things of the world?
What has the church I'm Milton done 10
mako the workingman here feel that 1t
Is an institution that throbs with the
brotherhood Of man? But suppose we
actually move our church down there
and then go there ourselves weekdays
and Sundays To work for the uplift OF
immortal beings. Shall we not then have
the satisfaction OF knowing that we are
than enjoy our church all by ourselves?
Shall we not be able to hope that we
have at last attempted to obey the spirit
of our sacrificing Lord. who commanded
his disciples to go and disciple the ma
tions? II seems to me that tho plan is
Christian plan. II the churches I'm this
neighborhood were not so numerous IL
the circumstances were different il might
not be wise or necessary to do what I
propose. But as the facts arc | Solemnly
believe that this church has an oppor-
tunity before IL 10 show Milton and the
other churches and tho world that IL is
willing to do an unusual thing that Il
has within IL the spirit OF complete will
ingness TO reach and lift up mankind In
the way that will do II best and most
speedily IL individuals are commanded
10 sacrifice and endure for Christ's sake
and the Kingdoms. | do not know why
organizations should not do the same
And In this Instance something on large
scale. something that represents large
sacrifice. something that will convince
the people of the love OF man for man.
Is the only thing that will strike deep
enough into the problem OF the tenement
district In Milton 60 begin TO solve II In
any satisfactory or Christian way
II 90 not expect the church 90 act
on my plan without due dclberation I
nave arrived at my own conclusions after
And I'm the sight OF all the needs and
degrads ton Of the people and In the light
of all that christ has made clear To- he
our cuty as his disciples IL seems 10 mo
there ls but ono path open "a US. " VIC
neglect 10 follow him a 3 he beckons us.
believe W shall neglect the one oppor-
tunitN OF calvary church 90 put itself IN
The position Of tho church of the cruct-
ned Lamb ~ God who did not please
himself. who came TO minister 10 others
who woulc ceua'nly approve Of any
stems his church on earth in this age
might honestly make TO reach men ana
love them and become TO them tho helper
and savior and ,ifc giver which the great
Head Of the church truly intender we
should be. leave this plan which !
have proposed before YOU for your Chris.
tan thought and prayer. And may the
Holy Snirit guide NJ all into all the
truth Amen"
VI Philip had deliberately planned TO
create sensation. he could not have
done anything moro radical io bring ~
about. II he had stood~on the platform
and fired a gun into the audience ~
would not have startled tho members OF
Calvary church more than this calm pro-
nosal 30 them that they move their build
Ing mile away from its aristocratic sur
rornd'ngs Nothing that he had said IN
his previous rermors had provoked such
2 spirit ~ opposition This tir,e the