The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-27
MINISTERS MEET
Rev. Mr.. Baker Spsaks on
1.-The Man Problem.

The regular meeting OF the Providence
District Methodist Ministers association
was held in the Mathewson street Meth
odst church at 1880 this morning with
Rev. IA. A, Rdgway, the vice-president,
in the chair.
After the usual reports and routine
business "A paper entitled THE Man Prob
lem In tho Church was read by Rev. Il.
g. Baker OF Westerly. The paper. in
which much interest centered, was, In
"As we stand before our Sunday con-
gregauOns and look out upon tho com
pany gathered together for religious wor-
ship, N We are not led Ia ask the question,
Where are the men " H. only because
we have become 50 accustomed 20 their
absence that IL gives us little thought.
and perhaps less concern. To the preach
er who Is fully alive To the import Of
his mission, as the bearer Of message
from God 70 men, II cannot be a matter
OF Indifference that anywhere from three
fourths TO hve-siNths OF those present 10
hear his message are women and chill
dren. Where are the men2
1T Is a very rare exception In our Pro
testant churches 10 find A congrega tion
where the attendance OF men at either
morning or evening service is equal TO
the attendance Of women: OF roll OF
membership on which the women do not
number nearly two 20 one Of the men.
THE question the Man Problem ~ the
Church is not "A new one, our fathers
wrestled with it in their day. and falling
10 work out It's solution. have passed II
down 10 US They laboFed with il and
we have entered into their labor.
"In seeking TO work out the solution OF
this problem II is important for us 20 get
as near as we can, TO the real underlying
causes OF the present alienation OF the
men from the church and its services
Some OF our fellow labOrerS I'm their anX-
iety TO get at the bottom facts have sent
out circular letters TO the men asking
them TO state frankly their reasons for
neglect OF the church services
"A variety Of answers have been re-
ceived To these inquiries Most Of these
are AZ wide Of the truth aud as lacking
in sound sense or substance as were those
mentioned by our Lord In the parable OF
the marriage supper. when they al with
one consent began TO make excuse.
such excuses as 4 am too tired i
must have Sunday for rest Il want the
day for visit with my family are GER
tainly not very weighty or substantial
They are mere pret KITS for the neglect
OF personal religion.
Other reasons given imply a bitter
ness toward the church as being the
enemy of the working man, even putting
IL so strong as 20 call the church Nor
monized' institution, and the ministers
parasites Of society
There Is more OF reason I'm the excuse
presented 10y those whose employment re-
quires them 10 work on sunday. great
and constantly increasing multitude OF
men are thus deprived or the opportunity
of attending religious services on the
Christian Sabbath. But II by no means
follows that all Of these men or even q
church n they were not SO employed
"'Wherc there Is a will there Is a way
and the way in which men who arc em-
ploVed on Sunday could find time 20 at
tend church during some part of the day
h. not found. chiefly beCauss the VIII TO
lind 10 or 10 make W is lacking.
''rhc first and CHIEF cause Of the es-
truug, ment of men from the church Is in
difference: they do not go SO the church
services hccause they de- not want TO go.
MANY of them have become so thor
f.tfts l. L.. l. Il Ia
relish for things religious and have no
proper sense OF their need of the things
for which the church stands.
The love of sin g. another chief cause
why many men absent themselves, from
the place where the faithful presentation
of Gods truth will as they w-ll know,
antagonize tho habits and practices OF
Another rrason given by the men
themselves is that church services are
not made attractive or inviting 90 men,
Iuou thlS iual priut the speaker dwclt
al length advocating that W the pulpit
would hold to tEe church the men 10 mas
ana would attract others % manly gospel
must hs proclaimed with no uncertain
sound The ethics Of religion. the
morals of Christianity the godlncss
that has promise nf the lie that now ~
90 bc mede attractive and helpful 10 the
men
The speaker also laid stress upon the
fact that the church may lc~~l from the
world some points wherein the methods
OF the uurodlv might urohHbly become
tho study of ihe righteous ana lnstauccd
the secret society. tht lodge, the frater-
uit, as points in the solution Of the prob
ltm under consideration.
ln closing the SPEAKER prophcsicd the
awaNcnug Of The church of the tweu-
work for men hN men whose practical
loving helpful service OF man to man per-
formed under Inc sanction aud auspices ~
the church of christ will draw men 20
the SCR, toes nf The church and thus help
to solve thc man problem IN The church.
The pHuer vas followed hy prolonged
discussion
The regular Monday meeting 81 the Com
LragatluuaUst Ministers WAS held iu the
Hihla ROM of the Epuenrcut church at lN.N
this morning whom paper was rad ba
Rev Charles n. FhnveI assistant Uastor
Of the t'uon Congregational church
THE uauer was review on Harnatk
"NNhnt ta Christianity f ana was followed
bN general discussion
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