The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-20
BAPTIST
MISSION
WORK.
Ministerial Conferences Opens
In VasiTy Of The First
Baptist Church.

The Baptist Ministerial conference,
which was held ia the vestry Of the
First Baptist church today, opened at
1879 o clock this morning with the presi-
dent, Rev j. q. Henson, in the chair.
The subject of the conference was
Missions. and in this connection the de-
votions. the hymns and the addresses
all partook of>the missionary spirit
The session opened with a service OF
song followed by -scriptural reading by
Rev. A. ;. Putnam and prayer by Rev
erends Bromley and Marsh.
The speaker of the morning Rev. III.
o. HtscoX. ID. d.. OF Maiden. WAS then
intToduced by Rev. J. Is. Ever.
In beginning The speaker enlarged upon
the meaning and significance OF impulse.
especially as applied 10 the subject OF
missions.
The speaker believed that mission
airy impulse must be born in the heart,
and Ia the Christian heart, If the cause
OF missions is TO be advanced throughout
tile World.
lie then IN a most eloquent way,
brought out the spiritual significance of
regeneration or of what christ meant
by the prophetic words: 'Ye must be
Sorn again"
The Christian missionary impulse
must have It's habitate in the regenerated
heart DECLARED the speaker
THE NEW BIRTH.
The new birth is absolutely essential
TO any kind OF missionary impulse"
Continuing, the speaker called the at
tention OF his hearers TO the spirit OF
woridliness that Is found I'm the churches
everywhere today, a spirit which is
crowding out the missionary spirit.
'Educaton aud not regeneration" he
declared. lis the cry of civilization today.
''itle emphasis OF life today is an edu-
cation, said the speaker.
I'VE are told, thur education is taking
the place OF the churches.
"Eightyrone millions OF dollars have
been given for the advancement of edp-
cation and "a mere pittance, In compari-
SON., TO The cause Of missions
What is the reason for this? Why do
men and women IN the churches today
take more interest IN whist parties. Sc
cret societies, lodges and the theatre than
they do i'm missions and thereby blighting
the power of the church.
81 do not decry education" continued
the speaker, but / do decry the position
that would place education at the head
ana the regenerating power OF God in
tha old time teaching that a man must
be born again.
"What did jesus Christ teach concern
ing this new birth. but this. that IL is the
necessity of the new birth that lies a.
the root Of all true missionary effort
"All scientific Teaching, IL seems To me.
upnolds this simple statement OF Jesus.
''Ye must be born again"
Al this point the speaker eloquently
set forth the scientific meaning OF being
born again.
Touching upon the doctrine OF evolu-
ton the speaker believed that while there
was much tn the theory yet We had had
evolution al nauseum.
"What We. need" he said. "is the doc
trine of iqvolution and until we can get
back ~ God born begutten OF the win Of
God we shah not have the right impulse
toward missionary work.
FEW ACTIVE CHRISTIANS.
How many people in our churches are
active Christisns? qlleried the speaker.
I'VE have i've apd ten dollars given for
missions where II should he 5000 aud slo-
poo @
Our churches today are dylng for the
lack Of missionary Zeal," ~ lt -
IN closing ways in which the work OF
missions can be helped along,
lie was followed by PRAYER by Rev.
Igobgrf Cameron and brief remarks hN