New-York tribune., 1902-05-19
EVANGELLSTIC WORK URGED.
A DENVER PASTOR TELLS OF IRRE-
LIGIOUS CONDITIONS IN THE WEST.

The meeting of the Presbyterian General AS
sembly at the Fifth-Avenue Church last night
was devoted to a discussion of evangelistic work
II was conducted by the assemblys committee
on evangeIistic work John H. Converse, chair
man Of the committee, presiding. There were
four twenty minute addresses the meeting last
ing from until 1870 O'Clock. The Rev. Dr.
Robert F. Coyle Of the Central Church. Denver
made a stirring address which moved his audi
tors to enthusiastic applause, the only demon
stration Of the kind in the meeting. DR.. Coyle
said in part:
The Church cannot grow without evangelistie
work. Expansion Is the law OF the klnEdonl, ana
There is great need OF such work in The West. 1t
is is f5eofG NEE 5 70 IF is difficuit in the East to hold
the Church and build il up it Is infinitely mar ,r irr
helpful and the Church Is a part of the commG-
nifty. but in the West the atmosphere is entrey
Of the people and you it is tenfold better to
Concern ee IS dam damper % that P puts out the re
The Fourth Commandment in the West Is dead
[.l today ana here tomorrow, In my church
jisn5fss as many as We receive In view of these
Ctnditions pastors are constantly on the go, trying
TO keep things together. They have no time or
if they have they afraid to try. Hence the
need OF the impetus Of some repreSentaHve OF lnIs
ing about prosecuting a vigorous campaign In the
ligion as in the East. When the Church is planted
the very atmosphere, well as the soil IN which
be abe to hold the fort with his little band OF
Spartaus but holding the fort is not enough. He
must 20 out and bring the Gospel to bear on the
outside multitudes.
1t seems religion does not bear transplanung 70
the West The religion OF the new people from tne
East for some rsaSon eher aiGs e e heen hand
ed to the local pastors and never VIII he uul,sS
The work Of this committee would mean mag
nidcent contribution TO nome missions. IN the
how few there are and these are microscopically
small. You well expect three or iouI tar
low candles to make an impression on thls grtdt
country and as it hardens in the mould we want
II to take on me impress OF me l. tas, ~ nm m
clay IN the hands OF potter , ana thf t@hn niiI m
rampant now, and Mormonism is multiplying IN
force. All the forces of darkness are at Work, ana no
if the country IS TO be reclaimed there must be
heroic and widespread evangelism.
s neS9 e SPsTab BsSe had hoah "@4 Re
and discredited evangelist They must be men OF
teresting men The west is the last place on earth
can ride our Western waters. They must neither
he slow nor sensational. We have no use for 70,
Tbe yeonie of the West have no special hunger
for the GospeI and if they want il at all they want
il straight Up date illustrations and twentieth
The Rev. Dr. John F. Carson. pastor Of the
Central Church; Of BROOKLYN. complimentGd Mr
persuaded. he said. that there was nothing so well
stimulate its generosity and to bind the members
Of the church well together. an earnest
movement. Thus all differences might be broken
and the great truths of the Gospel appreciated
and believed. Every church he maintained. was
responsible for the evangeliZaon of its immediate
neiEhborhood. and the church that neglectful
Of its evangelistic work was not ethicaly strong
or spiritually sound. It is obligation which
the church must recognize he said.
The Rev. Dr. Henry 5. Little, synodical mis-
sionary, Of DenisOn, Tex, gave interesting de
| scription of conditions in the South, where, he
| said. il was sometimes necessary to travel in "A
! buggy many miles between churches. The time
/ was gone, ne said. when a peripatctic preacher
| VINO called himself an evangelist could SWoOp
! down upon little town and demand $500 for
| two or three weeks work leaving the local
| pastor in state OF poverty for many months.
| What was needed was experienced and accredited
eEangcliSts, supported by the General Assembly.
| The Rev. DR.. J. Wilbur Chapman. Of the Fourth
Church. this city. was the last speaker He also
| made "A strong appeal for a stimulation of evan
| gellstic work. declaring that it the only Iogi-
cal method by which people could be brought into
| the church.