The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-04-28
MINISTERS MEET
Methodist and Congregational
Clergyman 10 Session Today.


The regular meeting of the Methodist
minister's of the Providence district was
held In the Mathewson Street Methodist
church this morning. with a small attend
ance.
The meeting was presided over by Rev.
II. A. Ridgwsy. the vice president of the
Minister'S association. and a brief busi-
ness meeting occurred, after which most
interesting paper was read by Rev. w.
+. Geisler of Fall River on Modern Dis
inclination TO Church Membership"
''The causes for the disinclination 10
church membership he said, may be
divided into those within and without
the church, First, the lack of Protestant
church authority; the church is not only
not the conscience OF the individual, but
1t has little power of conscience direction,
the church is regarded as n luxury. The
fact must be impressed upon people that
IL is a necessity.
THE second cause of disinclination 10
church membership is modern Biblical
criticism.
Biblical hermaneutics has experienced
a change of heart and soul and fail 20
observe tndt cndnge may De accompanied
by gain as well as loss"
"rhe third cause may be found" con-
tinued the speaker, lin the existing In
dustrial and social conditions. Especially
since so much is said of the Gospel as
a preachment OF social reform and life
and when many forms OF socialism seek
rootage In Christianity.
Labor while IL exalts Christ I'm de-
gree. repudiates the church. Christ is a
friend TO the poor man, but IL is claimed
that the church patronizes him
I'VE are proud of the leading church,
the church that has the cream the ice
cream.
THE church must be just before II at
tempts to be charitable. Ii must regard
man as neither this nor that, but as
simply man.
Christ knew no class; yet, he knew all
classes; no social order could open the
way easier than another to the better life,
the struggle for which, and its achieve
ment, becoming the only distinctions or
life.
The fourth cause" the speaker said,
lis that much Of our literature OF a semi
religious nature has a materializing ef-
feet upon lfe not much real strength for
the ideal life is TO be gained from the
rabid realistic, modern story which every
body must read. IL is not an unmixed
good that comes from the David Harum'
ties OF such characters are made TO glare
into oblivion their unredeeming qualities.
There Is an implied snser at the church
i'm such characters which arouses the at
tention of the public and sets IL to wag-
ging its head.
Along with the good influence we arc
feeling the humanizing effect OF the ques-
tion, What would Jesus do as motto OF
life? Ii is the reincarnation OF Christ,
but OF the God left out"
l. Other points brought out by the speak
er bearing on the indifference 70 church
membership were: Fifth. The wide.
TO God TO many is the only way TO God;
sixth, Extremes of religious teaching
marked by the exclusive church and the
| fanatical religionist:" seventh. "Charac-
| ter and motive of so called church work.
| eighth, THE effect of the sentiment with
| reference 20 certain amusements:' ninth
1.-The nature and demands of the church
upon present day personal l!fe" tenth,
LAX views OF many Christian people
with reference to Sabbath observance;
eleventh. Demand for Sunday as a holi-
day. based on necessary recreation and
enforced Sunday labor
"The church must so front the world. y
said the speaker. in closing. las 10 rem
der ineffective the denunciation which Is
not against the Christ OF the church. but
against the church, which is not of
Christ"
The paper was followed by a discus
sion
The regular meeting of the Congrega-
tional ministers was held In the Bible
room OF the Benehcent Congregational
church this morning, when scholarly
naper was read bv Rev. James G.. Nose,
ID. D., entitled Historical Theology"
A general discussion followed the read
ing of the paper.