Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-17

care TO Tile cnufCn. ana WIFI all the
schools Congrega tionalism is well
equipped to meet the many demands of
the age. This is a strenuous age and
demands strenuous preaching from
strenuous preachers. Then in the name
of liberty, of our country and of the
liberty loving and consecrated intelli-
gent Congregationalism let us preach
Christ as the Savior of man, the eman-
cipator of slaves, the light of the world
and the son of God"
Phases of Religion.
Rev. F. l.. Johnston treated his sub
ject of Rational and Serious VS.. Emo
tional and Spasmodic Religion" in a
mastery manner contrasting and COM
pairing the different phases in the most
interesting manner. Rev. Johnston
said in part as follows: ''If the choice
We're to be made between intellectual
ism and emotionalism in the field of
religious experience, one would be al
most ready to say I will neither. In
tellectualism is polish, emotionalism
uncertain, moody, tickle.
Conversions are with some church
es as chronic appendicitis-the least
thing out of the usual brings it on.
The whole person take it is to be re-
ligious- If then intellectualism suffice
every citizen in America is Christian.
If Christian state of heart is the one
thing needful we shall have to put
our clerks on salary that they may
give their whole time to revising the
rolls according to the feelings.
."None. can be Indifferent to the
changes that are taking place in the
religious thought This means that
the old time way of apprehending and
presenting religion, is passing and all
the. weapons in the arsenal are be-
coming new. Evidently we must
cease to think of religious experience
as something spasmodic or sporadic
and must come to regard it as we re-
gard physical health and as the result
of attentive culture Fathers and
mothers are the best evangelists and
childhood is the best time for work.
In the commercial world the spirit
of Ananias and Saphira reigns to a
large extent unchecked and uncon-
|quered 1t augurs i'll for the church
in whose interests We are met and
for the well being of all men for whom
we pray. What is the cause? A fail
| uIe W ISCOSllL9 JIe .SuIlSlldu uOC-
1 trine of stewardship in goods and op-
portunities. These things must re
ceive the serious and close attention
of the Christians of this country if we
would accomplish the work there is
| for us to do.
A Sufficient Ministry.
The subject of ''The characteristics
of Sufficient Ministry" was present
ed by Rev. R. l.. Marsh of Burlington
at the morning session of the Den
mark association meeting. Rev
Marsh spoke in brief as follows
What do we mean by sufficient
ministry. Let us say sufficient to jus
tify it's existence. If we think of the
individual, his ministry is sufficient i
it iustifies his call to it and justifie
| him in continuing in it If we speal
of the ministry as general institu
ton, it is sufficient If it justifies tn,
| confidence that the masses of the pee
pie repose in it. A sufficient ministr.
| proclaims the evangel to all classes
not as theory. but as life message
i There are three ways OF proclaiminl
this evangel, by word of mouth. by tn
4 living example and the influence 0
personality. What is this gospel mes
sage which we are to proclaim? Il
the simplest form it is God is love
But it is not enough merely to say tina
because that love of God who is Other
wise unknowable has found concret
expression in Him through whom W
know God Paul evidently put TIL
message in the briefest form in whic
i it may rightly be expressed when h
said Christ Jesus came into the worl
to save Sinners Jesus adapted hi
message to the time in which he live
and the people to whom he spoke
This part of a minister's duty is sta
, ed in the injunction given by the Mas
, ter himself when he says, BE We there
fore wise as serpents and harmless a
doves We must suit ourselves t
surrender anything from the esser
tial message which is to be delivered.
Closing Discussion.
The closing part of the morning ses
: sion was devoted to a general discus
: sion of the papers which had been pre-
: scented by the various speakers of tn
occasion. Many and varied view
) with regard to the topics were pre-
. scented and brought out many neN
phases to the subjects. Shortly afte
- o'clock the session adjourned.
+ The Delegates.
: The following Is list of delegates
{ and visitors to the annual meeting o
t the Denmark association of Congre
: gational Churches, which is being hel
{ in the First Congregational church i,
4 this city. Those who had registere
i with the committee up to noon toda
/ are as follows: Rev. J. NJ Cumming
3 of Denmark, Rev. D. d. Tibbetts an
P. M. France of Eldon, e. E. Reed o
e West Burlington, Rev. G. D. Tang
e mann and Miss Grace T. Matthews {
s Danville, F. A. Zickafoose of Clay, Re
f A. S. Henderson, c.. A. Stevens and v
|, H. Bliss of Salem, M. e. Moore of Be
!. KNAPP. Rev. and Mrs. H. o. Spelma
IL and Mrs. Marion S. Shearer of Fail
S field, Rev. f. L. Johnson, Mrs. w.
: Horribly and Mrs. Lizzie Mehl of MI
S Pleasant, Rev. c. w. Anthony, Mr.
f Kate Perry and Mrs. George King {
G Pennington, Rev. G. e. Perkins {
:. Keosauqua, j W. Buch of Eddyville
i Mrs. Jean McMillin, Rev. and Mrs.