The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-13
IN THE CHURCH.
Rev. MI. Root breaches on
Tho Impending Revolution.

There was large congregation present
at the Elmwood temple. yesterday morn
ing. 60 listen 10 pratical talk or sermon
by Rev. r. 4. Root on "The Impending
Revolution In the Church Mr. Root
based his sermon upon the text, RE-
pcnt Ye for the Kingdom Of Heaven rs at
Hand" dnd in this connection he pointed
out the changes In organization necessary
in order that the Protestant churches
may do the most good 20 the greatest
number.
Among the important points be-~ring
upon his theme We're the following:
"liistOriCally, Christianity was a rcligi-
Gus revolution II was not a wholly new
creation. hut "a reform and transforma-
ton Of Judaism. As a movement II be-
gan with the preaching Of John the Bap-
tist. and his call TO repent
History repeats Itself Today we live
at the beginning Of the new era. The
close Of The l9sh century marked = real
transition in human history. Wy have
passed into another age.
The watchword of the 10Th century was
liberty that of The 10Th century Is
Unity The chief concern OF the past
hundred years was the development OF
the individual that Of the next IL TO be
the development OF society. The new
NoNUlioIlH ucntNN a nlEhef innfalllN.
1T Ia beyond question that there Is
something the matter with the church.
The ministry feels H. and II In state
OF unrest and dissatisfaction. because IL
feels that II is not accomplishing any
thing In membership and I'm financial
strength the American churches are but
little more than holding their own.
''fhe trouble Is simply that the church
methods are out OF adjustment 20 the
actual conditions OF modern life. De-
nomina tionallsm Is dead. People cane
nothing today for differences I'm theology
ritual or polity. Unified by it's facilities
for intercommunicst tion. the city consti-
tutes one moral and religious problem,
which can never be solved by a hundred
churches working separately; but only by
all Christians In cooperation
Continuing. the speaker ssid: IL see "a
vision OF the church OF Providence that
is 10 be Instead Of is0 Protestant
churches and missions distributed hap
hazard, struggling 10 maintain them
selves and so forced into un-Christian
rivalry, / see one-third as many strong
well-equipped parishes, denominations
still existing. perhaps, but rigidly subor-
dinated 10 the interests OF the whole body
OF Christ. churches so cooperating In
their work that every family Is looked
after and not an individual can escape
notice, the stonger financially helping the
weaker. so that they can form one mutu-
al insurance company. and no locality
suffers for want OF adequate religious
privileges.
I'm the centre Of the city | see a great
building massive and perfectly adapted
for daily use. devoted To the common
religious life Of the city. In IL are the
headquarters of the various leagues and
federations by which the churches carry
ON their common work for the relief OF
poverty. the suppression OF vice and the
religious visitation OF the city. Therein
are committee rooms aud halls OF various
sizes and great auditorium where all
the Christians OF the city gather when
some moral or religious movement calls
them together.
II do not expect TO sec this change
accomplished at once. hut do expect
10 see II sometime At least I am GER
tain that Il will come, that II is already
rapidly coming why should not our
state. whose motto is Hope; our city.
whose very name asserts that God works
IN the world today as truly as He has
ever done, be in the van OF religious pro-
gress?"