The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-09
D0|NGS At BROWN.
Prof. Oealsy's Sunday Morning TaIk-Notss
From the College on the Hill.

Professor James @. Dealey concluded
his course Of Sunday morning talks by
discussing The Church and the Clergy
in the Twentieth Century" He said in
part:
I'm looking into the future OF mems
relation to religion we are apt 90 con-
struct Utopias, where all are spiritually
min Z closely connected and entirely
decidtsI. on the fundamental Of religious
life. These visions OF ours. however, are
based not on what the signs OF the times
Indicate, but what We personally
would like 70 have come 70 pass Pessi-
mism and optimism are Also opinions, al
though the optimist can point 10 the In
crease In the number Of churches and
members and their growth in financial
resources.
Christ rebuked those who could not
read the signs OF the times We OF this
century are Of course farther advanced
but we need broad knowledge and keen
insight before we can attempt prophecy
However. one Of the Fundamental
changes that will take place in this CEN
t,lry is the development Of leisure.
Religious life In the result OF medita-
tion. and We must look within our search
for truth. Elijah did not hear the Lord
In the wind or tempest. but in the still
small voice. Christ, Himself retired to
get strength. SO there must be peace
and quiet affording time for meditation,
before We can develop the highest form
of religion.
Leisure now Is not the property OF
tto f1x
social system mat will give the average
man some leisure. The intensity of com
petition today drives men TO all kinds OF
weakness-mental and physical great
number Of men are even now on the
ragged edge OF starvation.
Viewed In this light the wage question
is at the bottom of religion, for the aver
age man cannot have time and peace To |
mediate and strengthen his religious life |
until we experience a social reorganiza- |
tion.
"A much more important change to be |
brought about is one in mans attitude 10
religion. II is a mistake 10 suppose that
religion is supernatural. and that our
other life IL not Religion should be a
part OF our life. II Is a natural thing
and We can develop IL. We can develop
our religious life Just as we can develop
our physique. Some have only grown
along one line. and we call them cranks.
What We want now are all-around re-
lisious men.
1T Is a mistake to stand as a vessel
waiting for something to be poured into
us, but we can act so that we cannot help
getting the good. The church must
study 10 fnd the laws Of the origin and
natural growth OF religion. Life will
have a different meaning II we take this
principle. for we can see that the layman
rs well as the minister has a duty to
perform. He Is not 20 walt for an out
side impulse TO stir up his religious life.
but he is to begin and te develop by
natural growth natural religion.
What should be the attitude OF the
,hurch TO hasten religious development?
II should teach that religion is not mys-
terious, but comprehensible. The church
must become broader. There is too great
! feeling even now that heaven Is for the
'ew while hell In reserved for the many.
With the present attitude artstocracy IN
he church is inevitable. Then the church
must study and remedy social conditions.
Has not the church reached a maximum
inder the present SYSTEM II II not
using 18th century organizations and
,reeds In conjunction with 10th century
deals? So II seems that many reor-
limitations are imperative this century
o promote the true religious life We
ire gradually beginning 70 understand
hat religion IL entirely natural and COM
,rehensible. that II IL apart from forms
Ind that IL Is possible for every one"
In the absence Of President Fsunce
Rev. Augustus NJ. Lord Of the First Uni
artan church. conducted this mornings
chapel exercises
The swimming pool is again open for
iss today. The leak that necessitatcd
he closing during last FRIDAY and sat
irday was found in the pipe leading from
he flter 20 the pool II IL now repaired
Ind the pool In now ready for Use