The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-03
Opening Of tho Congregational
Home Mission Convention.
DON 0. SHELTON PRESIDED.
He Told Of Many Things Helpful Ia the
Causs-Rsv. Francis {. Clarke
S peaks EntortalnlngIy.

opened at the Benehcent church at 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon and was at
tended by a large number Of interested
visitors.
Don o. Shelton presided at the confer
ence. and he explained that II was de-
sired that at the conclusion OF the re-
marks OF the speakers questions should
be asked and short conferences held.
The services opened with singing. fol-
lowed by prayer by Rev. Asbury K.
Krom, pastor OF the Benehcent church.
Mr.. Shelton spoke In part as follows:
We are met to get an enlarged view
OF the part young people may take in
extending the kingdom OF Christ In
America and the world Probably no one
thing IL more essential than the recogni-
tion on our part of the dignity and possi-
bility OF our calling as Christians. We
are a vital part of the church militant.
Our outlook our intelligence. our enthus-
iasm, our zeal, arc required and may be
made strong factors In the extension Of
the kingdom.
Each one Of us is to take his part az
promptly and energetically In the task of
bringing the world to knowledge OF
Christ as did the faithful men In the
early days whose quick obedience to their
Lord and whose keen vision for oppor-
tunities of doing His will changed the
destiny of nations.
III IL lnCumDent upon US tndt We 1nu
and fill the place the Master has for US.
That we may do this We must have
clear understanding OF the present-day
enterprises OF our Lord. This confer
ence is for the purpose OF suggestion. In
struction. inspiration. We trust that 1t
marks the beginning OF a well-planned.
skilfuily directed and prolonged educa-
tionaI campaign among the $500 young
people in the Congregational churches OF
America
CULTIVATE THE SPIRIT.
There are four ways by which we may
cultivate the attitude and the spirit that
are so essential I'm leader. First. we
must get from the chief missionary book,
the Bible. a clear view of the plan or
God for the world and to come into SYM
pathy with his plan. Without this knowl-
edge and this sympathy there is apt to
be but slight inclination TO open the
pages of any book that deals with the
present acts OF Christ on the mission
field.
One must rid himself OF the thought
that all mission literature Is dull. Some
OF the most captivating. most stirring
and most beneficial books OF our time are
those that deal with missions.
Deliberately set out to become familiar
with the chief characteristics Of the vast
work OF the Home Missionary society and
OF the other Congregational mission
boards re hour and l. hale would be
sufficient to acquaint ones self with the
outline OF their activities.
The next speaker was Rev Ernest q.
Allen Of Toledo. his subject being How
can we aid our youth to promote Christs
Kingdom" He said In part:
The value or organized missionary ef-
fort among young people can never be
measured or over estimated
We live in the new era. Within our
own lifetime II has opened and advanced.
The present organization OF our young
people has given the church new crown
OF glory and OF responsibility The de-
velopment OF young peoples societies.
notably Christian Endeavor Congre-
gational pioneer: the vast uprising Of
youth In the student volunteer move
ment: the new movement In our Sunday
schools for more intelligent instruction;
not TO speak OF increases numbers secur-
ing collegiate training. a large proportion
OF whom are Christians, all these are
significant and cheering signs OF the
times.
The fundamental motive of this great
uprising Of the last 25 years Is the mis-
sionary spirit. Losing that. the whole
movement dies; indeed, n would be in
explicable. We are recognizing the
force OF this inexorable syllogism: "ff
any man has not the spirit OF Christ
he is none OF His" The spirit OF Christ
is the missionary spirit. II any man
have not the missionary spirit. he is not
Christs.
MR.. HICKS ADDRESS.
How TO Secure and Maintain Trained
Missionary Leadership In the Young
Peoples Society" was the subject OF H.
| w. Hicks, assistant secretary of the Am
erican board. He sad IN part:
The need OF an able leadership In mis-
S.onary work among young peoples
societies has never been more apparent
Ian at the present time. He gave a
list OF six points demonstrating the i'm
portance OF raising up and maintaining
an Al BILE body OF leaders IN every church.
and offered number OF suggestions help
full IN indicating the general character
OF efforts needed 10 lay the foundation
OF a strong missionary department in the
young peoples department
The evening seusrOn was very largely
attended and the meeting most success
full. Three speakers occupied the greater
portion OF the time, Don. o. Shelton. as
sociate secretary OF the society: Rev.
Francis "a Clark. d. D., president of the
United Society OF Christian Endeavor.
and Rev. N. Magee Waters. u. d. pastor
Of the Tompkins Avenue Congrega tional
church Of Brooklyn, N Y
The general subject Of the melting was.
The Young People and Christian
America" and the speakers treated the
topic from thre phases. Mr. Shelton
considered The Value OF a True Mo-
tive" and read an able and interesting
paper. which commanded close attention.
Rev. Or. Clark took the question Of pa
triotism. The last speaker was Rev. ~.
Magee Waters, who delivered an address
on The Opportunity Of the Young People
OF America" that was eloquent and
spirited IN the extreme
The evening service began At 7;S with
the singing OF the Doxology. after which
the invocation was offered by Rev. John
Depeu OF Bridgeport. Conn. Then came
a responsive Scripture reading. announce
msnts. Scripture lesson and prayer by
Rev. w. II. Holman OF Southport. Conn.
and the hymn. "Ye Christian Heralds." :"
sung by the congregation.
Secretary shelton said Christian n
young people are now face 10 face with a
chance TO elorify their Lord a. splendid
as young people IN any other age have
had Occasions of unsurpassed splendor
are presenting themselves for expressions
of LOYALTY 20 Christ. for faithful witness
bearing for devotion to the carrying out