New-York tribune., 1903-03-26
sTIRES DEFENDS CHURCH
NO DECADENCE, HE SAYS.
The Ret. DR.. S. d. Mcconnell
Criticises Institutional Work.

With much earnestness and fire the Rev.
Ernest NJ Stires rector Of ST. Thomass. last
night defended the Episcopal Church from a
charge of decadence at the meeting OF the
Church Club He followed Captain Alfred I.
Nahsa and the Rev. Or. S. .. Mcconnell OF
All Souls Church. who had deplored falling
eff in the spiritual welfare Of the Church Mr.
stires seemed to typify the youthful and opti-
nistic element in the Church, and his speech
aroused much enthusiasm.
1T has not been proved. and don't believe
It." he said "Decsdence. IL We properly
weigh our words. is not the right term to ap-
rIy Is x right estimate influence by size
I admit, are not fat. but We have more
muscle. and l think the previous speaker (Dr'
MCCONNELL has acknowledged this when ne ad-
nitted that these men who have been only
aoninaIIy church members. in leaving u.s. have
been no real losses. Will not defend institu-
tional work, which he condemned, for IT needs
no defence. He comedies all I'm most willing to
claim when he says that the Church is being
pushed back 10 conditions like those in the
days Of its most efficient work. There is no
real deeadence. The growth Of the Church's
influence is like the rise Of the tide; the wave
receces. but the tide doesn't fall each wave
rises = little higher. We have no right TO say
that the Church is growing weak, that its
teachings are less deep and effective than IN
the past
"See now other churches are adopting Lenten
psrvices and are taking rituals as near Ike ours
rs possible without aping OURS. 1t is rlght
that there should be divine. a whoie-
some discomfort with our rate OF progress
which is take It, what our subject for discus
sion means That is what has been shown mere
What IS the lack? Complete oonsecratlon 10
Christi 1886
/. CALLS FOR DR. HUNTINGTON.
The utmost interest was taken in the speech,
and when II ended there were calls for DR..
Huntington.
Dr. Mcconnell had attributed part OF the oe-
cadence" to the oxford movement. which had
Se said ahenated the sympathy Of the otner
Protestant churches from "our Church which is
essentisIly Protestant not Roman" Further
he deprecsted institutional work, saying that 1t
was remarkable that the period OF decrease IN
the Church's best results should coincide with
the "craze for parish houses and settlements
fhe attempt TO identify religion with charl'S'
eve have now a generation Of clergy trained
iunder those conceptions of Christian work ne
,saeut On. rs il not true that Ne nave
thrown too iarge-at least, too unWarrant-
.able-an emphasis IN the wrong olrecuoh;
We are bound. as matter o. ne H,oh's dIte
death TO change our conception OF the Church s
duty II will not advance through agsrandlze-
xasnt but we can make her grow by transatlng
the lives or ln0lNICu6l men dlIu "oiiiCII
A. ths beginning of his speech DR.. Mcconnell
had quoted statistics TO show decrease in the
membership Of the church.
After Mt Stires had made his vigorous response.
the Rev. Dr.. ". f. Huntington, Of Grace
Church declared: Il agree with DR.. McCon-
reU in regard TO the Oxford movement, but l
differ in tote regarding the increase in the
active benevolent agencies. I'd like, as we've
made this discussion pretty personal, to ask
Dr Mcconnell & couple OF questions. Does ne
consider that the spiritual condition Of ST.
Georges which has built numerous parish
years ago? Or does he think that the spiritual
life in St. Bartholomew's, which has devoted
much effort to institutional work, is on lower
level now than then? The church IS here to
reproduce the life of the incarnation Christ's
ministry was largely to the bodies. am amazed
that any one here should speak of this work
as g. token Of spiritual declension. We should
rather think, These things ye have done, but
TIE others you should not have left undone'"
After some general discussion, in which the
Rev. Dr. Chapman, an English missionary,
told Of conditions there and here, and defended
the Oxford movement, which had, he said,
brought new life and devotion to the Church
Of England, DR.. Mcconnell added:
Il should be extremely sorry II what I've said
here tonight should be taken as decrying the
institutional work But I'd like TO ask. Has
not too much emphasis been placed on raising
e generation of clergy who can serve tables
rather than priests and prophets?'"
Captain Mahan's paper spoke CT the neces-
siry for personal relations with Christ which
telling Of conditions which made for decline
in spiritual life and Church growth, such as
present social habits, he said
The remedy? Restore personal religion, the
direct relation OF the individual soul to God. to
that primary place in the Christian scheme
which IL has rnoInentarily lost and relegate to
their subordinate consideration all those exter-
nal works which have nsurped its place.
The enthusiasm for humanity which is q
mark OF this secular period above its forerun-
ners is e good thing. in which all men rejoice.
All laud and honor TO these works everywhere
around But regards Christian life, the
life Of Christ in the believer what are they?
Simply conquest over the world, achieved.
finished; and in so far a part of the past. Per
forTnSnce. indeed. halts far behind profession
and ever will. except SO far as personal re-
igion pushes on the work"