The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-03
CONCREG T|0NAL HOME !
MISSIONARY SOCIETY,

OF the tasks to which this society has
consecrated itself.
The Home Missionary society OF the
Congregational church has a larger part
to play than the similar societies OF our
sister churches
LESSON OF EXPERIENCE.
The capacity this nation has shown
for assimilation in the past has led US
TO accept a laissez faire doctrine for the
future. The fact that We have received
with open arms all classes OF people from
all nations in the past. may be one reason
why we shall not be able to do SO in the
years TO come. 1t Is easy TO distort and
mts-read the lesson of experience The
capacity for digestion decreases with the
years OF a natson as with an individual.
The time has come when the Home
Missionary societies of our churches have
greater responsibility than ever before
toward the nation. IL there Is work
to be done. with the individual churches
doors no less task presents itself I'm the
effort TO maintain against the votes or
Italy and China and Russia the high
ideals OF our forefathers for America.
CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP.
1t has been the glory of the Home Mis-
sionary societies in America that they
have taught a conception OF Christianity
large enough and rich enough to include
the ideals of Christian citizenship. The
story. OF the best I'm the laying OF the
foundations of our Western civilization
is the story of the patience. the sacrifice
and self-denial of our missionaries on the
home field
TIE West is what Il is today. with all
its vigor and sturdiness. because the men
who were OF the advance guard bore In
one hand the Stars and Stripes and with
banner of the cross. We cannot make
the foreign masses at our doors good citi-
.ens unless we make them good Chris,
only be half Christians unleo we remem-
Der TO make them good citizens. We
cannot, therefore mt the ideals of gov
the duty OF citizenship too strong. Stars
have more magnetic power than clouds
The more nnattainable an ideal y the
motive power for this effort is to be
found in the Christian church. and espe-
eailyd IN n that ih,t part Of the church repre-
My brothers. il is because of the great
need we have for you that leads us TO
the great missionary. eJsus Of Nazareth.
TO bid you welcome.
The response TO the address of welcome
was a magnificent one and was delivered
by. Rev Newell Dwight Hills. ID. D.,
being in part as follows:
DR.. HILLS REMARKS.
With generous hospitality. you, people
of the old city. have already welcomed
our delegates TO your house and your
hearts; and now you, sir. have by your
gracious words added a new meaning to
formal welcome l think that we are
not unacquainted with the history OF this
city OF Providence and with this little
state OF Rhode Island, for the fame of
your state has gone out into all the
earth. and the words OF the founder OF
your Commonwealth unto the ends OF the
world.
1t is a matter of especial pride to us
as Congregationalists that the founder
of your city and your state was himself
a Congregationalst and an Independent.
and that but for a short time in his life
was he known as member OF the
Church that we speak of as Baptist. iden-
tical with us In their policy and for the
most part in their theology and in their
view OF the right OF the state to its own
self government.
And We know something about your
city on the side Of It's educational insti-
tuions. Here we have sent, many of us.
from our own homes and families our
noblest and bravest BOYS, and here these
young men have lighted the torch of their
learning from the fires OF your affairs and
have borrowed here from your thinkers
in Libraries and lecture halls the scholars
blameless spirit and his beautiful life.
think | should be unfair TO the cities
here. as president OF this society. make
recognition OF the fact that from your
pulpits have come some OF our preachers:
men most scholarly and most eloquent
and most devoted as teachers OF the Lord
Jesus Christ: and as a citizen of Brook
lyn think l should be unfair to my city
II did not here say something about a
man whose name will always be dear %
Congregationalism here. even as IL Is
sacred TO the Congregational churches OF
Brooklyn-the name OF A. J. F. Behrends
INTEREST IN THE WORK
We shall never forget the interest the |
Congregational churches OF the city OF
Providence and the state Of Rhode Island |
have always had In our Home Missionary /
work. You have sent to US two great /
emigrations. two great movements from /
this state, that have made their way to |
Ohio and even to Minneapolis and the city |
Of St Paul and the great state of Mime |
sofa. There never has been a time when 4
men have been needed as officials, as
leaders. az secretaries. but that In a crlti- |
cal hour. we could appeal to you: and for !
a hundred years you have responded to |
our appeals with your generous contrl- !
buttons. and this has meant a great deal
to the officers OF this society In connec-
tion with their work.
But n we are not unacauainted with
you we feel on the other hand that you
are not unacqualnted with US and with
the work that we are trying TO do. For
the most part our repre- esentatives ars
scholars, college graduates, men OF the
highest culture and the nobiest ideals
and their wives have reprs< ented the yer,
bcst training that homes like yours could
give. These home missionaries have
gone out into the new populations. .he
towns and the rural districts of the great
west
Their institutions are new and olasiic.
and just because these communities are
new and plastic they are very easily
organized. There our missionaries are