The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-15
ANNUAL
WINTER
FESTIVAL
Held by tho Congregational
Club In TrOcadsro- Address
by Rev. Mr.. Waters.

The annual winter festival Of the Con-
gregational club was held last evening at
the Trocadero and over 400 members and
their friends gathered to hear Rev. ". Nc
Gee Waters. d. D.. pastor of the Tomp-
kins Avenue Congregational ch1rcn OF
Brooklyn. N Y, speak. his subJs:t beng
"A Virginia Worshipper at New England
Shrines."
A reception was held previous TO the
supper and at about O'Clock the gather
ing marched 10 the banquet hall above
and there enjoyed the viands set before
them.
Professor e b. Homer. the president
OF the Unitarian club, was present and
made a few remarks. speaking the close
bond In which the Congrega tionalists and
Unitartans are once more Joined and he
expressed great pleasure at such a re-
union.
Mr. r. w. Burbank, the vice president
Of the club introduced Mr. Waters, the
speaker of the evening and I'm So doing
told OF Mr.. Waters original intention
OF becoming a lawyer, but IL seemed that
he was destined for the clergy. Mr.. Wa
ters, who is a southerner. was brought
up I'm the Unitarian faith, but on being
ordained he went over to the Congrega-
tional church.
Mr.. Waters spoke Of Massachusetts, and
Virginia as being the oldest states of
the original thirteen and he remarked
the oddly that they had never had one
cause or aim in sympathy and had never
been on intimate terms. in any enterprise
or endeavor. The speaker accounted for
difference by saying that although bosh
colonies were laid by the same English
hands, they were founded on radically
different plans and as their futures had
then been moulded, so had that future
unfolded.
Mr.. Waters spoke OF the contrast of
the people of the two states, as colonies
in 100 and as states OF 1893. OF their diff
ferent pursuits. hopes. ideas and fancies.
The speaker touched on the negro ques-
ton and said that IL was essentially a
southern one and It must be left 20 the
south to decide. He spoke further of the
desolation and barrenness THAI Is in evil
dence today In the southland and 1t will
be many years before the south can fully
recover the awful blow sustained in 1s6l-65.
In concluding Mr.. Waters said: II was
born too late for the war and I've never
been sorry. l was born to a land of
fenceless fields and empty houses and full
grave yards. Yet In all history you can
not find such an example as was present
ed, OF faith. fidelity, heroism and match
less affection of the black slave toward
his white master in all those trying days.
Nothing can ever destroy the affection
between these two races In the south ex-
cept one thing, and that is II you do not
permit the black man TO vote. believe
you have no right To take the ballot
away from a man because he has black
skin. Every man in this republic has
a right to rule himself.
The second ideal of American democ- |
racy Is that every man shall have the |
right to think for himself. In the coun- |
try, generally one of the things the chill |
dren of the Pilgrims are falling to do |
Is TO think for themselves We want TO |
get the truth. Ministers and laymen as |
they stand before the people, too often |
are lodging the truth. II isn't because we |
don't think. but because we don't think /
put loud. The trouble Is partly with the |
ministers, but more with the laity, for the |
atty make the ministry.
You can't raise good ministers in a
not bed. If / want TO be a lawyer or
4 doctor ] have To make my own way. |
But IL want to be a minister what do |
have TO do? Nothing except TO be
good His tuition is all paid for him and
done 10 make II easy. When
le comes out OF the theological school he
s pretty fabby.
IF you want a stalwart, brave sin
swy. prophetic minister, you can't get
linn that way. It's the fault OF your lay
men. You pay your money at the wrong
md. Stop making your young ministers
>aupers and pay them what they should
ret at the other end OF the ministry.
I'VE ought to say we have the duty to
hink for ourselves. That old Puritan
quality Of believing In law and obeyins
aw and executing law should have honor
Imong us today.
We're living In the time when anarchy
md lawlessness are honeycombing society
rom bottom to top and that Is why our
Judges are pleading with us to be law
hiding folk. The will OF the people gov
rifed by law is the Puritan principle, and
'rinclple of liberty under law.
"A republic is something more than an
rohy. We are only a few months away
rom dreadful tragedy. which shook the
world The grave OF the president is yet
resh. Let us then. children OF the Puri-
ans, teach our children law. let us teach
he Ten Commandments and teach each