Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-26
OPENS
Fist Session Of Meeting of Meth
odist Mems Society.
REV. +. D. LEETE DELIVERS ADDRESS
National Organizer and Founder of
Brotherhood of St. Paul Formally
Opens First State Gathering Of the
organization-Many Visitors.


The first convention of the Brother
hood of St Paul of the Methodist Epis
copal church opened last evening with
services at the First Methodist church
and the large audience which assem-
bled listened to an eloquent address
by Rev. Frederick DeLand Leete, of
Rochester, N. Y, the founder and ma
tional organizer of the order. Prom
1nent members of the ministry and lai-
ty from all parts of the state were in
attendance at the opening session and
the address of Rev. Leete upon the
subject, THE Manifestations of the
Son of God" received the closest at
tention Of the gathering. Rev. Leete
spoke in part as follows:
The discoveries of modern science
have not disproved creation or dimin
ished our confidence, based on the OBJ
served upward progress of life and of
society, that there is a purpose in Gre
alton. If we seek to know what that
purpose is, we shall find that nature
and revelation alike teach that it is
the production of race of beings ca
pable of the highest development and
the loftiest destiny. All creation ex-
poets and always has consciously or
unconsciously awaited the manifesto
ton of the sons of God. To their pro-
duction all the struggles and pains, all
the labors and victories of the world
have been wisely contributed and it
is not quite time that the end and pur-
pose of the universe be realized in the
fulillment Of the brightest ideals of
manly character and life? This is the
thought of the age in which we live,
which more keenly even than those
that have gone before yearns for the
highest manhood.
To Win, Hold and Use Men.
"The brotherhood OF st. Paul, in
common with more or less similar in
stitutions of other churches, is seek
ing to render conscious and Ineligible
this demand of the world. It's hope is
to win, hold and use men in the prose-
cution of the noblest ends and in the
attainment of the worthiest persona
lily. If it succeeds, as its rapidly de-
veloping power gives hope that it will
not wholly fail to do, it will accom-
plish its part in the manifestation 70
the world of the sons of God.
Development Of Men.
ITO begin with, the aim is to de-
velop race of men who think. So
many exist without mental action.
They go through life as aimless as
fish the upper hemisphere of whose
brains have been removed They
move, but to no purpose. They eat,
they drink. they die and leave the
world no richer for their presence in
it. 1t is better for man to think
wrong than not to think If he keeps
on thinking long enough he will be apt
to arrive at truth, and when he does
he will make some use of it.
Work for Laity.
Men are wanted for the affairs and
problems of life who know, who have
thought to system and who have GER
titude. In business life men pay glad
| ly for knowledge, and for the interests
of the kingdom of God it is no less
| necessary. In the course of our bro
therhood work we encourage men to
seek positive information as to the
condition and needs Of Christian insti-
tutions, as well as concerning the con-
stitution, history and achievements of
their own church. Through the work
of our chapters We believe there will
be developed type of laity whose
knowledge of religion, of it's practical
expressions, will be equal to the prob
leIs Of The future.
Municipal Misrule.
"The world awaits the coming of a
manhood of high moral principle Join.
ed with courage. The municipal mis-.
rule from which many cities are suffer.
| ing will certainly be carried to greater
and greater excuses unless men of
character and courage are produced
by the church of Christ. The interests
of city, state and nation demand bet.
ter ruling citizenship, and the Broth
erhood of st. Paul. by its practical
methods, is seeking to enlarge the
number of men who are thoroughly
honest in their standard of belief and
conduct and who have fearlessness
4 Several of our chapters have already
SO intelligently and resolutely taken
hold of local problems and settled
them as to indicate the possibilities
of the future. The voice of the church
will be heard and needed whenever
Christian men become thoroughly or
ganized, instructed and determined.
Women Have Carried Burdens.
"The sons of God should certainly be
manifested by activity in all purely
Christian enterprises. Too long have
the women been obliged to carry the
burdens of church life while men more
or less willingly make required pay
ments. 1t is not that men are lazy, OF
that they are i'll adapted to church
work. It is rather that church organ
izations have been almost wholly
adapted to the female nature. Pastors
have urged men to work, but save ir
rare instances they have not assigned
specific duties to their church men
II has been discovered that many are
simply waiting to be shown something
definite and practical to do to develoI
talents and abilities very surprising tt
their friends and sometimes also tc
themselves. And the church has neeC
Of the might and mind and enthusiasm
of the best men. When to the noble
talents and the ready sympathies O.