The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-12
REV. {. 7. ROOT ON LOCAL
SHRINES OR the ONE TEMPLE

At the Church OF the Mediator. yester-
day, Rev. Il. Tallmsdge Root. field secre-
| tary OF the New England Federation OF
Churches said In part:
our religion has passed through many
| stages o. development One IS indicated
| I'm our texts: High places for the wor-
| ship OF Jehovah were freely used by the
best men In earlier Hebrew history-Sam-
uel. David Elijah. and only put down
after a severe struggle by Hezelkiah and
Josiah.
Both parties I'm the controversy nomi-
nally agreed I'm the worship OF one Je-
hovah. The 6efenderT OF the high
places thought that locsl convenience and
personal preference might be safely con-
suited In worship. The advocates Of one
central sanctuary held that these must
give way 10 the interests OF the nation
and the common religion.
THE goal OF Christianity is the city
wherein John saw no temple Not rites
but right Is It's end. Our meetings are
less for formal worship than for the word
that Ats for work But are we not IN
the same danger OF idolizing the local in
stitutioas OF religion, when success in
church and minister Is measured solely
by achievement IN gaining members and
income?
"As the high places were found to di-
vide and weaken judah I'm the face OF
danger. so our emphasis upon the local
church as an end weakens ns In the face
OF the common foe. materialism and NAM
monism The increasing difficulty OF
maintaining them is an indication.
"Churches demand in the pastor the
genius OF n Nepoleon Of finance for the
wages of an artisan. The investigation,
~ the federation show that here "a else
where the churches do not reach the con,
munity as they should The census of
1902 revealed I'm Providence T.oon self
mitted non-sttendants among the Protest
ants and 1900 among the Catholics.
THE moro recent canvass Of some ~
our parishes shows that among those who
prefer the leading denomina tions. from %
per cent to 30 per cent are unattached
10 any church The fact is that without
corporation our church work overlaps
and vet leaves a large population un-
touched.
'srhe reform needed Is simply change
OF the end I'm view from the building up
of the local church to the Christianizing
OF the community 1t does not involve
abolition of tho local church. or central
ized goyernment. but ? change OF pur-
pose and spirit which shall make inde-
pendent churches cooperate for the COM
mon end. This Is the meaning of Fed
Grafton Its success must be judged from
this sta idpoint Has IL made progress In
this direction?
AN immense step has heen taken In
the simple fact that 4 dozen denomi-
nations cooperate In the establishment
~ state council which employs secre-
tary 10 study the common problems
There is growing sense Of the need:
witness a Cambridge layman who had
called - parlor conference of pastors 10
ask: Are the churches always 10 he
content with opening their doors and,
on hea-ing OF the Providence work. AZ
once asked the secretary 20 come and tell
what more might he done.
There is vastly greater willingness 20
take and work parishes than last year.
one society that then made no response,
this year sent 10 ask for parish.
church that accepted without much in
terest. upon studying it's parish by cen
sus and map locating saloons. cheap lodg-
ing houses. etc, II becoming fairly on
thusiastic over the task ~ suppressing
evil and establishing wholesome agen-
cies The effects will be cumulative"