Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-02

NoLil. the honorary president. Inc SeS-
SONS began yesterday evening and will con-
!tinue at the rate of three a day until to-
morrow evening. Delegates of prominence
from twenty-four states are present They
are chiefly clergymen engaged in educa
tional work. The meetings have been we'll
attended, and the discussions earnest and
of a high order.
The session this morning began at 10
O'Clock in Columbian University Hall, with
President Needham of the university in the
chair. An opening prayer was offered by
Rev. DIR. W. 4. Hamilton of Iowa. following
which Rev. William Carter Ph.D.. pastor
of the Second Presbyterian Church. Kansas
City Mo. read a paper entitled The
Truth Factor in Character Bu1luing. He
.dwelt upon the Importance of the Bible as
an exponent of truth to men in all walks of
life, and especially applied to the devel-
opment of the character of a child.
DIR. Carter said the street and the public
institutions are the poorest possible schools
for the youth of the country. SECULAR edu-
cation-tne public schools-leaves out God
he held. and substitutes for Him what is
termed reason.
Education is a great thing" he declared
in conclusion but divorced from religion
it does rot develop well-rounded character,
as shown by recent statistics. A little
later he said. Il hope this congress will
formulate plans for bringing the Bible into
the public schools at least on the same
basis as any other text book
DR.. CeciFs Theme.
TIE next paper read by Rev Dr
Russell Cecil, pastor of the Second Prespy-
terrain Church. Richmond, Va. His subject
was THE Truth in Jesus His argument
was based upon the idea that truth could
not be studied IN tie abstract with much
profit but must be considered in some con-
crete manifestation of itself. Jesus Christ.
he said was the embodiment of truth, re-
yealing the truth about love, ABOUT the
fatherhood of God. about man as God sees
him, and about the reconc liation between
God and man.
After the reading of these two papers the
subject of truth was discussed informally
by Rev DR.. S. b. Mccormick, president or
Coe College Cedar Rapids. Iowa; Rev. DR..
]. P. Campbell of Baltimore and Rev. DIR.
j. F. Foster of New Orleans. 1t was an
nounced that Rev DR.. d. S. Mackay of
New York city and Rev. DR.. Carter Helm
Jones of Louisville. Ky. both OF whom
were to have taken prominent parts in the
proceedings of the congress. would not tie
present. the former on account of the
death of near relative and the latter on
account of the severe Illness of his wife.
The session closed few minutes after l.
o'clock. Immediately afterward the dele
gates had a good picture taken on the
steps of the university building.
Afternoon Session.
The meeting this afternoon began at ia
O'Clock. and similar program to that of
this morning is beng carried out, the
speakers being Rev. DR.. James Atkins OF
Nashville. Tenn: Rev. DIR. Asa s. F'iske of
this city and President A r. Taylor of
James Mllikin University, Decatur. IL
An important session will be held this
evening. beginning at $50 o'clock, VIXEN
Justice Harlan will preside, and Senators
Chauncey NJ. Dcpew and John I. Morgan
and DR.. II. St George Tucker, dean of the
Columbian Law School will be the speak
ers. Sessions tomorrow will be he'd from
10 m. until noon. from 2:15 pm. until 4:l5
pm. and from 30 pm. until pm.
Tomorrow at 12:i5 O'Clock President
Roosevelt will receive the delegates TO the
congress at the White House.
Opening Session Last Evening.
The opening session of the congress was
held last evening at the university hall.
beginning at T:30 o'clock. Holy, Holy,
Holy" was sung. with Percy S. Foster at
the piano. Judge Anderson. president of
the congress. presided. and introduced first
DR.. Lucien Clark, pastor of the Hamline
Methodist Episcopal Church, 9th and p
streets northwest, who made the opening
prayer
The next business in order was the ad-
dress Of the regents. which was read by
the general secretary. Rev. j. T.. Gilbert
having been prepared at a meeting of the
regents Friday last. 1t stated that the
central theme of the congress at this ses-
sion would be The Bible in Spiritual Life -
ana that the purpose would be to review
religious work already accomplished and to
inquire what more might be done.
Summary of Work
The lines of thought and action along
which the society of religious educa ton
has worked in the past and will continue
to work are briefly summed up in the fol-
lowing questions. submitted in this address:
'First-How shall the truths of Scripture
be so studied and taught that the Spirit
of God may use them in producing the
experiences and qualities of the spiritual
life?
Second.-How many parents, teachers
and ministers promote such study of Scrip
ture so that home. school and church NAV
combine as departments in one system of
spiritual nurture and training, beginning in
the earliest years and extending to the
latest age? What we need is not pedagogy
but sacred pedagogy not merely an APP
= pheation of the laws of thought, but these
interpreted By the laws of grace; not man !
wisdom alone. but Gods guidance and help
also
For fifteen years the American Society
OF Religious Education has submitted these
questions TO devout scholars. The conclu-
sions reached have been applied to the i'm
pfovement of methods of instruction The