The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-03
Discussed Before ChurChmen's
Club at the EIolS0.
ANNUAL MEETING AND DINNER
Speakers Were Rev. William R. Huntington,
0. o., Of New York, and Rev. william
Harman van Allen, S. 7. D., Of Boston

Unity" which is troubling nearly all the
Protestant denominations was discussed
last night at the annual dinner of the
Churchmen's club Of Rhode Island at the
Elose by eminent clergymen from Bos-
ton and New York city and their sugges-
tions to attain that end harmonized about
as well as do the views OF others OF diff
ton suggested a standardzing OF the code
OF morals as the tendency at present
with our polygot people 10 set up many
standards 20 the detriment OF the morals
of the country.
Dr. William IL. Van Allen explained
how every other denomination was split
UP, saying that the original reasons for
their dissenting with the parent church
were forgotten and that there was really
no barrier 10 church unity" II they were
ready TO unite. incidentally he referred
TO the divorce evil also.
At the short business session which
preceded the dinner the reports Of the
secretary and treasurer were read. ndi-
eating that the organization had held its
own I'm regard 10 membership and that II
was in good condition financially.
The officers were elected for 1866 as
follows: President. Prof wilfred IL.
Munro; vice presidents. John +. Farms
worth and James A. Pirce; treasurer.
BENJAMIN w McDougall: secretary. Henry
H. Field council. George G. Nightingale.
Frank III. Martin and Charles w. North.
The president and Judge Pirce were the
only new officers.
President Munro presided and with him
at the guest table were Rev. william
Huntington, u. D.. OF New York. and Rev.
William II. Van Allen. s. D.. of Boston
-Inhn- Posi- -Reynnlds.- Rev George -McClel-
Ian Fiske. ID. D.. Rev. Levi II. Edwards
William w. White. Lewis T. Downes,
f. /. Nickerson. Theodore w. Foster and
Alderman Stephen H. Cook.
AN EXCELLENT DINNER.
Dr. Fiske OF ST. Stepnen's church in
voked divine blessing and then all were
seated shortly after 1880 and enjoyed an
excellent dinner such as Caterer Lyman
always serves at the churchman's dinners
BY the time the ices were served there
were a number OF ladies in the gallery
10 hear the speaking and they were served
with ices. too. After the black coffee and
toasted crackers the post prandal exer-
eises were held. President Munro maxi
ing brief Introductory remarks which We're
well received and 10 speak on the topic
Church Unity" he first introduced Dr.
William II. Huntington OF New York.
He said there Is no larger subject In
the church world. Relating 10 the
urgency OF the topic. he said that IL lies
behind all the great questions OF the
social world today, the divine problem
being a case in point.
I'VE do not begin 10 realize the danger
OF the varying standards OF morals that
are being built up. There are many
standards being formed. and in a few
years IL we are not careful. there will be
a half-dozen well accepted codes OF
morals.
1T is an age OF standardizing; our
railroads. manufactures, industries In
general, even our petroleum In stand
ardized. TO use that odious word which
Is being forced upon us. So we must
standardize our ethics.
IAN eminent authority has stated that
there was more aliens in New York.
Philadelphia and Chicago than In the
whole OF Europe.
IAN Englishman gazed at me In polite
incredulity when | told him there were
more Jews in New York today than were
ever assembled in any one place since his
influence is to be reckoned with in the
varying codes OF morals
OBSTACLES TO UNITY.
There are practical difficulties which
snyene- appreciate obstacles
church unity. For Instance, | do not
think that the federation OF churches is
the way toward that end. though | have
the profoundest respect for the foremost
workers in that movement.
There has been a great advance in
ecclesiastical comment since the days
when my Massachusetts forbears sent
Roger Williams down into your
neighborhood," he said. and then cited
instances where he found Presbyterians
using the common prayer book and the
Apostles Greed in services. and told OF
an aged Scotchman who objected 10
being sung into hell by the Epls-
copalians" by the use OF the Apostles
Greed.
when we consider the polygot char
acter OF American Christianity, II seems
as n we must think OF a sort OF Chris
tisnity that represents Europe, for Eu-
rope. more than England. Is represented
here, but the English people were here
at the beginning and the English
language Is in use. as well as that man
ner of thought and the common law
I'VE must remember that the Englsh
church with its enormous influence has
failed TO reach all the English people and
so riust not insist upon transplanting the
church exactly as u, WAS I'm England. We
should attend 10 the transplanting the an
glican principals rather than the forms
OF the old church. The American Episco-
pal church II the only church that com
tains the three great elements which have
been evolved from religious life and relig-
ious thought In tho last century"
~ro RING IN HARMONY.
In closing he told an incident of meeting
n Coneregationalist who had been trying
20 get the Episcopal bell and the Congre-
cationai bell TO ring In harmony
Gentlemen that Is one OF the great
problems OF church unity. 90 get all these
bells 20 ring IN harmony IN one grand
sweet chime"
Dr william Van Allen ~ Boston was
the next speaker and he said there was
already church unity today In the Episco-
pal church.
eve have IN the United states 1ls sep
srate denominations. 13 kinds OF Baptists.
i5 Prssbyterians. ~ varieties OF Metho-
dists and countless others and IL seems to
be- getting worse for there are frequent
new divisions. and the goal % II all Ia
that anarchy of individualism, every man
his own church"
\ friend said TO me. ''Afy boy. the spos-