The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-02-16

Interest in today's meetings centred
largely in the session of the general con
vention at which President w. IL. p,
Faunce OF Brown university presented a
most important paper OF the entire con-
vention and was in part as follows:
The last IL months have been time
OF unprecedented agitation and activity
All are asking why the moral leadership
Of the Christian church is not SO evident
rs in a former time.
The past year has been marked by 'un-
usual evangelistic effort on the part of
many churches. both I'm America and In
Great Britain. Such movements aro sure
20 be followed by zeal I'm education. one
OF our great needs Is 10 achieve In
America what has long been seen In Great
Britain. the union OF candid, patient
scholarship with genuine fervor In re-
ligious and philanthropic endeavor.
Organizations not mentioned In any
church council, destitute OF ecclesiastical
recognition. have sprung up In many
places this past year for Bible study,
for training OF teachers. for study OF
mission fields In some states the Fed
GRAFTON OF Churches has assumed educa-
tional functions In Rhode Island this
federation has created a committee on
public educa ton" which as fits first work
Will send letters 10 every pastor IN the
state. tnquiring as 10 what Is being done
by the churches IN systematic instruction
in church history. I'm the Bible, I'm morals.
in the duties or citizenship. etc. The
results are 90 be tabulated and sent 20
every pastor In the state.
The place Of the home in our national
scheme OF education Is now receiving
greatly Increased emphasis There is a
pronounced reaction against the extreme
secularization OF the schools. In the
south the conviction persists that the
Bible should have some place, not yet
fully defined. in school life.
A third characteristic OF the past year
Is the growing demand for contact with
reality in religious as in intellectual edu-
cation. In the Intellectual realm the
change in this direction has been the
most noteworthy advance OF the last
quarter-century. There ls generally
increasing desire TO face al facts IN psy-
chology, IN literary criticism. In Historical
research In natural science. There Is a
general Acknowledgment on the part OF
educators that the children and young
people OF our time are deficient In m
sense OF the 'mperativeness OF both mo
rality and religion.
II deserves 10 be considered whether the
kindergarten may not often retain chill
dren too long.
It is the general conviction OF college
teachers that. while the freshmen Of 90.
day knew more than their fathers knew
at the same age. they are inferior to
their fathers IN logical strength. IN power
OF concentration. and In the faculty OF
sustained thought. The haste 20 be wise
may be as fatal as the haste 20 be rich
Teachers and leaders are everywhere de-
cIining 10 Join IN the demand FOR imr1e-
diste results. and are seeking a pe rma-
nent deposit IN the character and nfe OF
the pupil
The year has bec1 notable FOR lts publ.
cations dealing with the principles and
methods Of rellslo ~ education The studs
az the pheDomena OF conversion and rellg
ious development rs worthy Of the best
scientific method ard the most patient IN.
vestigation that trained students can Rive
There is an Obvious desire 70 give 10 boz,
snf girls something more than erhorta.
lion, a desire 20 attain a definite method
3r teaching and base ali rules on finda.
mental principles. No previous year ha.
witneassd W America more significant