The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-02-01

II was about clock when the church
men and their guests fled In and took
places while Rev w. II. n. Jackson In
voked divine blessing then all were seat
ed, Capt. Mshan being placed at the right
Of the president John Post Reynolds. and
Rt Rev. William n. McVickar. ID. ID,
at his lefs The others At the head table
were Rev ". Y. r. Jackson. Rev. Rob
prt r. Parker former Chief Justice John
H. Stiness j. Winthrop DeWolf George
c. Nightingale, Frank +. Rtchmond, Prof
wilfred III. Munro and Charles I. Dor
rance
Caterer Thomas Lyman and his corps
OF walters served an excellent dinner
such as the Churchmen's club IL always
and cigars every course was Thoroughly
enjoyed and received full justice from the
assembly.
The table decorations were carnations
and during the course Of the meal an ex-
relltnt orchestra rendered an interesting
program OF which the solo numbers for
cornet and violin were particularly good
It was O'Clock when the president ad-
dressed the members. guests and ladies'
~ whom quite number had assembled
in tho galleries. He introduced Capt. Al
fred T. Mahan. U. s. n. who referred to
his previous paper at the New YORK
Church club, saying that he was quite
terrified at the idea OF delivering seri-
Gus paper, after such q dinner as "iS
THE Organization and the 1ndfviduaI
rs my general theme and cannot In this
time. OF course. do Justice 30 the import
ancc of the matter at this time.
Tho orgs snization Of the church club was
just referred 70 him and though ESSENTIALLY
simple in it's nature ~ is nevertheless
very important He spoke ~ the spirit OF
the age and ssid that the good vas gen
trsu, t-,upnnheut and that on the
whole the trend was toward the good
n the spirit OF the present time rs to-
vaid organization, toward concerted ac-
ton. IL must have good side ana oad
eide.
SINKING HIS INDIVIDUALITY.
If rightly discern the state Of affairs,
this tendency OF organization is one that
ov.rshadows the individual who is act
Zig independently and is In himself of
great value.
The tendency is 20 sink the individual
in 20 the church separating In a measure
the individual and personal responsibility
and surpresslng the mans individuality.
He stated also that the Lord came 10 up-
lift a mans personality 20 develop his
higher individuality and that In meas
ure this strong tendency to organize was
no: for the best
The object Of the clergymen's teaching
4. to exert an influence TO encourage man
to develop all that IL highest and best In
PIN The great ohlect OF INC tnrlsudil
pris sthood is. I conceive the elevation OF
the Individual man -
Now Is that what the church Ia doing
a. the present tiue7 I will not say the
parishes are becoming machines. for they
are alive hut n the organization Is so
large that the man has no time for the
uplifting Of his own individuality; with
ell of these functions going on they do
not work for the best interest.
THE LAYMAN's PROVINCE
Il would rather see the organizations
and institutions of the parish abandoned
than 10 have the Clergyman devote too
much time 10 them. but think that they
could be safely turned over 10 other d.
rection. 10 laymen
why should not the church I'm 2 large
measure divest itself Of its functions as
a benevolent institution and say. We will
o. church and parish collect what money
We can and turn " over 20 the proper
associations for administrator
The speaker thrn related a little In
cident To illustrate his point. showing
how little big parishes have done I'm sup
porting the big hospitals and public char
ity institutions. rather running I'm the di-
rection of supporting many smaller clinics
end chsritv headquarters Now there
IL the proper outlet for concentrated ef-
fort. end in that way We could get