The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-05-05
MR.. COPIES ADDRESS
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Well Known Church Worker in
This City Last Even
ing,
SPOKE AT FIRST CHURCH
Many Cicrgymcn Hear Interesting Re.
marks on Timely Religious
Topics.

Henry + Cope, the national secretary
Of the Religious Education association
addressed o large audience at the First
NJ T.. church on Elm street, last eve
ming Mr. Cope is ono Of the beet
known workers in religious circles in
the country and Is particularly vel
known IN Sunday school work The
great majority OF those present Al
last nights meeting were Sunday
school workers. The audience was
notable also from the la &c number
Of elcrgymen Of all denominations
present,
Mr.. Cope who Is very earnest
speaker, and a speaker whose per-
sonality is pleasing said In part.
In our day OF innumerahle organiza-
tions men who desire u economic
their energies and influence are likely
to look askanra NJ every new organic
alton They fear the multiplication of
wheels calling for increased energy
but producing no corresponding mar
gin Of resulte
When, therefore, an organization
arises urging men to new duties, or
rather, 10 resume forgotten ones and
lenlisting the leaders in nearly all the
denominations and departments Of re-
Iligious activity, Il Is certain to under
go a searching scrutiny.
There are two tests to which every
Organization must come First Has II
sufficient reason for existence Sec
ond Does It render efficient service.
When the Religious Education associ-
alton was organized ~ Chicago in 100;
no one who M all understood It's pur.
pose questioned the sunicieney Of rea.
sons for It's existence The first con.
ventlon, called to consider the improve.
ment Of moral and religious education
struck a note to which almost every
person interested In tho moral and 70,
lifgious welfare Of orr people responded
/ There came, first, the response Of con
feselon Of need Of Improvement. on,
religious schools were not educatlona
I'm character Our religious institu
tions We're falling to give religious i'm
Inetns and moral guidance to character
/ The many and varied cultural agencies
were working in q baphazard undu
latine manner There was immndiat,
recognition, also, of the possibility o
Improvement and beginning Of earn
est endeayor 10 this end
Five years have passed what hay
been accomplished? Has the Religi
GUS Education association given evid
ence Of ability to tackle the task SO
before 1t of efficiency IN rendering III
peculiar service? Has 1t succeeded II
ANY measure In inspiring the edura
ttonal forces with the religious idea,
In keeping before the public mind an,
laying upon the public conscience
sense Of the need and value Of religi
ous and moral education2 If this az
ISOLATION had been organized to cree
a building, for example, 1t would he
very easy matter to answer the nies
ton whether 1t had accomplished an,
Of Its purposes. The building woul
furnish tho question. But II was ovid
entity not Organized to deal in things s
concrete Is buildings, It's business
the education Of public opinion and th
assistance, direction and inspiration q
those who are determining public opin
Ion and molding the lives Of others. !
seeks to create ideals, Primarily. 1t
purpose Is not so much to do things a
to cause things TO he done. It has
propaganda Of agitation education, di
rection and promotion. Perhaps thi
has involved the disappointment {
some who have expected that 1t woul
issue curricrla, publish lesson courses
found schools, promulgate educationf
or even theological dogma or conduct
campaign for some particular type c
organization or school Of thought.
has not done these things It does nc
exist to do these things, It is not a
organization to supplant any other, t
tear down any good work or 10 impos
any particular plans on existing organ
izatlons, 1t IS an organization seekin
to aid and inspire every individual an
every organization which in any wa
works in religious or moral education
1t desires to get behind these organi;
| atoms as Il were, to be their frient
counsellor. ana, so far as they desir
guide; to help them In any way