Wingham Times, 1891-06-25, Page 2.g
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PRIDAI, JUNE 20, 1391.
CONGLIZGATIONAL UNION.
The thirty.ei htlt annual meeting, of
the Congregational Union, of Ontario
and Quebec was opened at 9
ai in. in Wednesday June 1Oth Inst
St Andrews'schurch,Guelyli Rev Bugl'
Pedley, B. A,, of Winnipeg, occupying
the chair. Although the Congregae
tional churoh was unfit for use, owing
to repairs and alterationsnow under
way, the meetings did not suffer for
the want of a building, for the mem,.
bers of St, Andrew's Presbyterian
Church kindly cave the use of their
church and rooms.
The Secretary, Rev. W. 1, Warri-
ner, T, De presented hie report, in
which, after speaking of the kiuduess
of St, Andrew's (hutch, and of the
eeople of Guelph in entertaining the
'Union, he set forth a list of resolu-
ttions to be dealt with thiring the course
.. of the meetings.
The Committees, with their con-
- veners, were appointed as follows :
Business, Rev. 33. •M. Hill, ,M . A. ,
- membership, Rev. D. McCallum ;
. nominating, Rev. Ohi s,Duff; 1 inanoe1
. Mr. Thos. Moodie.
A,pplicatione for membership were
.s eceived fxc':ni the Revs, B. 13.
t.liams, (uelph; W. H. Pulsford, l\1on-
ttreOi; J. W. Goffin, Edgar; Mex.
.i1cCormack, Coldsprings; J. T. Daley,
Burford. The Rev, A. P. Solaudt
asked for transfer to New York. The
Rev. Win. McIntosh, of Yarmouth, N.
S., delegate from the Union of N. B.
and N. S., was appointed a correspon•
ding member of the Union.
The Committee on. Church Manual
reported progress through Dr S N
Jackson, of Kingston, who is appoint.
ed to prepare and publish the manual.
At eleven a. m. the their was taken
by Rev. John Morton, of Hamilton,
and the Canada. Congregational Mis-.
sionary Society began its session.
The report of Rev,John Wood, Sec-
retary of the Society, was read by
Rev John Burton, of Toronto,showing
that the debt had been reduced by
one half, more money having been re-
ceived during the year than for any
previous year. A ,discussion provoked
by the financial statement brought
forth the fact that much money bad
been raised and expended which does
not appear in the report.
The election of officers for the en-
° suing year was then proceeded with.
The afternoon was devoted chiefly
to oommittee work.
The . report of the treasurer of the
Missionary Society, presented in the
morning by Rev, S. W. Jackson, made
kindly reference to the'help given by
the Woman's Board of Mission. He
also referred to the Thanksgiving Day
special collection on behalf of the debt
of the Society, which amounted to
over $1,000 ; also to the Shurtliff
bequest, from which $10,000 has been
received since the report closed, and
also to.the change of method in the
case of the 001. Missionary Society's
contributions. The followin.gare the
amounts to the credit of the several
trust funds : George Robertson rms.
cion fund, $:8,182 ; Church' extension
and huilding fund,$2,561 ; the Brock.
Ville church fund, $6,431 ;. the Shurt-
diff bequest fund, $15,910 ; amounts
received from all sources for past year,
$20,274. The report was on motion,
adopted, and it was decided to employ
an evangelist.
Rev. 13, B. Williac s occupied the
cbair at the evening meeting, Revs,
Win. McIntosh, and B 11 Hill, lit. A„
of Mout.'reel, assisted re op wing rx-
ercises, The singing by tile' Choir and
the duet by Mr and Miss Sprague
Gelded to the interest of the exercises.
After words of welcome, the chairriran
introduced the spesker :if the evening.
Rev. Hugh Pedley, 13. A., of Witrnit,
ho thanked the Vnion for the:
honor done the West by appointing
one ()fitspastors as chairman. In a
very feeling manner be referrer: to his
connection with this pity 29 years ago,.
ere liis late father ministered for
some 1.tiie and here his mother receiv.
ed th 'first and second admonition of
approaching death and here the
youngest members cof the .house felt
for the first time the keel blast of
adversity, but along with it 4111seneet-
nese of hutnan'• kindness. He then
announced his subject and epx seeded
with the address of the evening of
which the following is a brief outline:
THE it);W PRQTGSTANTXS,at,
Instead of. dwelling on soma phasel
of clenomivahional life it ie my purpose
to take a large e3ope acid speak of
some of the things that affect all the
churches of Protestant Christendom.
Let me speak of the movement which
made the 16th century important.
At its beginning we gee Ronie and
Catholicism: supreme in matters
political and 'religious. • Then tame
the Reformatioli. It was the result
of many power/Ill influeuccs, Politic
cal restlessness in which the people
said to the clergy,"ln religion you may
be our. masters,. .but in politics we will.
be our own!' This wasseen in Eng-
land and upon the continent.Thespread
of learning ht stewed matters still
more and prepared for the mighty
power of the printing press. Certain
societies and individuals. became filled
with the same spirit, and in all parts
of Europe noblemen stood firm in the
fight for purity in religion. The
crisis came when Luther, the bold,
the brave, the lion-hearted, took
action. Defects there were in the
work, but who can doubt its worth.
The alliance between Church and
State continued. There sprang from
this no small amount'of intolerance
and cruelty.
Another feature of the Protestant
;
movement was; the disposition to
magnify doctrinal and ecclesiastical
distinctions. (?reeds were elaborate
and in. the .main Calvinistic: The
fire of debate between the sects was
not the only fire used. The strife was
at times furious.t
Still another feature was the great
division of the Protestant body into
sects. We have ,ibt only dissent from
the dissididence of dissent, among the
dissenters themselves the term die.-
senters,including of !course our friends
the Episcopalians. •
These divisions de a puzzle to the'
heathen and 110 wonder. The various
sects opposing each' other before the
eyes oldie heathen confounds them.
The Catholic eharges us with having
as many religions asi there are days in
the year while his Church is a unit.
But those, who .w had bound . and
gagged men so long should be the last
to taunt them with t4lieir actions when
loosed. l3etter for the living Lazarus
I dazed and stumbling than the dead
Lazarus wound in, cerernents and
embalmed in spices, The wonder
is the vagaries of the newly freed
people were not gre tet.
But a new day -tad detwned. A
new Protestantism i arising from the
toils and pangs of tl older movement.
Let us look at so a of the more
w
featur .s of his New Prot s•
striking Protes.
First there is a tar r Christian zeal,
It is possible to ma to this statement
appear absurd but hen broad views
are . taken its truth will be seen. If
we contrast the position in 1691 with
that in 1891, Chine„! Jttpan, India and
Africa show strong i evidence in favor
of the greater zeal of the latter Pro-
testantism. The problem of World
evangelization has come into the field
of pintitical Christine fitetesntetnship.
It lias left the land of dreams. Wine
come into the arena of actieit,'
Along with this lege of the need of
the heathen is the trecognition of the
needs of the people ,y„at our �,wn doors.
We see the e�xtreriltrs ii7 aneiety. We
are fame to facrf ith the new issues.
Th. cheeks of ill elaurch burn with
shame becuuge of Jis crime aur., winery,
injustice and cruelty that are part of
the social system and lie stark and
horrible around tier doors, The church
bas arisen to action. Themes of Os,
cession are becoming less ecclesiastical
and more practical, .,
In the second place the new Pre
testantism is characterized by a tens
dewy towards a greater simplicity of
creed. This is an outcome of the
evangelistic zeal mentioned, Like
soldiers ou a campaign the churob is
constrained to throw away' all but the
essentials. By a revisiuti of creect the
churches are putting off the cumber..
some armour of Saul and betaking
themselves to David's sling. Men
need a'creed, as faith, but what batter
creed can meti have than that of Paul
as found in 1 Cor, la, 84. Let thin
be the centre round which you move
and your circles may be as great as
your heart andintellect can make
them. The day is not,far distant when
a man who has .ttveepted Ohrist w ill be
trusted as to the, .Srsriptures, the fate
of the wicked .or the constitution of
the Church.
It has been the boast of Congre a•
tionalists that they have long posses
sed the simplicity of the faith, but
alasl there have been times when that
boast was nullified,by a stupid bigotry.
An example of "this is given in the
January number of the .Review of Re-
views in an article showing"How
Congregationalism lost General Booth."
The day as passing by when such
things . are .possible. In the ' new
Protestantism to every man who loves
Christ and has a :mission to his fellow
creatures, the (loot' of the churcir will
be freely opened.
In the third'place, partly as a re
suit of this aggressive life, the.new
Protestantism will be marked by the
democratic spier. There have been
other influences at work. The new
Testament teaching of the equality and
brotherhood of man and their r+ spout
sibility to the ene Master has entered
into `the lifeof the churches, No
longer does the man with the uniform..
do all the work. 'The sling of the
shepherd lad is net despised in the
fight against Goliath ,Fault will not
be . found with FEtdad and Medad for
prophesying in the camp but with
Moses we will say Would God all the
Lord's people were prophets and the
Lord would put his spirit upon them.
Plain Moody may speak. while regular
clergynien and professors learn from
?lino the efficacy of preaching when,
speech is all heart and heart is all
speech. This spirit of democracy is
our established churches. Let us as
Congregationalists remember that the
new . Protestantism demands not so
much the detnocracy of words as the
democraey of actual work fur Christ
and for man".
In the last place the New Protest
tantism is characterized by a tendency
toward unityThere is growing up
in the hearts of men a larger thought
of the Church of God than used to he
cherished. It is ^.true that we have
those who make Mair speeches about
brotherly kindness, and pass sonorous
resolutions regarding their desire for
unity, and yet by the superciliousness
of their conduct chill to death every
bud dirg blossom of Ohristian fellow.
whip. Yet men are thinking more
of the generic life of Christ's. Church
and less of the specific eharaoteristics
of its various branches. In every de
nomination are Hien who utter fervent-
ly the benediction, Grace be unto all
those time love our Lord Jestis Ohi.'iet
in sincerity. The nation of certain
Episcopal Churches in New York and
elsewhere shows this.tdvitiice toward'
unity dissenting ministers of all
denominations' having been invited to
take part in their services.
The thought at work i.i the hearts
of men will embody itself. As the
Caterpillar contains in it.tlie beautiful
butterfly so the older Protestantism
contains the germ of tiie stew Proles.
tantism. Some day it will repeat itself
in an organization harni'ronious with
itself, Let our *mean be not so
much aboutthe outward <Gm as about
the inward life, Let tis be men for
the time. Let us feel lees concern for
Congregationalism and mere for the
Kingdom ,af God in the world.
The sorviues were than closed with?
the usual exercises.
Union met at 9 a, Da. and spent the
usual hour in devotional exercises
presided over by Rev. 0, E. Bolton, of
Paris.
The roll called showed that a large
number of ministers and delegates had
arrived since Wednesday morning.
When nominations for chairman
were called for the Secretary of the
Union Committee nominated Rev, A.
F 'McGregor, 13. A., of Forest, Ont.,
for the chairmanship ofs 1892, Eleot'
ed new oommittee,
A. letter from the Dominion Alliance
requested that a delegation be sent to
Temperance Convention to be held in
Toronto in the fall.
Applicatie5ns for nienaberchip were
received from Rev. '1� llodgkinson, of
Melburne, P. Q. ; Rev. W. H. \Vat -
son, of Wingham ; Rev. J. 0. Madill,
Concord Ave., Toronto ; Rev. W, A
Dunnett, •of Waterville, P. Q. ; Lev..
v1. S Gray, of Manilla ; Rev. J. 3'•
Swanson, of WoodstSsok : also from the
Union Congregational Church ',Lon-
don.
On motion of Dr. S. N. Jackson}
seconded by Mr. , Henry Lyman, it
was resolved
That the Congregational Uniou in
session in Guelph recognizes that
Canada's foremost iitizen and state -
man has fallen in death of the Right
Hon. Sir John A. ` Macdonald, our
Prime Ministee. In this hour of her
great bereavement we respectfully
tender to Lady Macdonald or deepest
sympathy, and ask our Heavenly
Father that His ;great comfort and
sustaining 'help may be given her. In
further expressio lu of respect and sym-
pathy no session of the Union will be
held this afternoon while the mortal
remains of the great Chieftain are laid
to 'rest, A. e 91 Qect;ott lues t,,liliel;
00 fttid iiie?etini;
amounting to
•dismissed.
At eleven o'clock the 0. 0. M. S.
resumed its meeti'iig, the first item of
business being the reading of a letter
from Mr J 0 Fieldan, secretary of
Colonial Missionary Society, in which
,an off,.r of.t50 was: made .towards the
support of each new church opened in
the Northwest or British Columbia,
The work in thateptirt of the Dominion
was represented by . Rev James W
Pedley, B A,of Vancouver. He said
that his own church, organizead but
three years ago , is /now self support-
ing. Prospects for work in New
Westminster and Victoria were good.
He wants to find the right man to
take.bac1t with him to begin a new
cause in one of these places.
Rev Hugh Pedley, B A, of Wiiini.
peg, represented the prairie province.
Rev Wm M Barbaur, D 1), princi-
paid the Oonregational College of
Canada, spoke/ for the demand ' for
men.
Practical suggestions as to the work
were made by Rey John Burton and
others, As a result it was decided to
have more literatutle concerning thane
matters distributed among our church.
es.
At four p m the chair was taken.
by Rev Mr Bolton, of Paris, and the
Foreign Missionary Society held its
session, The Sectietary, Rev 4 E' M
Hill, M At, of Montreal, presented a
most interesting report. The four
mission►►ries iii vVest Centre Africa,
Mr W Currie, Mr W Lee, Mrs
Minnie Clarke, of Puelph, and 1G:liss
Agnes Carter,vtere especially mention.
ed in the report. Great progress has
been made in work daring the past
year. Although wails between African
tribes disturbed the wok for a lout;
time it is now in tr batter position
than fortnetly. Thi spiritual results'
Lave been vary nicotine -nig and the
laborers go at their di1ioot;s tasks
witn renewed zeal An interesting
feature of the tweeting watt an address
by Mr W T Gunu, of Montreal, who
is to be mist out to ,Africa el the
completion of hie etudi,ea in a jCa,
A public meeting of Horne d For..
eign Missionary Societies was held in
the evening, Rev S N Jackson, I
D, in the chair. Opening enrolees
were conducted bvRev T bIod„ ltinsou,
of Melbourne, A good pro„ ratnuie,
consisting of music, and addresses was,;
presented.
Rev Wm McIntosh, of Yarmouth,
S, presented the interests of the
Lower Provinces.
Mrs D Macallum, of Maxville, Presi»
dent of the 0 Women's 1t oats of
Missions, addressed the meeting. She
olaimed to be more accustomed to
training boys and girls for home ant?.
foreign miselons.than to making public
speeches. Judging froru the quality
of lior speech. she must be successful
as a trainer, The origin and r)bjoet
of the society were given, :l'ney want
to get hold of the boys and girls in
order to start them, right. They co-
operate with the men in doing the
rA
work. Results show that they have
been successful. Not only have the
ordinary contributions been larger but
'the larger gifts of the women are an
extra source of revelitis.
Rev J W Pedley,of Vaucouver,made
a most interesting address. The great
progress of the west is wonderful, He.
spoke words of hope for Canadian
Congregationalism.
Rev Mr Pulsford, of Montreal, call-
ed for the qualities in our missionary
work, which . alone will make it
successful. Piety is the a first essential,
not the kind of piety that repels, but
that which comes of good spiritual
health. Let not piety try to stand
alone. Intelligence, such as makes
business hien successful, is needed in,
the work,
Mr'Tozo,Ohno, a native of Tapan,
who is residing in Canada far a few
years prepnretory to mission world in
his own tend, was the next speaker,
giving o.. need practical addresses.
June 12.
Union reassenibled at 9 a tn. An
licaii'r wain spent lit,, evotional services,
afr Chas Cushing, etas+, pf ltoptreal,
Occupying the ` cha r. A very hopeftit
spirit was manifested, forward being
the watchword. The business of the
Union was resamel at 10 a nr. Re-
ports were receivelt from the various
Committees.
Rev teae, Robertson reported Ler
Committee on Prison Reform,
?Reports were Heard from delegates
to Union of Eugland and Wales in
which the kindly spirit that exists Ire-.
twcen the churches of the old land
and our own was 'hewn. _ .
Greetings from the Manitoba As•.
sedation were conveyed by Rev Pugh
Pedley, 33 A, Cbairnan of the Union.
Report from the 0lotnmittee on Tem-
perance showed that a large number
of Our people are int favor of prohibi-
tion. The earnest desire for an increase
of iut.e•rest was expressed, . .
Resolutions on the question were
proposed whioh provoked much die.
Cession. The Union . was unanimous
in its expression in favor of prohibit'
tion,
liesolunette were' adopters touching
the deaths of Revel I+' Ste:enfla e D,
D, and Rev John Filaser, two hanored
members of this Union. .'1'he•Seeree,
tary was advised to forward these,
resolutions to the bereft von families,
The thanks of the meeting ware teri,
dered to Rev Mien Pedley, the retire
ing che,.n'man, whew addeeee is to bee
printed in the Congregoti'ntal "rears
Bon
An 'interesting discussion arose .as •
to the observance of a day of Service -
for children. A committee wee ape.
pointed to arrange the sally..
The College trisetinct Was ire it in
afternoon, ilfr J 0 Copp, Of Pntonto,
was ()feeted to the chair, Rev J P'
Gerrie wits appointed Minute eecretary.
Rev 1)i' B.trbour, Principal of rhe Celt
lease, was celled to the platform.
Rev W H Warriner read' the report
of the Beard of Directors for the year
1890.91, Thte Ehtiweci a vi ry excel.
letlt state tiaf
affable in am far to th s