USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Minutes of the annual meeting Congregational Churches of Massachusetts 1906 > Part 5
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Sonie pastors are their own evangelists, using and developing evangelistic talent in their own parishes. With rare exceptions, all the preaching of our brethren rings true to the Gospel. There's a bugle call abroad of no uncertain sound like that of the Mission Branch of the Second Church, Holyoke: "We depend on each Christian doing definite, strenuous, win- some, thoughtful work backed by character. We always keep a long list of those available for church membership. We always receive new mem- bers at each communion; as soon as one communion is past we press on for results to the next." In a few communities, unfortunately, gospel preaching is not altogether welcome. The record of conversions is not attempted, for conversions cannot be tabulated.
The tide of a strong revival that has risen in other portions of our land has not been present in Massachusetts.
BY THEIR FRUITS
Sixth. What has been accomplished in the way of conversions and additions to church membership?
There has been a steady increase, as the result of personal efforts in the home church. This is the normal and a satisfactory way, although reli- gious campaigns are desirable. Nearly all report additions. In several instances over fifty additions on confession of faith were made to the churches during 1905. This is the expectancy and the atmosphere of some churches more than others, like Shawmut, of Boston; Hope, of Springfield; Old South, of Worcester. Additions have been made often under adverse conditions, especially in some of the town parishes. Some communities pulsate with the warm blood of evangelism. Other communi- ties are satisfied with the respectable appearance of religion without much depth and heart in the progress of the church.
A BOW OF PROMISE
Seventh. Have you a Men's Club, and in what way has it been helpful to the church and community?
The replies to this question reveal a variety of organizations and a marked interest. There are Men's Clubs, I.eagues, Brotherhoods of
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Andrew and Philip, Baraca Clubs, Young People's Clubs, Good Fellow- ship Clubs, " First Aid Corps " for boys, with military drill, Parish Asso- ciations, Greek Letter Fraternities and Young Men's Clubs. Not in all communities do men's clubs thrive. Some write there is a " craze " for other brotherhoods, or, the " grange " fills the field. The organization may assume different forms, as in sizable Bible classes in the Sunday school. These clubs minister to a great variety of interests, such as adding one hundred dollars a year to the parish finances, visiting men by men, furnishing music, village improvement, caring for church property, saving Memorial Day from' non-observance, getting " light " on many matters of good citizenship, providing for a patriotic service on July 4, furnishing athletic games and gymnasium, encouraging literary study, providing for lecture courses and high-class concerts and entertainments. Some include the " benefit " with the fraternal idea, that of the Pilgrim Church, Dorches- ter, finding success in this plan and promoting it among other churches. Other clubs are town affairs, doing much to unify interests in the com- munity. In Reading, it has enlarged its membership to two hundred. In a classic town, " It has drawn together all classes and conditions of men in this coniplex village more than any other organization in it. It has stirred a new interest in the church, in the hearts of several of its hitherto lukewarm members; it has drawn some men to the churches; it has undertaken several improvements of the property; it has shown the workers among our men what a field they have among their brother men."
Here is an opportunity for the Federation of Men's Clubs to crystallize and harmonize this stirring of masculine Christianity into its own organi- zation on a platform sufficiently broad to include them all. We recom- mend pastors to communicate with President Parris T. Farwell, of Wellesley Hills, or the Secretary, Rev. H. A. Barker, 9 Chestnut Square, Jamaica Plain, for suggestive inforination; also that the officers of the Federation consider in their platform the timely caution of our brother at Methuen that the club idea may not be emphasized at the expense of the church bond.
UNDER THE SEARCH-LIGHT
Eighth. What has been the serious hindrance to spiritual life and definite religious results in your church during the past year?
Here is the snap-shot. " The world, the flesh and the devil which the church has had to contend with from the beginning"; "Lieut. General Apathy "; "evasion of responsibility "; " misunderstanding between members "; "lack of organized effort "; " satisfaction of enjoy- ing the means of grace with indifference to outsiders "; " hard feelings "; " failure of parents to encourage children "; " the everlasting hustle after the almighty dollar "; " church dominated by a few"; "inertia of the stand-bys, unreliability of the transients "; " whist clubs "; " dancing "; " club life "; " unchristian spirit on the part of one or two prominent in
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the church "; " no settled pastor "; " agitation on resignation of pastor and sorrow of the majority regarding the same "; " lack of consecration on the part of the pastor "; " financial struggles "; " unbelief "; " no hindrance; the best year in many decades; about fifty conversions; the largest number in thirty-three years "; " minister lacks spiritual fervor "; ยท "indifference and worldliness of the people "; " the baleful influence of a ' sect ' that for years has made light of the Bible and denied Christ "; " commercial tone "; " ministers undermining the authority of the Bible, leaving no recognized authority "; " cares of other things 'choke ' the Word "; " numbness of the members of the Body of Christ "; " summer visitors utterly ignoring church "; " strenuous effort to keep up with flying world "; " no real felt need of Christ "; " too much piety on the part of a few "; "intemperance "; " gossiping "; " the dance hall gets folks too tired for church work "; " the fact that some members are not evangelist Christians and pastor Christians "; " epidemic of scarlet fever "; " willful indifference "; " indifference of parents "; " the multiplied and absorbing engagements with which modern life wears people out "; " Sun- day visiting "; " serious belief of people that they are too busy."
It may be suggested that all these failings are not prevalent in one church! A single page of a metropolitan newspaper would reveal a far worse condition of poor human nature. Let it not be supposed, moreover, for an instant that this gives a fair portrait of the church. That can never be produced in this world and its value never estimated. With all its faults frankly stated, it is a goodly fellowship of the noblest and best of God's children, who are the " salt of the earth " and the " light of the world."
A review of the work of the churches reveals the steady, unselfish sup- port and devotion of the few, the faithul, ardent work of the pastors, and the grace and patience of the Almighty that saves us from utter calamity. Problems intricate and difficult confront the church, but the church with- out problems is dead. Indifference is suicidal; indifference looms a big peril. Red lanterns flare in our faces, white lights of progress gleam along the path of safety. Are the hands that hold the throttle palsied? Are Christians " asleep at the switch "? That was the crime of the telegraph operator in Colorado, and his negligence piled up a wreck costing two hundred thousand dollars, and robbed thirty-six persons of life. Who can estimate the disaster that awaits a lukewarm church? Sin is ever rampant. Vesuvius blazes and sleeps. Nature in violent mood rocks a western metropolis as a child shakes a toy village, and already they talk of a new San Francisco. But volcanic heart-fires and passions, moral earthquakes, daily shock our cities, corrupt politics and business and desolate our homes.
Here is the vision and the appeal to the churches of our Commonwealth. Like Daniel, let us rise up and do the King's business. It requires haste. We have not an hour to lose. Souls are weighing in the balance, our souls
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among others. Are we not still our brother's keeper? The church sum- mons heroes and heroines of the Faith, Christ's brave men and women, to share the same trials, the same hopes, the same failures, the same fellow- ship and the final glorious triumph of the Kingdom of our Lord.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES F. WEEDEN, Lynn. GEORGE A. HALL, Peabody. HENRY A. KING, EsQ., Springfield. GEORGE W. CHASE, North Adams. ANDREW H. MULNIX, Brighton.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON MISSIONARY WORK
This Committee was originally designated the " Missionary Committee," but later the questions gathering around evangelistic work were referred to it. We report to-day in our twofold capacity.
MISSIONARY
In the execution of the missionary department of our work there are difficulties. At times we have felt that there was no place for such a committee to do effective work, without duplicating the work being at- tempted by others, mainly by the missionary societies themselves, through local and district committees which they have appointed. We are of the opinion that such committees, under expert leadership, will accomplish more than a committee of the General Association, whose aim must be a sort of universal exhortation to " do good and communicate." The direct appeals of the committees of our societies are more effective than the omnibus appeal of such a committee as ours. The plans of the National Council Committee of Fifteen, which contemplated a National Committee on Benevolence, a State Committee, a Local Conference Committee and a committee in each church, while in theory good, has apparently fallen by the way. It was under this plan that the Missionary Committee in connection with our state organization originated. For two years your Committee has cooperated with Rev. Charles A. Northrop in his efforts to stimulate systematic and proportionate giving from the churches to each of our national benevolent societies. For lack of support Mr. North- rop has retired from this work and we have not heard of plans for the continuance of the scheme. We feel justified from experience in commend- ing the faithful services of Mr. Northrop, with whom we have had effective fellowship, in the difficult and in some ways anomalous position which he filled. To-day the most effective agencies for stimulating missionary and benevolent zeal we believe to be through the missionary societies themselves.
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We are of the opinion that there is a field for the operations of this Committee. It is not in the way of holding more missionary meetings, or addressing more circular letters of appeal, or gathering from our pastors, already loaded, more statistics, or proposing another series of questions, but by urging upon local conferences the organization of missionary com- mittees to increase interest in the local, state and national missionary movements. We have made efforts to learn of the missionary interests in the state by correspondence with the scribes of conferences. The replies may be summarized as follows (twenty of the twenty-five con- ferences of the state replied to our inquiries):
1. In reply to the question, " Has your conference a Missionary Com- mittee?" sixteen answered, " Yes." With some of the conferences this committee is little more than a local church-aid committee.
2. In reply to the question, " Is the Missionary Committee doing any- thing? " only six were ready to answer affirmatively as regards aggressive work. Some reported the work of the committee as purely local in its scope, but nevertheless useful.
3. In reply to the question, " What is the state of missionary interest in your conference?" eight reported the interest as good; three reported the interest as increasing, with room for improvement; five reported the interest as only fair; four do not venture an opinion; while one frank seribe declares that " a spiritual cyclone " is needed to arouse the churches to a proper sense of their obligations.
A study of these replies would seem to justify the existence of this state committee and to justify also their urging upon the conferences the follow- ing considerations:
First. The wisdom of each conference having a well-organized Com- mittee on Missionary Benevolence with definite plans of campaign in the interest of higher standards of missionary giving in our churches.
Second. The need of each local church so organizing its missionary work as to bring the churches into vital touch with the Foreward Movement in Missions which is so pregnant with hope for the future.
Third. The advisability of bringing these local committees into close relationship with such committees as are appointed by the missionary societies with the aim to secure increased gifts to each of our benevolent societies.
Along these lines we feel that the state committee has its mission. It can foster and invite missionary organization as indicated.
EVANGELISTIC WORK
The Missionary Committee was "instructed to cooperate with the churches in all possible helpful ways in promoting evangelistic work "; " to carry on the work during the present year in consultation with the Board of Pastoral Supply "; " to report at the next annual meeting of
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the Association whether this work can best be done by a separate com- mittee or by the Board of Pastoral Supply."
First. We have made efforts to be of help to the churches under a plan which has been called "The Pastor Evangelist with the Pastor." The plan has commended itself to the pastors and laymen in our own state, has been extended in its general features into other states, and has had the warm approval of the National Committee on Evangelism. The plan was developed as follows:
(1) Your Committee entered upon extended correspondence to secure the names of as many pastors as possible, well scattered through the state, who would be willing to give five or ten days in evangelistic work with some other pastor and his church. It is an occasion for gratification that so many busy men were ready to render such service if called upon.
(2) A letter was sent to each of the churches in our state outlining the plans of the Committee and giving the names of pastors who might be called upon for evangelistie services, the arrangements for the same to be made through this Committee. The pastors and churches were asked to select the man or men they would invite to their assistance, and the engagement was sought through this Committee.
(3) Letters of two kinds were drafted and sent out as occasion required, one giving the churches our views as to the preparation for such meetings and what the visiting pastor had a right to expect; the other making sug- gestions as to the methods and spirit to be used by the visiting pastor. By these letters we contemplated various questions, such as traveling expenses, entertainment, preparation and kindred matters.
We have not attempted to tabulate results as regards figures, but we can say by way of report that something over thirty engagements were consummated by the Committee, as many more efforts made to secure connections with busy pastors, which failed, and probably as many more engagements made apart from the Committee directly by pastor or church, and more than an ordinary number of series of meetings with a different man at each of the meetings. We are confident that the plans thus inaugurated by the Committee have fulfilled in a measure the charge given it by the Association " to help the churches," have suggested much evangelistic work apart from the Committee, and have proven of no little service in reminding the pastors that they can " do the work of an evangel- ist," not only in their own churches, but in their fellowship with other churches. It will be worth while, in our opinion, to continue the general plan of evangelistic work with such improvements as experience will suggest.
Second. We have been in consultation, as requested, with the Board of Pastoral Supply through its Secretary and Executive Committee. Through its office our circular letters have been sent to the pastors and churches, and all the correspondence relative to engagements, under the supervision of the Evangelistic Committee. We acknowledge the efficiency
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1906]
of the work done and are of the opinion that this cooperation in the future will be both wise and economical.
Third. In reply to the third part of our mission as given us last year, we are of the opinion that this work can best be done by a separate com- mittee, rather than by the Board of Pastoral Supply. This judgment is confirmed by the Board itself. At the same time, we feel that there should be the same consultation and cooperation with the Board of Pastoral Supply which has been so satisfactory during the year, especially in the use of the machinery of the office for our correspondence.
Your Committee would make these recommendations:
1. That the Missionary Committee, to consist of five members, be con- tinued; its purpose being to foster and encourage organization for mission- ary purposes in all our local conferences.
2. That the Evangelistic Committee, to consist of five members, be continued, whose object shall be to assist the churches in promoting evangelistic work, and that this committee consult with the Board of Pastoral Supply, as last year.
The question of combining these two committees in one, as was the case last year, we respectfully refer without recommendation to the Business Committee.
CHAS. H. DANIELS, Chairman. FRANK S. HUNNEWELL. WILLIAM T. McELVEEN. FRANCIS J. VAN HORNE. EDWIN H. BYINGTON, Secretary.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
At the annual meeting of the state Association in May, 1905, this Committee was instructed " to use its influence to promote legislation prohibiting the employment of children under sixteen years of age between seven o'clock in the evening and six o'clock in the morning."
In obedience to these instructions your Committee sought the coopera- tion of other organizations interested in the protection of children. Mem- bers of the Committee attended various conferences with representatives - from Labor Unions, the Children's Aid Society, the Consumers' League, the National Child Labor Society and other similar organizations. It was soon discovered that officers of organizations representing the textile industries intended to introduce a bill to the legislature prohibiting the night labor of both women and minors in the factorics. Separate legisla- tion, relating to children only, was thought to be prejudicial to the interest
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of this larger bill and it was, therefore, decided that it would be unwise to seek any such separate legislation. The fate of the overtime bill is now a notorious matter of history. It was defeated in the Senate after a long struggle, and by a majority of one vote.
Your Committee endeavored to learn how large a number of children would be affected by the proposed legislation, but it was unable to obtain any statistics, either from the labor bureau or from other sources. The probability is that outside of the textile industries there are large numbers of children under sixteen years of age who are employed as messenger boys, newsboys, cash girls, in candy stores and other occupations, some- times until midnight. The defeat of the overtime bill was due to its bear- ing on the work of women at night. The effort to prohibit child labor alone would probably have been successful.
Considerable advance has been made, however, during the year. The recommendations of Governor Guild for the state and of President Roose- velt for national legislation are notable. Governor Guild, in his message, declared that the force of inspectors for Massachusetts is inadequate and advised enlarging the number. He also urged that truant officers be required to visit factories, workshops and mercantile establishments and report at once to the district attorney any case of breach of the law which they may discover. A bill to carry this recommendation into effect was introduced in the legislature and members of your Committee were present at the hearing and spoke in its behalf.
The Governor also says in his message: " Agents of the State Bureau of Labor Statistics report to me that a shameful trade exists, which supplies for money false age and schooling certificates to children under age. This report is confirmed by the district police. Employers notable in their desire not only to obey but to promote the law have been deceived and victimized by this practice. The present penalty for the forcing of a child of tender years into a factory by the perjury of unnatural parents or others is a trivial fine. I shall leave it to your sense of justice whether a light fine without imprisonment is punishment severe enough for law- breakers, who to-day in Massachusetts traffic not only in the toil but in the health and lives of little children."
For the attention which Governor Guild has thus given to remedying the defective conditions which exist in our own Commonwealth all friends of children and of humanity may well be grateful.
But the problem is national, also, and we in Massachusetts suffer because of inhumanity which prevails elsewhere. In part we are responsible for such inhumanity, not only because Massachusetts men and money are sometimes involved, but also because we must have a share in remedying national evils. One of the first necessities is to turn on the light, that all men may see what the conditions are and where they exist.
President Roosevelt has taken the first step toward turning on the light. In his last annual message to Congress he said: " I renew the recommenda-
FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY 35 NORTH WEST TEMPLE SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84150
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tion I made in my last annual message for an investigation by the Depart- ment of Commerce and Labor of general labor conditions, special atten- tion to be paid to the conditions of child labor and child labor legislation in the several states. Such an investigation should take into account the various problems with which the question of child labor is connected. . . . It would be well for the nation to endeavor to secure and publish compre- hensive information as to the conditions of the labor of children in the different states, so as to spur up those that are behindhand, and to secure approximately uniform legislation of a high character among the several states."
In accordance with this recommendation a bill is now before Congress, (Senate 2962) " to establish in the Department of the Interior a bureau to be known as the 'Children's Bureau.'" Its duty is described as follows: " The said bureau shall investigate and report upon all motters pertaining to the welfare of children and child life, and shall especially investigate the questions of infant mortality, the birth rate, physical degeneration, orphanage, juvenile delinquency and juvenile courts, desertion and illegitimacy, dan- gerous occupation, accidents and diseases of children of the working classes, employment, legislation affecting children in the several states and territories and such other facts as have a bearing upon the health, efficiency, character and training of children. The chief of said bureau shall, from time to time, publish the results of these investigations."
Your Committee earnestly recommend that the friends of such national legislation write to their Representatives and Senators in Congress urging the passage of the bill.
In its broader relation to labor organizations, your Committee early found new work on its hands. In June, 1905, a letter was sent to a large number of our ministers in Boston and vicinity from a committee of the Boston Typographical Union. It read as follows:
" Boston Typographical Union No. 13 has created a Missionary Com- mittee, charged with the duty of bringing about a better understanding between the Union and other organizations, particularly the churches. A large proportion of the best men in this Union, sober, industrious, capa- ble and reliable, feel that the church does not meet their needs; that it has nothing for them; that it is not interested in them; and to some extent that it does not want workingmen in its membership. For the adequate performance of its mission the Union frequently needs the counsel and sympathy of the church. To secure this in greater measure, not only for this Union but for all unions and for all workingmen, is the duty of this Committee. Any suggestions you may offer will be gladly received."
You will recognize that this friendly advance made by the officials of a large labor union is an important and significant event. We are informed that practically all of the answers to this letter were cordial and made a most fortunate impression upon the committee by whom it was issued.
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