Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-01-17
Decline of Religion in New Albany

We listened with much interest and at
tention to the annual sermon of Rev.
j. NJ. Stevenson yesterday, in which he gave
some facts in the history of the world the
United States-the State of Indiana-the city
ofNew Albany-and the church to which he
ministers, during the year of 1855. During
the pastorage of Mr.. Stevenson in this church,
which has extended through six years, there
has been added to It "a persons. The mem ;
bership has been increased from $50 to over
200. The average attendance increased
from 200 to 800. A remarkable coincidence
is observable in the deaths in the church; IL
having died during the year 1853; IL during
the year 1854; and IL during the year 1855.
He alluded to the deaths during the vast
in most impressive and eloquent manner.
There was not dry eye in the house.
He gave rather gloomy account of the
state Of religion in this city, and showed that
although we have IA evangelical church.
es capable of containing at one time over
5000 people, the average attendance was not
much, if any, above 2,5OO and as we have
population of 1900, not more than one in
seven attend divine worship in these church.
es. There has been falling off in the
churches in the city generally, in attendance
and church membership, during the past year,
and in summing up the causes which have
led to the deterioration of the church, he gave
as the first and chief reason, party spirit -
political party spirit-which he said was
growing more intense every day, and mani
Testing itself in our social and religious inter
course-that men now doubted the honesty
of political opponent, solely because he held
different views. And this is true, and we ap-
prehend no one will deny that it is almost
the only reason why the church in this city
has taken step backwards. Had the rever-
end gentleman gone one step further and
told US the party that had engendered this
strife amonst men,-that had kindled the
fires of discord and hate around the social
hearth one,-and that has taught to reject,
as unworthy of social and political equality,
large class Of our fellow citizens, s,-again, we
say, had he told us this, and had read to that
hydra-h headed monster some lessons of chari-
ty and good will to all men, he would have
done an act of simple justice to the Democ-
racy of this city, and placed the sin where it
belonged. For, let US ask, when did the
Democratic party ALLEVIATE friend from friend,
or countenance the heart-burnings and bick-
erings that have been witnessed in this city
during the past year? Never! never! Ac-
coriing to the gentleman's showing, during
the wears 1928, when the Democratic party
was largely in the ascendant here, the church
witnessed greater spiritual advancement than
during any year of that gentleinan's ministry
here These are truths that are apparent to
every one. s4 .-9li lI
Another reason adduced for the deteriora-
ton Of the church was, that the flood gates
of intemperance had again been opened We
must with all due Difference, differ from the
reverend gentleman. II will be recolectel
that the decision, of the Supreme j Judges,
has been given but a few days, and that since
June we have had Prohibitory Liquor Law;
consequently, incompetence has had nothing
to do with the decline of the Churches
here.
We think it rather poor compliment to the
Liquor Law, to say that during its existence,
religion has retrograded.
third reason was, that we have no Sun
day Law If the gentleman will refer TO the
Acts of 1866, p. 159, he will find Sunday
Law. The fourth reason for the dearth Of
religion was, that we had no law against pro-
family. We refer him to the 152d page Of
the Acts of '55, and he will be fully satisfied
on this point.
There is but one solution Of this matter:-
let the Protestant Church discountenance this
political crusade against portion of our fel-
low-citizens AMI thoir religion-extend to
them the welcome o, Christ, that "these are
my Jretlaren," and the welcome of patriots.
that this is the land of freedom, and teach
them the ways of republicanism, and cxhort
them to become of u.s. Then will religion
flourish as of cd and this desert blossom as
the rose.- Neso Albany Ledger.