, 1859-12-20

IL IL catimnted that IN tue churches Of this
city there il sitting room for from ten to fifteen
thousand people. Call it the latter number,
and appeass that only ono out Of every nine
Of our total city population has the opportn-
nifty Of participating in public religious wor-
ship: Ea larger proportion desired to attend
these public services, they could uot do 50, for
the reason that our churches will not accom-
modate them. 1t ia not probable that
any city in this country, Of equal popula-
tion1 is better supplied with church edifices
than Chicago; while in cities Of larger popula-
ton. tue proportion between those who aze
practically excluded from public worship md
the few who arc not, is greater. The famous
London preacher, Dr. CUNNING is reported to
have said in 9 recent discourse, that out Of .
population Of over tAroe millions Of people In
that city. there -~-.e tut hundred and tifty
thousand communicates n the churches Of all
evangelical denominatious-or one to every
twenty. Taking the tota1 city population Of
this country and Great Britain together, it Is
within bounds to place the ratio Of church.
goera to the whole number as one TO filtoen.
In other words for every one person who ha-
hltually attends public religion. worship, there
are fifteen who never enter church. And
1hss fearful ratIo increases every year in the
came proportion that the population Of our
cities increase.
From the foregoing facts it appears
that fourtecn-f'fteenths Of tic city popu-
lation Of the two most highly civilized and
christianized countries in the world. ara. 70 far
as direct gospel-teaching 1s concerned, practi.
cally in the condition of tho Heathen. True,
they differ from tho latter in some respect
they live under institutions and laws modified
to considerable extent By the spirit and
influences of Christianity-thcy come daily in
contact tat least some Of them do) with men
who have 'mbibed its spirit and who make
laodable efforts to practice, however imper-
aeety, It's preccpts-a considerable number Of
Them hare access to books, periodicals and
newspapers from which they derive more or
less Of moral educatior-many Of them are
supplied with The bible in their own ycrua-
cular, though it is to be feared that people who
mover attend upon religious worship and who
-nrs,r x.aa 49, ~ sue as'ucoon' out
-. 1... . - W. pooA "1nen Is 1ae 1oandnflon
c.-~ es 'l'.Ns '.e'f cooo'aon Oil"
w. s~..z..;a. .. s .a. '. s'e 1lnao''an's N faean
countries; but so far az IN application Of the
d;rnhf nafr,,,,oopt ofs+:os ~ slo ?.
~' ''.4'e0 " 'a' s's'e' 's con-
' '+4ot0 - Substantially no olaeFence'
IL Is one ol the csowning glories Of the
cn'''ean sel'g'on thct it is no respecter Of
pleps-'nat 's pfo''s'ons embrace the whole
.@ay y "an ano one oi its nobleat promises
!" 'oat Ing poor shau nave the gospel preached
ua'o 'ae'o' Nas tne that thlz promise has
nv yes oeea .unneo y IN our cities? IF there
~ ta' =" ""su ~ 1n' ABOVE cs11ma'es, but one
answer :. caa M gwen Now, tho question
WHICH, 1t seems to u ought to engage the
most earnest consideration Of those who seek
the temporal aud eternal good Of their fellows
H. HOW shan this promise be made good in
our cities ! How shall the gospel b carried
70 she 1oufteen'h'teenths Of the vast multitudes
VINO are now practically e1cludcdfrom its pub.
nc aoaan'stsnion2 We start this question not
WIN my esew oi answer1ngit; bnt to enlist the
-..a;s.. - ~. o u.ose VINO f'gnuy ap-
ao,r.1 ..J -. - Nuo"'ee o' 1ne
IT, r,.,.n,. ~. .ss,s" ..,s '- 1o.nns snoFt o1
than to- 4h.+ e,,.,,-e ..:.,s :.. 49, s -: " ~
~ ".* Ae'ea7 oAAsteacs IL WHICH oil