Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-04-26
The Gospel for the People.

The great problem pressing upon
the attention of the churches at the
present time with more earnestness
than ever before, is how to bring the
Gospel to bear directly upon the tens
of thousands in our cities and large
towns who are now practically be-
yond its reach. They never attend
church from one years end to anoth
er, and the present system. Of church
management has thus far failed to
reach them. The movement of the
Unitarian churches in this city, in
opening the Boston Theatre on Sun
day evenings for preaching, seems to
be a movement in the right direction,
and it has thus far been wonderfully
successful. While many regular
church-goers attend these services,
there are hundreds who 60 there every
Sunday evening who would not now
attend service in any church, no mat
ter how earnestly or cordially they
might be invited; and it is but rea-
sonable to expect that many of this
class will become so interested in the
truth they there hear; that they will
find their way to the churches and be-
come constant attendants at church
service. We believe that if some of
the other denominations would inaug-
crate a similar movement in other
sections of the city, and especially
among the poor and destitute at the
North End, sending their best and
ablest preachers there on Sunday eve
nings, it would result in great good.
Here is a field for missionary effort
more promising than any foreign field,
and we hope that in the general relig-
ious awakening which now pervadeS
all denominations, some practical
means may be devised to have it well
occupied. In speaking of the success
which has attended the movement at
the Boston Theatre, the Liberal Christ
ian makes the following suggestions,
which are to the point, and are as ap-
plicable to other denominations as to
the UnitarianS, whom it particularly
addresses. 1t says;
"Liberal Christianity needs to be
popularized. 1t must be given to the
people. If they will not come into
our churches to get it; if from any
cause or combination of causes they
keep aloof from our services, then LEI
us carry our religion to them, wher
ever we can find them, and above al
in such places as they will meet in
These new times require new meth
DDS of administration, new appliances
and an entirely different style of pre-
senting the old and everlasting truth
And if we would succeed; five woult
, not always and forever fail and dc
: serve to fail, we must adapt our meth
4 DDS to the condition, temper, an
/ practice Of the age, and work wit
!, wind and tide, and not against then
: What has been done in Boston ca
4 be done just as well in every city an
town in the country, if our friends br
a be wise enough to set about the wor
+ in the proper way. We ridicule th
d red-tapeism of Government official
d 1t has often seemed to US that ther
It is great deal more black tape in I'll
e Church than is needed or is vel
It that many ministers are masters of tt
art of How not to do it, that tt
IS cause of true religion is suffered
le go by default, simply because tho;
who have it in charge are so tied l
IL to old ways of procedure that tht
cannot meet new conditions and want
It As a matter of private taste we ms
at prefer dignity to success; but heav'
70 has made us trustees of a religit
- which requires the sacrifice of perso
i al preferences to universal principle
ne and if we are unwilling to make th
II. sacrifice, it will leave us our digni
fe. and give the success to those W
k. earn it. If we wanted to carry
le. election, we should not be at loss
ut ways and means of reaching the p'
ON pie. Is the cause of religion of so
tie Importance that we should let
. go by default ?''- Boston Journal.
ch -.-.-------
ed, Halab alb Magyar being asked WI
was the most excellent thing in m
ht. replied,
nix "Sense."
n | "But if he have none, what is
nv best then ?"
ad- Honesty"
ips "If he has not that p
rht g The counsel of his friend" repl