New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-08-22

| Keep his nature
Undefiled.
Sabbath NSghs Services as The Ac aAeus,
! Of Music.
EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
That some good mas been accomplished
by these Sabbath night services We freely
admit It would be strange if some good
had not been done. But the amount o1
good secured has not, we think, been in any
proper proportion, measured either by the
efforts made Or the desires Of those who
have the management of these services.
There are grave difficulties in the way Of
reaching the masses of tho population in
all large cities. II is, indeed, enc Of the
hardest problems to solve successfully
How to penetrate the lower strata Of 60
eiety; how to got down among that vast
multitude who seldom, if over, enter q
church or hear the gospel preached, will
| try severely the wisdom Of tho visest, the
faith OF the most believing, and the energy
Of the most untiring. Many reasons can
be assigned for this absence Of religious
influence ever the masses in large cities.
and their general indifference il not dowa-
right opposition to religious efforts.
! That the church itself is respon sib1e for
this state Of things in large degree can not
| be trnthfully denied. After admitting all
that may be said about tho depraved ton
denotes Of human nature, tho various at.
! fractions Of large city that crafty these
depraved tastes, and that growing spirit Of
| in6delity which ignores the supernatural
almost, if net entirely, some of the reasons
are to be found within the churchs own
bosom.
That sectarianism and bigotty which pre-
vent Christians from meeting on common
ground Of fraternal union and effort; that
want Of general missionary spirit among
the members of churches that will make them
think great deal more of going out among
the unevangelized masses and of bringing
gospel influences to bear directly upon
them, and Of strengthening weak and
struggling churches instead Of crowding
ALREADY large congregations and adhering
to some favorite preacher as though no one
else could preach the gospel we'll enough
fos their edi6cation, and that style and
fashion which have taken such possession of
the churches that the poor and i1.iterate, as
a class do not feel at ease in their presence;
that costliness which makes religious ad-
vantages . luxury which the comparatively
few may enjoy. All these causes and others
are operating everywhere to make the influ-
ence and efforts of the churches compara.
lively failure. 1
We do not say these things are true only
of New Orleans They arc to be seen In all |
large cities in more or less extent. There !
are, however, in addition to these, special |
causes in some localities that are not with !
out their effect. Has it never occurred to !
the managers of these meetings at the |
Academy Of Music that they were lacking
in the spirit OF gospel fraternity and love
in barely saving themselves from the re-
proach of pandering to q certain political
sentiment by having one only Of the min
isters connected with Northern churches to
preach, and that one an alien! Are they
ignorant of the fact that there are some
OtACA0 OAoO WboSO CCOAOSl0otACdA CUuuoOtIDu /
ought not to be hindrance in meetings
neld in the name of Him in whom "there is
neither Greek nor jew, barbarian, Scythian,
,ond nor free, but Christ is all and in all9"
WOULD it not have been well to have sought
hem cut, seeing they, like other people, are
lot likely to- 60 where they suppose they
night not be cordially received!
Let it not be overlooked that the spirit of
is now being cultivated, ex-
ept, perhaps, among some bad men both
t the North and South, in civil and politi-
al spheres. and that the church, the last
lace where, least Of all, the spirit of preiu-
ice and animosity should be tolerated,
rust not be behind the world IN its advances
owMd cordial reconciliation and reciproca-
on of traternal offices. A hint to the wise
always sufficient.
We may here take occasion to ask also
ow is it that the managers of these meet
gs have had to duplicate the same
reachers9 Do they imagine that only
,rtain ministers can preach the gospel and
lat the blessing Of God is confined to their
rmonsi Is there monopoly of preaching g
,wer and of divine grace that must be
needed to certain few because they =
lppen to have the charge Of leading 4
lurchesl Perhaps larger view of the y
hole field might reveal the existence of
hers, too, whose efforts might not have 30
uch the charm of novelty or entertain d
emf. but none the less of divine truth and D
duence. There might possibly be the 81
ore blessing because God was looked to b'
ore and man . great deal less. ta
INQUIRER IN THE PIT. d
The Now York San publisAes . cut Of tho A
i6xme building. covsred with liquor 4
mn ftom thu hnsenenf 10 tDWR ton. Il