The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-25

hNu- hold. Fine sentiments without results
have no value. If he loves office more than
reform Mr.. SCH RI will stay. If hc does
not, ne Nil 70 out quickly.
what j. the Trouble with the Churches
Last sunday we sent reporters TO largo
number Of churches in this city, Brooklyn,
AMI Jersey city, instructed to observe the
attendance, and how IL compared with the
-ittings furnished The results Of their in
vcstigation, which We printed on Monday,
wore full of interest and fruitful Of suggcs-
tion for all those who are concerned about
the progress Of institutional rc' ,ion in the
metropolis AMI IT. ncghborhood.
Ii was shown that while the Roman Cath
ole churches were ovcrcrowdcd at early
morning low masses, and We're filed at The
later high mass. the larger part OF the
Protestant churches were far from full at
their morning services, and some OF them
contained only a small number OF wor hip
pers, scattered among the empty pews.
The Churches outside of the Episcopal,
which were full or largely attended, were
those with pastors Of a wide popularity a.
preachers and Of the rest many We're not
halffull, none had all their sittings occupied.
and some were almost empty. DR.. JouS
HALL preached to all his meeting house
could hold; Mr.. PULLMAN. n Univ crsalist
pastor, drew u large crowd; DR.. TAYLOR had
an audience Of 100; Or. Howard CROSBY
had fcw empty seats in his church;
DR.. DEEMS addressed wcll-iiled au-
ditory; BrTcHER, Of course, had
crowded house. for he is a curiosity: Mr.
f..fftfrr M.flt.lf.t .lt..r ,.f
jersey city, had 4 large congregation. In
the rest OF the churches wore many vacant
seats ami empty pews. The Baptists espe-
cialy seem To- bc IN a bad way Their tenn
pies were uniformly occupied by small
bodies Of worshippcrs, sometimes not
enough people being present to fill quar-
tor of The lews. The Methudists. too, failed
to come out in numbers great enough to
give their churches an appearance OF healthy
activity. The Presbyterian churches, with
IA few exceptions, showed many unoccupcd
seats. and the Congregational churche-
leaving out Or. TAYLoR's Tabernacle and
BHrcHLR, exhibition hall. We're not Tiled.
What do these facts tcachf What am
swcr do they convey totAosc religious work
crs aud theorists who cry out for moro
| church accommodations in New York:
These are questions which may well en-
gago the discussions OF ministerial assOcia-
tons, and denomlnational conferences and
syuods. 1t is doubtless true that II large
part Of the iopulatlono Of New York have not
church -ittm-s provided for them. and that
if all the people should start e. 20 to church
some sunday thousands would he uuil,lo 90
obtain admission, owing t. the lack 81 room
Ia the temples. Yet We ilud the present ac-
! cOlumDlatllls ~ these cdlilceS are too great
! for tur demand upon them. What Is tAe
| trouble: Iia, the Interest iu religion doe
c.u.d, or IL the fault that thc means through
| which It's doctrines are presented to Ga peO-
| pie are not adapted To their conceptions of
what they should be; Are these empty
! churches ont of sympathy with existing
society; 1t the leaders OF the drnomina-
tlon- vii religious services are So n,,.-
! lrctrl. ponder over these pregnant que--
tiOns. and Soc If they cannot find the cause
OF the prevalent spiritual stagnation.
| II j. sugg, ,tcd that this state Of things
is found tocNist Just succeeding the extra
ordinary offorts q Brother MOODY and
Brother SANKrY to stir the waters Of Zion.
These c,anscll-t- conducted a long series
Of revival meetings both in New York and
IN Hrookiyn. They organized u vast aud eX-
qcn.iyc machinery for religious work; they
enjoyed the aid ola large number OF pastors /;
they were heralded rs evango list, of re-
narkahlo success; they were the talk Of the
town; and their meetings were thronged
day and night. Brother MOODY preached
with all his power, and Brother SANKEY
poured his whole soul into his songs. The
audiences seemed deeply impressed; the