The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-10-13
THE EPISCOPAL CHUkCH GOING
TO THE MASSES.

We have to look 10 the churches Tor
the tone of society, and the trouble with
msnv ecclesiastical organizations is that
they are run in such narrow groves OF
thought thsl they have no tone to lmpart.
The church carries tone into society
when it represents the culture and
thought and force OF our best life. Here
the Episcopal Church confessedly has
great power. No one Will deny that 1t
gives tone to society, and we are all glad
to receive what it has to give. But the
question which the workingman has
asked almost in vain OF this de-
nomination has been: What do you care
about the under dog in the fight? 1t is
well to have the solar light of culture
but will these churchmen show any in-
terest in their less fortunate bTethrenI
This was the point of debate in the Con-
yentiou at Boston the other day. The
fact that arrested attention was that the
old lines of conversation have been ei-
fectuslly broken down, and that the
members OF the convention are deter
mined to put their church INTO closet re-
lations With the people. This was EVIL
dent from the resolutions introduced by
Mr.. WEIGH, who is we'll known for his
lifelong devotion to the interests OF work
ingmen in Philadelphia; but the words
which thrilled the convention we're
spoken by Colonel JOHN Il. DEvEREUx, OF
Cleveland. he drew upon mis- experience
u, railroad manager 10 show that the
railroad men could be controlled by
Appealing To their Christian instincts, and
inst they could be won by honest meth
dds to Christian living. Hefrankly con-
fc.sed that, where other religious bodies
within term of years gathered in 10000
O., these men. his own denomination had
done nothing, and at the same time de-
cl.red that "his church had message
Tor these very men, which could not
longer be withheld from them without
neglecting bo.h Its religious and social
duty" 1t was remarkable speech, and
evidently marked the turn of the tide In
the convention. His uttersnces were so
strongly endorsed BY other members and
SO fully represent what we know to be
TIA feeling of the clergy and people 10
tins BODY OF Christians that We shall not
be surprised if this most sristOcrstic OF
denominations receives powerful i'm.
pulse through this corvention toward be-
coming a better social force IN the whole
country. 1t wss thoroughly in keeping
with this debate that the first measure
which was acted on WAS this very subject
of practically carrying the gospel to the
NEGLECTED masses of men, whether black,
white, or foreigners. The appointment
Of special commission TO take this mat
ter in hand, and to recommend plans
which will give tone and direction to the
whole church, recalls the efforts made in
1856 BY this same determination to put
itself into closer sympathy with the peo-
pl., ana to spread out to the large pro-
portions of what II claims TO be-a part
of the catholic church. 1t looks as If this
movement meant business. Many are OF
the belief that had the churches done
their duty, we should lot have had our
recent railroad strike, and we thoroughly
admire the honesty OF this great conv1u-
ton in publicly confessing its shortcomings
as religious body. 1t evidently means
that Episcopshsns are no longer to boast
of their advantages as an historical
church, but that tuey are ready to enter
vpon that close service Of God in the
hearts OF men which chiefly entities any
O. the churches to respect and confidence.
This whole matter lies in nutshell
Lsboring men need TO have religion
made attractive and sympathetic. The
reasons why they shun Lne churches are
perfectly obvious. They find but little
IN them which touches their hearts. Re-
Lyign seems matter OF social position,
and the workingmsn too often can only
come in rs psuper, which he knows Is
not his rank. Whist We need, in the
cities and 10 al large towns, Is churches
which these men Can feel at home in. II
some places of worship are crowded,
there is u good reason for 1t, and, II
thousands of our honest workingmen
never enter churches st all, there is also
reason for that. The truth is,
men 20 where they are wanted, and
know instinctiveiy who their friends are.