The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-11-14
FAILURE OF THE CHURCH.

Mr.. Samuel Morley, NJ. p, at q
great meeting in London, said he be-
iieyed the great feature of the present
day was a growing indisposition to at
tend public worship. This was pre-em-
inently the case in London. He held
London to be one OF the most heathen-
ish parts of her majesty's dominions.
1t was considered that if fiity-eight
per cent. OF the people were ANXIOUS
10 attend the churches and chapels
next Sunday morning, there would be
required 1 900, 900 more sittings than
were provided. The most appalling
truth connected with that fact was that
,pof the sittings provided not more than
one-half were occupied.
The condition ascribed to the
churches in London is true of them in
America. For some reason, not IN
derstood, or at least not confessed, the
masses OF the people have as little
practical connection with churches as
in England or China. The church
buildings of Austin could contain per-
haps oUe-fourth of the city's popula-
ton, and yet house of worship is
rarely filed, and when the pews of one
are wholly occupied those OF its neigh
bors are grievously empty. Men
wicked and thoughtless, are accustom.
% to say that they send children and
wives to the churches or accompany
them because they deem this formal
compliance with the exactions of the
"a a matter of ''social duty" The
1pulpit should inveigh against this pop.
mar sinfulness and this popular unbe-
ief. Major PENIS vigor and earnest
aess and zeal should be infused even
Into the pulpit. Instead of pronounc-
ing fixed, pretty little discourse, stud
led and written like a STATESMAN edi-
torisl, ..every Sunday morning, with
small homily at night, the pulpit
must put on the armor of god
liness and go forth to earnest
rulc-~Eith progressive, defiant sin.
rmons mNt go to the bottom
questions involved. Simple asser-
pms Of unquestioning faith avail
nothing. The divinity of Christ and
authenticity and inspiration Of the
Bible are absolutely questioned by free
thinkers of society, and on the streets
and in Offices these questions are as
. vigorously discussed as Bob Ingersoll
Fould have them. 1t is sad state of
.tfairs, and the zeal, persistency and
pluck OF Major Penn are worthy of all
honor and Of the grand cause in the
prosecution of which he leads che way.
There is not only prevalent question
ing Of the divinity of Christ, but ten
dency to the adoption of vague notions
about spiritism. Men say they would
gladly believe that the dead do live.
They would gladly believe that they
10 have gone before do surely retdrn
and make themselves, as spirits, mani
fest to the living. Everywhere in this
and other cities of Texas there are
constantly recurring spiritual Sc
Ances, aud ghosts do come, observers
say, and spirit hands are seen and felt,
and strange communications from un-
earthly authors come pattering like
raindrops upon uneasy tables. Spir-
itnsl newspapers and pamphlets and
Aoks have wide circulation, and men
seek after that knowledge which, if it
exists, constitutes an absolute physical
demonstration of the verify of q
future life. They quote the Bible
sud tell of devils cast out and
Of those that went into the herd Of
swine and were drowned in the sea OF
Galilee. They tell of seeing "angels
Ieendlng and descending as visible
INC saints, and therefore do sane
men diverge from paths pointed out by
the church and demand physical rath.
cr than moral demonstration Of the as
sertlons of the pulpit.
The English statesman asserts OF
London the very condition of morals
and faith that pervades the United
States. Men have gone so far as to say
that the sge and its intelligence and
pfogress demand ''new religion" and
A. this hour the scientists of Europe,
Darwin, Spencer, Huxley, Buckle and |
many Ike them in America have usurp-
ca the functions of the pulpit and sub
slitoled cold reason for sympathetic |
l4ilh aud facts in nsture for miracles |
q Providence. The English statesman |
may well weep. Persecution, poverty, |
Hohamnedanism, Paine and Voltaire,
nth ali the flerceness OF their assaults |
npon the followers OF Him who spake
- never man spAke, were never so
potent OF ruinons to the ''csnse Of |
Christ" as these agencies Of Indifferent
lam OF Of unbelief TO which Mr. Morley |
61rerls, and the condition OF America
IS verse than that OF Europe and Of
Texas than that Of Boston.