The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-07-10
CHURCH ATTENDANCE.
EDITOR TELEGRAPH.

EDITOR TELEGRAPH.
SRI always find matter for thought
in the editorials of the TELEGRAPH,
and am often tempted to follow up
your excellent ideas with my own pen.
Frequently / have felt called upon to
oppose the conclusions you deduce,
and you have always been generous
enough to let me fight you in your own
pulpit, as it were, although I am
thankful to say that there have never
been any but the kindest feelings en-
gendered by our relations.
The question you take up under the
above heading Is very interesting one
to clergymen. There is no one thing
that causes US greater Encouragement
mo burden that is harder to bear
than the slight attendance at church
on Sundays, especially On thepart of
the men. Doubtless the attendance
has, as you maintain, kept pace with
the increase of population. Still it is
not what it should be by great deal.
But | trace the trouble to a different
cause, viz, the loss of the true idea of
worship. The Protestant world in
general has come to think that the OBJ
ject of church going is to receive bene-
fit; hence one is perfectly at liberty to
go where he feels.that he receives the
most benefit-or, if he does not think
that he needs to be benefited. to stay
at home. Just in proportion as a man
thinks thus of church-going will he
become careless and Indifferent. He
will go where he can hear the most
intellectual preaching or the finest
music. and if there be no intellectual
giant within reach, but only men of
average ability who are endeavoring
to teach people the plain simple truths
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he is very
apt to stay at home. If our Sunday
gatherings are to be reduced to oratori-
cal and musical exhibitions (although
both may be religious in their subject
matter) church attendance is but a
higher and more quiet sort of enter
tainment. And as matter of course
only the Beechers, Liddons, and Swings
will "draw full houses" Why is it,
then, that we see e. q. the Roman Cath
olic and German Lutheran churches,
always and everywhere, full every
Sunday, since it is notorious fact that
nelther the preaching nor the music in
elther is OF SURPRISING excellence
Why is it that the ritualistic churches
in London are crowded to the door
| with working people, men being the
most numerous? Is it not because
the people are mindful of what wor
| ship is in reality, viz, a giving rather
than receiving-a coming before the
Most High, not primarily to receive
benefit, but to render to Him the tri
lbute OF our affections and talents, tt
ascribe unto Him glory and power ani
Imight-in short, to worship HIM. II
we compare the scriptural accounts Of
worship with our own notions we
shall see how far we have wandered
from the correct apprehension anG
lpractice. We cannot conceive of the
IJeWS fiocking TO Jerusalem from al
lover the country three times a year tt
hear preaching or to enjoy the magnif
cent choral services of the Temple
Nor does the picture in Rev. of the
| Heavenly worship suggest as it's mo
tive any benefit to be derived by the
Worshippers. There is no mention
made of preaching or even instruction
in Gods word in either case. Not thai
benefit inestimable is not received, but
that it is not the primary motive OF
worship, which is offering, or, if you
choose, sacrifice. The religious his
| tory Of the world shows indisputably
that where this idea is lost, attendance
at religious assemblies decreases
| When people once more learn that at
| tendance upon church is for purposes
OF worship, and is therefore duty
which no man can neglect without
Iimperiling his eternal interests, our
pews will be full.
If [ have not already trespassed too
much on your space [ should like to
point out what seems to me an erro-
neous conclusion in this sentence: Gin
ecclesiastical councils convictions for
heresy have been found on the charge
of departure from the creed rather
than from the teaching of the Bible,
| thus placing the authority of the creed
above the scriptures" Surely not!
for the creed is but the churchs sum.
mary. of scripture teaching. And the
creed or standard Of doctrine of every
sect is but that sect's understanding
of scripture teaching. And if min
lister or member departs from that
standard, he departs in the estimation
| of the sect from the scripture. When
he ceases to receive his church's inter
lpretation of scripture he has no alter
native but to leave her membership.
No church can without inconsistency
which is fatal to her very existence
refuse to convict and deprive Of their
membership those who reject her
standards of scriptural Interpretation
S. j. F.
IRA YELLING TN 1900