St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-17
PEOPLE AND THE CHURCHES.

The newly-awakened and profound inter-
est now being evnced in the problem of
bringing the latter into closer sympathy
with the former is an omen OF good. If It
be true that the working classes have be-
come estranged from the churches it is
largely the latter's fault as well as misfor-
tune. And now that they are seriously
! canvassing how to win the confidence and
cooperation of the wage classes they will
find themselves met on every hand with
generous responses. The master, even
CHRIST, was pre-eminently friend of the
poor; the church as He first instituted il
was made up Of working-people, and its
first preachers were men from the humber
ranks of society. Christianity is itself, in
the best sense of that term. a species of so
cialism; its preceptS and principles foster
brotherhood, and result, when faithfully
carried out, in benign and wide-reaching
aims. 1t comedies nothing to caste or
to social status. In the code of
JESUS "a man is accepted according to what
he hath, and not according to what he hath
not" The gospel has consecrated man
hood, and lays its hand of benedictiOn upon
all aims and enterprises which labor to
abolish unjust restraints upon mems powers
and to secure the full measure of award
which they may righteously deserve. Every
thoughtful man is interested in seeing the
church true to the genius of its original
charter. No one wishes the churches i'll,
for despite their mistakes in the past they
are essentially the great propaganda of
mercy and righteousness. They have been
in many conspicuous instances in history on
the side of the people when struggling
against oppressors; they have been notably
their refuge and support in times of trouble
and in experiences of suffering. To-day it
is a live queStion-What can be done to re-
gain the ground unwittngly lost? and In
every city thought is being directed by the
leaders of the churches TO this grave matter.
Popular services for the people and amid
where they dwell are being held. The
clergy in many instances are leaving their
pulpts to speak in theaters and halls.
where they are gladly heard by the church.
less, and the signs multiply that the time
has come when the churches mean TO i'm
! prove on the past and stand forth the
friends and allies of the working classes.
To-night's conference at Plymouth church.
singular as it will seem TO the ordinary
strict churchman, has about it healthy.
practical look, and will command the sub
stantial respect of all interested in making
the churches more useful, and especially of
bringing them into closer sympathy with
the people. No worse course can be fol-
lowed than to maintain the exclusiveness
and caste-spint which have characterized
few of them in days gone by. A little
more readiness to meet the people, a little
more facility in accommodating themselves
to the new order of things, will be harding
ers of better life on the part of the
! churches, and any sincere, hearty effort to
get out OF ''ruts" and ecclesiastical ways
ana come down to the wants and difficulties
of the wage class, will be met by the latter
in good faith and with an appreciative
| spirit.