St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-03-25

a staunch upholder. The officers WHO
are now in control of the mission under
the leadership of Mr.. Wooliey as well aS
those who are supporting the enter
prise, are class of people eminently
qualified to make a success of any hti-
name movement. Along with their be-
neVOlence and enthusiasm. too, they
possess experience and intelligence and
executive ability to make the mission
a success. There seems to be but one
ground on which failure to do the work
they propose doing may be anticipated.
/ and the weakness is one that is common
TO almost every benevolent institution.
1T is the plan of dealing with drunkards
and fallen men as though they were the
|; Victims of some scheming william who
bad plotted their downfall; of cuddling
and condOling them for their misfort-
unes and praising them in their sue.
cesSes, as though they were accom-.
plishing something to their lasting
credit rather than performing simply
their duty as men. 1t may be tender
lleartednesS that causes this error, but
undoubtedly is an error and should be
rectified for the greatest good.
="
There has been great deal said OF
late of the eXcluSiveneSs of churches
were exclusive. Minneapolis churches,
as rule, are very cordial to visitors,
but there must be some foundation for
the question. The ministers say that
the complaint is started by those who
never attend church and know nothing
of the condition. 1t is fact that
there are two sides to the ques-
ton. The strangers go to
the church with a preconceived
idea that he is to be snubbed and lays
himself open to receive cold greeting,
and too often hurried usher will leave
the man who stands back with Scowl
on his face with just the expression of
face and Indifference of demeanor to
make him turn away, absolutely certain
that the church is exclusive. The
divines in this city of churches have, as
a rule, the cordial grip of the hand and
a fellow feeling for every man that has
business with them, but there are those
among them who make the complainto of
their GOODNESS really iustiiiable. Pastor
and people can both help in remedying
this eXciuSiveness.
~
The presentation of ''Ben Hur" drew
a great many people to the -Hennepin
Avenue theater last week, who proba-
bly, have never seen the inside of such a
still among the church people of Mime
apolis a certain stiff-backed conserva-
tism which they undoubtedly consider
avoiding the appearance of evil"
They need number of just such semi
dramatic presentations to draw them to
the inside of the play house to con-
vince them that there is posi-
bility of good and great good in
theater. There was nothing in the
tableau form in which the wonderful
novel was presented to hurt the con-
science of the best church-people even
in the time of Lent. The theater is an
established thing with US and church
people would do well to encourage good
presentations and condemn the bad, in
this way discriminating between the
good aud bad. and not set the whole class
down as bad. There are plays and act
OrS that inspire the same feelings III a
man as a good sermon. and they are
capable of reaching those whom the SER
mon never will. Sol Smith Russell
ideally presents in his plays this re-
form. If people who uphold ministers
and religion would encourage the stage,
they would remedy what they now see
as evil.
The Univeasalists of North Mime
apolis are meeting with all the essential
elements of success in their endeavOr to
organize new church. A meeting
held last week at the residence of Mrs.
Burr, though half social in Its form,
gave indications of lively interest
manifested in the church project.
Despite the fact that the liberals are so
condemned by the orthodox ministers
they are gaining many advocates and
suit the needs of many individuals. To
be sure, the question of difference be-
tween the two is the great question of
the Christian religion of the preseDt,yet
the motives of the advocates of the lib
eral and orthodox advocates are the
same, they have the same end in view
/ and together anticipate the same
heaven. 1t the ministers III the Chris
tan churches cannot show charity to
each other. even though the question of
dispute is vital one, their followers
may be expected to initiate them.
~
Rev. r. J. johnson makes very out
spoken remarks in all of his addresses.
In his address last Wednesday night to
young men, as he had men only as his
listeners. he was particularly out
spoken, and it is probably well that
there are men who know of the evils of
the human race who are not afraid
denounce them and set them out
in their true light, displaying
their Nervousness. While the evange-
list may be a little radical in some Of
his views, he has wide knowledge of
mankind and in his gestures as well as
in his words he shows himself to be a
student of human nature. In speaking
of the subject he said:
"Some ministers speak to me won
deringly, saying they cannot under
! stand how l can stand before an audi
ence and talk as plainly as do. tell
you believe it to be the only way to
reach men that are going down. |
know what / am talking about, too, for
l was on that road myself and was saved
from it,"