Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
SUNDAY THOUGHTS
on
MORALS MANNERS
BY A CLERGYMAN.

At the recent notable meeting Of the
Evangelical Alliance there was or the part
of all present recognition of the drifting
apart OF the Church and the people. Thus,
the Rev. DR.. Josiah Strong (author of the
famous book, sour Country,'') exclaimed:
1.-THE Church has largely lost touch with the
world. It is more institutional than psr-
sonal. The cry too often is not Here am I.
send mel but "Here is nv check. send
somebody elsep There is salt enough in the
country, but it is barreled up in the
Church"
Bishop Huntingdon, Of the Episcopal
Communion, asked: chow does it come to
pass that the people, being at the Church's
door, are on the outside? Certainly there
can be no fault in the gospel. Is the OBJ
stacle then in the people? If so, we cannot get
it out until we get at the people. No; the OBJ
stacle is in ourselves. The Gospel and the
people belong together. They were made for
each other. No matter what the apostoIicitV
OF the Church may be, the putting apart of the
Gospel and the people is her apostacy"
The Rev. DR.. Parkhurst, Of New York, de-
clared that he would rather take the chances
Of an atheist before the bar of God, than those
e;L.s Of saved s (9 man who was not at the same
These are hopeful voices Do they indicate
the dawn of a better day? Whatever may be
the surprises of the future religion will sur
Vive. For, as Locke said of the Bible: 1T has
God for its author, salvation for its end. and
truth without any admixture of error for its
subject matter" Hence, we may be sure that
the ETHEREAL world,
Incapable OF stain, will soon expel her mischief.
And purge OF the baser fire, victorious"
One thing however, is certain. The Church
will never rehabilitate itself in popular inhu-
ence by meretricious expedients. lt is not to
be saved by broom drills, dairy maid fairs, and
catch-penny festivals. Neither will it better
its condition by preaching dolorous sermons
cannot hll its pews by lazily opening It's doors
once week, changing its bell in ding-dong
fashion, and saying: "You sinners out there
come in here and be savedP'
If sinners ran their business as saints run the
Church they would go into bankruptcy in a year.
Imagine Paul standing IN a gorgeous pulpit,
with $4,000 salary and s. COO choir, in .
church where pew rent is as high as house
rent, with two OF three pews down near the
door set apart the poor. and attributing the
absence of the people from such service to
The Church must preach practical not techni-
cal, gospel. 1t must make itself leader in
h4lpfulness. 1t must put the emphasis on con-
duct instead of belief. Christ never lacked
hearers: The common people heard him
gladly" The apostles never complained of the
absence OF the people. They went where they
were. They gave out instead Of absorbing.
bons-they learn nothing and forget nothing.
They are too stubborn to change. Their type
is SauPs chef herdsman, Ooeg. having charge
of the mules" 1t is the wise remark of an
eminent divine that "a religion that does not
take hold upon the life that now is, but dwells
in subimities, is like cloud that does not rain.
A cloud may roll in grandeur and be an object
Of admiration, but il it does not rain it is Of
little account so far utility is concerned.
And religion that consists in the observance Of
magnificent ceremonies alone, but that does
not touch the duties of daily life, is a religion
of show and OF shame"
In saying this, we do not wish to be under
stood as depreciating ritual. The ritualistie
bodies are among the most helpful and prac-
tical OF all. But whatever be the creed, and
whatever the ceremonial it must be welded to
practical, everyday helpfulness if it would win
and hold the respect Of the community. "Give
me only fire enough" said Bernard Palissy
land these paints will become lndehbly fixed
on this china" And he went about crying.
more fire; more freP' We say the same
more fire! more hreI