The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-07-11
CHURCH AND THE TELEPHONE.
The Great Invention Being Put TO Good
Use in England

The Great Invention Being Put 20 Good
Use in England.
Boston Herald: Ii has been rumored
frequently. since the telephone went into
operation, that it could be used for trans
mitting the sermons and the church ser
wees on Sunday TO the homes of those who
could not attend Sunday worship, or were
too lazy To put forth the necessary exertiou:
but it has been felt that there was more
poetry than truth in any such device IL is
now stated by 4 correspondent of the Lon
don Standard that the South of England
Telephone company has been able 10 con-
vey 10 invalids, TO doctors and chemists
assistants on duty, TO people FIVE miles
distant from the church and 10 large num-
bers OF private residences in
various parts of an English
town, the whole of the church service sun
day morning AID evening, so that the
organ vOluntaries, the singing, the read
ing and the sermon were clearly transmit
ted. Sixteen wires were connected with a
single church, and the preacher was salts
1aetorlly heard IN as many different places
The success of this experiment has already
been such that wires are being laid to the
homes OF subscribers in various adjoining
English towns, who will thus be able TO
participate in religious worship at a dis
tanee. The success of this experiment
Will undoubtedly cause its repetition in all
parts OF England, and il will be a great
boon TO al who are debErred from joining
IN Christian worship with their bodily
presence. But while IL Will work for
the convenience of those who suffer from
inability 10 attend church, IL will also work
for the convenience of those who like a
good excuse for not being present at the
center Of worship. The head of a house
hold can listen at the telephone receiver
and become the agent of the different mem
0ers OF the family, giving in substance
what comes to him ia detail so that in this
different m fs4Fa ftf fhs4f "a
lly can keep up their engagements and
still have the credit of attending worship
II not Its full enjoyment Then. again,
with so good an excuse for not attending
public worship, IL Is likely that there will
De railing on In the congregations where
these telephone arrangements are provided
Who would care TO take the trouble of at
tending church on rainy day when he
could have the full benefit of the service by
sitting at home and listening to what his
telephone reports To carry the pOlnt
further, the question may be asked why
public worship could not be dispensed
with. the minister preaching his sermon in
his own study and the choir performing in
an adjoining ROOM This would greatly
decrease church expenses and would CON
duee largely 70 the comfort of Individual
parIshiOners, while the telephone used on
Sunday would also be used by the minister
for making parish calls on week days, and
thus be an immense saving OF time 70 him
self. Nothing is more vexatiOus in these
uog > tlldH TIC loes ol time Wulp1 seems IN
evltable in putting ourselves in direct per
sOnal contact with others, and the use of
the telephone for religious purposes prom
ises a great relief to OverWorked
town ministers and TO uverworked
par1shlOners, who on SUNDAY WOuld gladly
compose themselves on a lounge or in bed
and still receive their Sunday education
Altogether the switching of OF the sermon
and service from the church as the center
OF religious operation promises a revolution
To Over-burdened people, as well as great
comfort to those who are deprived of their
customary religious privileges. II the
church OF the future should be assisted BY
telephone. ii will also be the stepping
stone 70 a great many changes which need
not here be outlined. IL will introduce the
era OF the invisible church, and If the tele-
phone can convey spiritual comfort as ef-
fectlVeIy IS II II were conveyed directly in
the old way, why will not the visible
church &c superseded practically by the be-
ginning Of the twentieth century?