The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-25
QUESTIONS OF TIE DAP
Viewed from the Standpoint OF UnIversAI
Theology.

where churches or meeting houses Keep opel
doors, and where the Word is prenched'
We think it is due to the fact that mos
preachers arc content to preach beautiful o
touching sermons, but not sermons which bea
fruit in the way OF practical action.
Let 1t be demonstrated that being Christian
or jew or an anything means being identi
fed with some good that is visibly done
and then religion Is seen to be a practca! in
stitutlon. To the majority at present II Is IA col
lection OF words. Of thoughts The pleasure
OF being able to point to good which is eff
fected by people ia a pleasure which perhars
the rich and educated enjoy moro or less
But the great mass Of people are not edu.
Gated, and are not rich. They cannot afford
to give for this and for that: and especially
Is this 80 when we remember that gifts
called for are usually In lump sum" BE it
only n IS or a 81 note, IL Is Tor tho majority
too great n sum to be parted with all at once.
Ask workingman for dollar and he rightly
pauses Ask him four times u year for 25
cents. and he can very frequently afford
| IL. This Is the secret OF tho success OF
those industrial life insurance companies.
| They are content with small sums,
even FIVE cents. weekly. They know that the
| working people can afford five cents week.
| which In q year is over $3.50. But to ask a
| workngman all at once for ST. so would be alb
| surd. 1t Is the multitude OF small gifts
which bring wealth and Ill the treasury far
moro than the now and then bestowal OF largo
sums with more certainty. and with con-
stanty increasing stream. 1t Is the gathering
OF small amounts By flye-cent pieces and
dimes which forms SO considerable part of the
income Of those rich Catholic institutions. the
evidences OF which are q cathedral on the Fifth
| avenue. Jesuit college on Sixteenth street.
and how many other foundatonsi
Let the poorer people be shown that they
| can DO Interested personally in work which is
evident in its usefulness and visible in
It's efficiency. and they will begin to sec
That Christianity is living religion, and
more OF them will attend church than do at
present 1t Is among tho working people that
We lind so many unbeievers, 80 many crimi-
nails, 80 many semi brutalized characters. We
DO not lose sight OF the many church societies
with nominal membership dues. But there is a
sentiment In the minds OF all who care to think
ABOUT these things. that these isolated church
Efforts are. II not wasted efforts at least cir
cumscribed efforts. They are all amateur
charitable societies; and amateur charitable
societies must necessarily be failures from the
economic and the moral standpoint. 1t looks
we'll OF course to see in the church book go
many Dorcas societies. sewing circles, bows
leagues. parents meetings. mothers talks.
ohN pO lOlI anu uOuDLleSS tlOy do
good But they often mean the using up OF
effort energy capital. enterprise. which. II
properly directed, would be productive OF
much moro good. Sewing societies arc not
unfreauently imposed upon by the undesery-
ing. Boys leagues are left by the boys when
they are youths and young men, and when for
the tlrst time they begin to think. Then 1t is
that they need the guiding hand and kindly
influence. Are mothers talks ever misused?
But all the churches in one district should
unite their forces. Five hundred people can
hear lecture Just as easily as fifty. And SOW
Ing and other societies can effect more good
when they are in touch with a central body
whose Investigation prevents imposlture
Above all. they should be 80 conducted that
By proper arrangement Of their system OF
financial support they shall come within the
power OF the poorest TO assist
AS soon as the poor. as soon as any one
becomes interested in the church philanthropic
work, thoughts will begin to ferment in the
mind which will gradually but surely incline
the heart toward the duty of churcheoins.
Once in the habit OF attending. 1t will be the
fault OF the minister if he loses the opportu-
nifty to further beautify their lives
The churchs effort however. must not be
only in the direction of charity. There should
be such ventures as appeal to all minds. One
subscribing to church charitable society He |
will say: Il give to the general charity socie-
ties. to this hospital, to that home" But let |
him be told that there are societies for edu- |
cation as for Instance an evening class for boys |
or one for shop girls and his heart will be |
touched. Or another can be approached from |
the aesthetic side and be appealed to by some |
attempt to raise the standard OF recreation or
pleasure above the music hall. tho variety
theatre. or the saloon. Yet another will be APP
pealed to by reading room. or study room.
where boys can study Of an evening away from
the drawbacks OF tenement homes with to-
bacco smoke. babies, cooking. washing, work
ing. and talking. to give them headaches and
distract their attention.
There arc thousand avenues for church ef-
fort: but they can only be opened by united
action. No one church can do all the work.
Each church should contribute Its mite to
what should be fund administered by repre-
chosen from all the contributing
churches. The contributions OF individuals
should be In accord with the old Bible senti-
nent: each one according to what he can AZ
ord" And care should be taken to mako 1t
Known that benefactions need not be published.
Anonymous gifts Of money. from tho smallest
sum. should be as gladly received as the prince
y gift OF a check OF three or four figures.
Livery one b sentiment WOulu DO apDeAeO 10
" one or the other OF tho enterprises under
AIKEN. A central body would see that the enter
rise was properly directed. The practical re-
uts OF religion are only shown by its refining.
.idinR. educating, and broadening of the life
md thought OF the general community. They v
would be thus shown, demonstrated. proved! a
Far better than church conventions. which A
ak about interpretations OF texts, are Church d
ocioties which show the practical application p
( religion. Doctrines are only the clothing OF "
eiRion. Deeds. thoughts, words arc the life b
( it. Let the deeds DO loving the words truth 7
al. and tho thoughts loyal to duty, and with 1,
UGH a healthy life in the body. the question Of C
xternals can be dispensed with as the only vital g.
The health OF tie body polite. Il
10 body OF tho church, is first. Z
When tho right Influences are set In notion u
8 they will DO by such popularization OF q
lurch work in all three directions of educa- b
on refinement and charity, there will be fewer !,
nbellevers in religion, for more will see its d
Sos: Tower criminals, for all people will be
,ached. And. above all. there will be human y,