The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-15


There ia no more interesting sign of
the times than the liberalizing and
broadening of tho Christian pulpit in it's
attitude toward the world. In Milwau-
kee, Brooklyn and other cities great
churches of orthodox denominations are
adding the club feature TO their organi-
cation. Tie churches which once pre-
sented closed doors and gloomy exteriors
to the world, six days out of seven, are
keeping "open house" throughout the
week. and cneery parlors, reading rooms,
libraries and billiard rooms attract the
young men who might be tempted 9th
erwise to questionable resorts, and the
church gets its first hold on many whom
its influence could not othe. wise reach.
All this is done without the relaxing of
any rules of religious conduct, or the
dilution of pulpit doctrine. The church
simply strengthens its lines on the So
cial side and draws its congregations as
the Saviour OF mankind did by bidding
the multitude to feast OF loaves and
fishes.
So, too, in regard to Sunday laws the
more progressive preachers, while not
relaxing ono whit in laying down the
rules OF Sunday conduct for members of
their churches seeing that nothing is to
be gained by the harsh enforcement
of human laws of Puritan origin, are
declaring for the widest latitude Of per-
sonal liberty. And they are strength
ening and not weakening their influence
for good in the world by SO doing.
An interesting illustration OF this
tendency Of the times was seen in the
old Puritan town of Norwich, Conn, the
other day. A new theatre, ono Of the
finest buildings Of the kind in the coun-
try, was opened for the first time. Its
builders were leading citizens of the
town, some of them members and Off.
GERS Of orthodox churches. The con-
tractors in pushing the work to compile
ton in the time specified worked on the
building one Sunday and were sharply
censured from the pulpit by the Rev.
DIR. Leonard Woolsey Bacon, pastor of
the Second Congregatie IA, church, for
so doing. Tho reverend doctor an
nounced that he won s devote sermon
to the new theatre on the following
Sunday and pub!a expectation was on
tiptoe, for scathing denunciatlon of
the enterprise was looked for Great
was the surprise Of the congregation,
however. when the preacher gave hearty
and unqualified approval to the under.
taking. He began by saying:
To-day We look upon one of tho most
capacious and costly public buildings in
this town, just completed through strenuous
and liberal efforts, in which many of our
best and most conscientious Christian citi-
zens have shared and devoted, as its main
purpose, to theatrical entertain ments. The
enterprise has been urged upon the support
OF citizens of all classes as one of great
public interest and advantage, even the
pastors Of churches having been applied to
with the most cordial invitations to SUBJ
scribe to the capital stock. The great work
Of construction has been pushed forward
diligently through the seven days of the
week, as one of those works of necessity
and mercy that must not be interrupted by
the day of rest, SO that you were enlivened
on your way to and from your Sabbath wor-
ship by the merry music of the workman's
hammer, and at last, utter surprisingly
short time, to the credit of the energy OF
projectors and builders, the great edifce
stands under the protecting shadow of the
court house, midway between the church
ana the public school. as one Of the fixed
and recognized institutions of tho city.
After passing merited criticism on
much OF the trash of the stage, he said:
but we have got to look the facts in
the face and recognize that the old
sweeping condemnation of the theater
once universal among the earnest and
pure and faithful men, was founded on 0
state of facts which no longer exists
That there has been change in the
theater itself, in its plays, in its person
mel. There was time, not SO very lone
ago, when the name of actress was {
synonym for infamy. To-day the mar
who should make such presumption al
that against the character OF a lady de
voted to this trying and perilous profes
sion, would be guilty of wicked
calumny. In view of these revolution
airy changes in the theater, for tn,
church to MAINTAIN its old attitude O
condemning all indiscriminately woul,
not be consistency, but bigoted incon
sistency."
He closed by declaring that he, as
minister OF the gospel, was glad to ex
tend an open welcome to the new thea
ter, Il it shall be place where whole
some and pure amusements shall b
provided for the people, under ever
possible safeguard against corruptio,
and fraud.
All this happened in an orthodo
Evangelical church, in Puritan Ma,
England, on the Sabbath day. Tn
world moves!
ORIENTAL ADVANCE
There are few subjects that affor
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