The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-08-10
K.Ilglnn and AIodern Cn.tom..


1t il difficult 20 conceive the danger
to spiritual life which turks in modern
habits and customs. The constant
movement of population from one
country 10 another. from country 80
city, and from city to country again,
tends to break up church relations ami
pn,s an end u religious exercises.
Those who abide in one place all their
lifetime easily acquire settled habits OF
church-goiug, Sabbath-keeping. and
family worship: bat when a family re-
moves from the country TO the city It's
connection with the church Is at least
temporarily interrupted. and it is not
easy 20 reestablish it. The stranger is
backward about going TO church al all.
Possibly when he goes ne Is not t-ea,od
with that cordially which be has a
right TO expect i'm the house Of God.
Certainly. he misses the familiar faces
and hearty welcome TO which he was
accustomed ia the old church home.
Unless he is well furnished with grace
and established in the faith he VIII bc
-orely tempted 10 neglect has religious
duties. or wander about from church 10
church and not anchor in any.
The result Is that there are thousands
of men and women in these rapidly
growing and busy cities who were once
church members IN other places, hlt
are not now. Among these may be
found backslidels Of all stages. Some
continue 10 attend church regularly.
while others have become not only
habitual ueglecters but confirmed lnh-
dels. This fact makes the Importance
of regular. systematic. aud persevering
visitation in cur towns and cities APP
parent. Toe personal ties which
the church furnishes count for
a vast deal in the religious
life. When they are broken
bv removal a severe shock Is produced
and unless they are speedily re estao-
lIshed the consequences viii be di5ae-
trous, especially in the case OF those
who are largely dependent on stronger
spirits for religious enCOurageme nt.
The visitscf the pastOrare not sufficient.
Strangers 10 our cities must be visited
by church members. who perform luli
service, not because it is a part OF their
office for which they receive salary,
but because of their intercs,in human
" and .n the Kingdom Of Cod.
The effect of the summer exodus
from the cities is scarcely less injurious
To church life. Not only are many
Christians absent from the whole54mt
restraints Of home and the privileges oi
the sanctuary for time. but TIE
churches winch they have temporarily
left are too often in state OF sus-
pended animation during the summer
the season. Add 10 this the fact that
modern business, education aud social
life call fOT a perpetual migration.
America is largely community @ =
wheels. The people move so constantly
that multitudcs do not abide in one
place long enough 90 become rooted.
The church life Of those who move
least IN great cities differs materially
from that of our ancestors. They lived
near their work and near their
churches. To day laboring men and
mechanics. Is well as business and pro-
fessioual people. are compelled 90 1--we
several miles distant from their
place Of employment. They leave
home before il Is day. and
return after dark, and seldom &c
their children awake. When sabbath
comes they are weary with the tolls II
the week and anxious 90 spend one day
al home. when revival meetings aie
held they return from their labors too
late at night TO attend. and 1t Is d'in-
cult for them to reach the pfayer-mcel-
ing. These facts are often used as eX-
cuses to Justify indolent Christians in
the habitual neglect OF religious duty.
But they do present serious obstacles in
the way of religious work and progres p,
and unseltle the religious experience
of many.
Another disastrous result Of the nj
gratOry habits Of modern 1ity life is
seen in the abandoned downtown
churches. Every denomination con
point to many houses of worship which
once were crowded with hearers Of the
word. But the people who once filled
and supported them have moved up
town. into the country. and into the
Far West. These localities are now &C.
cupied by business houses and foreign
populations. IN some cases the church
mas been sold, aud in others an almost
hopeless struggle is maintained against
the tide which threatens to swallow uD
the feeble enterprise. Tho effect q
this condition Of affairs on the few
members who continue % live IN tho
old neighberhood, and on the new citi-
zeus who come in, aud on the progress
Of church work in the city, must be
These are some Of the obstacles with
which our fathers did not have to con-
tend. Our age has It's advantages, but
it has also its peculiar perils. Our
fathers solved the problem of planting
stroDgholds of religion IN the wilder
ness; we must solve the problem Of
religious progress in the face Of the
which modern civilization
and city life present.-Christian AdyO-
cate.
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