Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-01-13
PROBLEMS OF CITIES.
Fewer Songs Of Gl0riflcatlon and More
WOrk-Rev. Richard HarcOQrt.


WOrk-Rev. Richard Harcourt.
"The Problem OF Cities" was the sub
lject of Rev. DR.. R. Harcourt at Grac
Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore
Sunday, Jan. 3rd. The text, from ST. Mat
thew, was: "And Jesus vent about all the
cities and villages, teaching in the syna-
/ gogues and preaching the gospel of The
Kingdom" He said:
Settles are great csntrea Of power. Thes
are to the nation what the heart and lungs
are to the body, and in large degree they
represent the nation Of which they form q
part. 1t was the crowded street and the
busy market-placs that heard Christ's
most stirring sermons and saw his might
lest works.
'Recsntly the Christian people of. Eu-
rope have had their attention directed to
the Importance Of city evangelization as
never before, and we in this country are
waking up to it. We know that the pulse
of the city never throbs without affecting
the entire nation. Here the ignorant and
vicious classes are much more numerous in
proportion to the population than in the
country. Not only are they pliable and
dangerous in the hands Of unprinciplsd
leadcra, but they are so situated as to be
almost entirely ont of the reach of good in
| flusnces. The fact that these are controll-
| ed by greedy partisaps demands the serious
attention of all lovers of our land. Dis
guse 1t as We may, we belong With them
to common brotherhood, united by honda
which we cannot ignore. No matter how
lost and degraded they may be, they pos.
sess com mon nstuIe with US and CON-
mon Immortality, and We cannot be indif-
feEent to any thing that touches their well
fare,
"How shall these be lifted up from their
degradation and be made gafe and useful
citizens? This is a question not only for
the Christian and the philanthropist, bus
also one which imperatively demands the
attention Of oGr national ard State iegisls-
lures. To speak from a patriotic consid-
GRAFTON, a people is enduring Only SO long
as virtus and industry prevail. Ths condi.
tion cf all our cities is most dangerous and
threatening. Christisnize these and the
nation is safe; neglect these and the reault
will be ruin. Nations do not die by the
natural law of decay, but from disease in
the body politio. Babylon fell through
political corruption, social deprsvity and
impiety. There was conglomeration of
wealth by the side of sbjecs poverty, and
men wers of lass value than gold.
Social depravity leads to impiety. Put
these together and they will wreck any na-
ton. What caused the French revolution
and the reign of terror? Wealth in the
hands Of few, starvation maddening the
multitude end social depravity among the
nobility. The course of action pursued by
Christ, initiated by the apostles and justifi
cd by their marvellous suocess cannot be
out of place now. How to reach and re-
generate the ignorant and vicious masses
Of our cities is the greatest Of all questions
to settle.
"The situation calls for fewer songs of
glorifcation and more work. Oar eyes
have been lifted from the work to be done
all around us to the wants OF India, China
and Africa. Il is high time for us to be
locking at the home work little more ear
nestly and little more practically. Our
nation is doomed unless the masses Of our
cities can be reached and saved. It was
DIR. Chalmers who said the negleotors of
the church have been neglected by the
church. The prevalent thought with many
is that the churches are great, soulless cor
porations for the rich, and that the work
ing class is not desired.
"One of the causes of empty churches
lies with US ministers. We have besn CIV
ing the people subjects and matter often
far above them and far above ourselves
also. We have dealt too largely with
things unknown, and talked eloquently
over the beginning and end OF all things,
but not enough about the middle-the life
that now is; over the vicafious atonement
and the fundamental principle of holiness
essential to Godhead, just as il God needed
certificate of standing from the clergy, Or
that the glistening stars could be brighten
ed by earthly whitewash!
81 believe one Of the causes why SO many
city churches fail in their work is the idea
that has become SO prominent Of late years
that in order to have men converted the
church must employ an evangelist. Whom
minister loses bis cunning in reaching
and saving men the sooner he goes into the
real estate or insurance business the better.
Wesley was wont to ask his ministers,
Have you converted any souls?' and if
their answer was in the negative, be gave
them to understand that they had mistaken
their calling. Jesus said, Follow ne and
1 will make you fishers of men,
ITO remedy our city ills we must begin
with tho young, and to reach the people we
! must get TO them. We must be Christ like
enough to go among them. l do not be-
lieve in ths system Of mission chspels OF
churches. The average man does not want
to bs considered subject OF charity and !
honor him for it. The itch and the poor
must meet together. There can bs no caste
in the church OF Jesus Christ"
He spoke of the educational power of q
great church building and congregation
and OF the inspiration in the touch of an el-
bow, of the great waste of church power
there was in scattering the forces, and ad-
vooated keeping open tho churches seven
nights in the week instead Of one. "This
is the only way" be said, eve Can cope
with the saloon power. Every church in
cur city should be q busy hive of workers.
All the church il good for is what it enables
a man 10 be- and do. The church Of the
future must be helpful church, full of
help for young and old, made attractive by
talent and tact, by music and art. The
real question is not what shall become of
the masses, but shall become of the church
that fails to care for the masses? The
great mission fields of The present are not
China, Africa CT Indis, but London, Paris,
New York, Chicago and San Francisco.
Take these for God and You capture the
world"
A HAPPY NEW YEAR to President Hsr-
risoD. May he arrange matters with Chilli
gthout firing q oun and in ench adnira.