The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-15
The Protestant Situation in New York.

| 1883. HILL ana victory IN ls3lI
The Protestant Situation In New York.
According to statistics presented to the
Baptist pastors on Monday by the Rev.
LEIGHTON WILLIAMS. the influence Of the
Baptists has been gradually declining In
this community. Their membership has
not kept pace with the growth Of the town.
| and specific churches which were large and
| powerful twenty years ago, arc now of
much less consequence.
The reason for this discouragng state OF
things Mr.. WILLIAMS confessed himself I'M
able to explain. but they are not hard to
find. The Baptists OF New York may have
done somewhat worse than the Methodsts
and the Prcsbyterians. but none OF the
three denominations is as prosperous. COM
paratively. rs 1t was generation ago. The
Episcopallans undoubtedly have gone
ahead faster. and as they have gained tho
others have fallen back. for the Episco-
paian increase has been largely at their
expense. AS the community has grown
older. more prosperous more luxurious. and
more exactng in its aesthetic require
ments. the Episcopalian form OF worship
estants of the town. the more especially
as meanwhile there has been among them
steady decay in doctrinal conviction.
Nowadays people do not believe strongly
enough to be earnest religious purtisans.
They find it easy to run from one Church to
another. according as mere taste leads
them; and it leads them most frequently
to the Episcopal liturgy. for they find that
service much more grateful to the senti-
ments than the barcr worship Of the other
religious bodies.
simultaneously fashion has centred In
the Episcopal Church almost exclusively. A
generation ago tho Presbyterians We're Of
far more consequence in the world Of So
ciety than they are now. Moreover. the
Episcopal parishes are conducted with much
greater vigor than formerly. They have
followed the plan OF the Roman Catholics in
employing n numerous clerical force for
missionary purposes. The parish rector is
now at the head of parochial
machine which engages the efforts
of considerable body OF assistants
and curatos ceaselcssly employed in its
extension; and Sisters OF the Church
lend their powerful aid in pushing for
ward charitable and philanthropic enter
prises which bring In recruits for the par
ish. They go out into the byways and
hedges to compel people to come in to
the wedding feast In other words. the
Episcopal Church is better organized than
the others. and it has gained on them cor
rcspondngly. We hear much complaint OF
tho political machine. but IN analogous
machine is necessary for the Church.
The Baptists and Methodists are less
prosperous spiritually than when they were
poorer materially. The grander their
houses Of worship have become. the less
vital seems to DO their religious spirit.
With wealth comes luxury. and with luxury
come social ambition and discomfort with
tho plain and humble surroundings Of
those Churches In the days OF their glory.
Tho old people may remain, but the Young
people want finer associations; and hence
the source from which religious
communion Is always chiefly recruited
tends to dry up In tho glare OF worldly pros
perity. The far greater proportionnte in
crease In the population OF New York
which Is naturally Roman Catholic than OF
that which is subject to Protestant iniu-
cnces. also serves to explain the fall
aug oh el'ohcu VI ny lHc buUtiSL
pastor. In this community Mt this
time the Church OF the poor more
specifically Is the Roman Catholic. The
Baptists and Mcthodists no longer have the
relations with the great mass
of the peopl" which they had fifty years
ago. There are too many carriages drawn
up before their churches. Their pews are
too sumptuously cushioned. In their menu
bcrship are Included too many million
aires: and milionaires are not naturally In
such folds. IT is true TINT Mr.. JOHN d.
one of the very richest
men In tho world. Is a faithful Baptist;
but how will it be with his descendants nfty |
years hence In the day Of their low estate |
socially both these denominations we're |
vastly more aggressive than they are now. !
The more they Were dcspscd the more they |
nourished. and the greater their worldly |
consequence the more they fell back. They |
need the spark OF genuine religious faith |
and zeal to kirdIe them into activity, not |
tue favor Of men.
The Pre5hyteriars are docay ing body I'm |
New York. i'riggsism and Parkhurstsm |
are destroying their vitality. We expect To |
S'e Il steady and rapid decline among
Them from this time forth. When a Chris |
uan Church questions the worry foundations |
Of the Christian faith and tolerates