The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-09
RAPID TRANSIT AND RELIGION.

RAPID TRANSIT AND RELIGION.
The Movement To Fresh Air a Mora
Progress-Churches Affected.
The Rev. David Mitchell preached or
"R4pid Transit" to his congregation II
the Scotch Presbyterian Church in Mer
Ger street last night. He said there wal
no longer need for families to remain in
the crowded districts of the great cities.
Elevated and surface reiIways and swift
steamboats, carried multitudes of men
from their close offices in the heart of
densely populated towns to beautiful
homes in suburban communities where
theysenjoyed the wholesome air of the
country and all the advantages of the
city.
TO RELIEVE CONGESTION.
Il have every SYMPATHY" said he,
with the demand made by leading news
papers for increased facilities OF ravel /
believe in building tunnels below our
rivers. in elevating the roads, in under
ground lines-in every mode of convey
ance that is safe, c~ommodious ana ele-
CANT, to relieve our congested cities and
to carry well-to- do families to homes of
their own 1t Is a pleasure to go away
up to and beyond Harlem, or visit our
own hill and surroundings. and behold
everywhere dwelling houses having iDdi-
ca ions of wealth and refinement. Ali
this shows the age in which we live.
'It is an evidence of the intense genius
of the people. 1t shows the country's ex-
~traordinary wealth. 1t is an earnest of
the future, when we shall no longer be-
hold narrow lanes and alleys. where the
people are pent up Il exposed to evil
influences beyond description. 1t Is a
matter also of cougratulation that the
rynrktNy nto6Caz orn DC tho rantilf nf in
dustry, economy and increasing intelli-
gence, gradually commanding superior
homes.
THE CHURCH's INTEREST.
"The progress thus indicated, however,
raises a number OF questions, in which,
as the Church of God. we are interested.
In these new centres churches and Sab
bath schools are required. or the people
must be content to lose what, through
Christianity, they have gained. Generally
tbs people thus moving away have means
to build their homes but not churches. A
few here and there may at once put up
their church. But In the most part they
without such civilizing agencies and
far removed from their old familiar
church homes.
"Our home missions do much to make
good the loss by granting money to aid
in erection of church buildings aud this
call presents an endless work for The
church, as a whole, to accomplish. Es-
p~ecially where workingmen's families
copgregate. there Is room for the greatest
on the part of the church to
have the church building planted right
in the centre of such growing communi-
ties.
"There Is a question also for the
churches remaining on the old ground.
They cannot move in a day. Nor is this
desirable, judging from the experience of
New York. Where are the churches
once prominent and known by the living
voices of eloquent preachers? They have
the people, and the result is that
in New York today the old wards are
more crowded than ever with heterogene-
Gus masses. representing all ~nationalities.
Are these to be left to perish? The
problem how to meet the wants of the
congested city is staring Christians in the
face.
MEETING THE PROBLEM.
W are experiencing the same thing
In this city. The well-to-do families are
removing OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES are com
ing in, put they are people we hardly
Shall our churches follow the
people who have gone awayf Is there
b lesson TO learn from New York
to strengthen the congregations
called to meet the problem?
ut gives me pleasure 10 say that the
L ISoOJ ceAtAh NSoo AShS 81 q odS-
in solving the question. We have
a Presbyterian union. Our first
grand rally is to be held on February 81.
We are to have the earnest and eloquent
DR.. John Hall address US. The III ber-
ship fee is to be-a dollar-for either sex.
would rather see 400 members at. 81
each than 200 at So. Though raising the
same amount, ic would greatly increase
the interest of the public to see a large,
solid society.
sit is not purpose to build churches,
we have too many of them low. We
should rather double up.
ut would be better to have fewer
and more workers. We in
lend beginning with one good missionary.
at a respectable salary. who will visit our
localities and endeavor to get
to attend their own proper
,hurches-the Methodists to the Metho-
list churches, the Presbyterians TO the
Presbyterian. and SO on, and to invite
to the various Sunday schools.
large and precious results in win
hing souls will follow such a simple plan
there can be no doubt"