The Indianapolis journal., 1893-05-23
THE PROTESTANT CHURCH AND THE MASSES.

THE PROTESTANT CHURCH AND THE MASSES.
Two incidents related in yesterdays
Journal are calculated to set Protestant
ministers thinking. One occurred on
Sunday m the First Presbyterian Church
at Washington. where the Rev. DIR.
Smith, preacher of the day, spoke at
length on the evangelization of the
masses and the failure of the church to
reach them. Among other things, he
said that one-half of our population was
out OF the church, 70 per cent. of our
young men and twO-thirds of the labor
ing classes not being within its intiu-
ence. At the conclusion of this sermon
the Rev. DR.. Sunderland, the we'll
known pastor of the church, said that as
DIR. Smith had failed to state the cause
why the Presbyterian Church was not
accomplishing the results it ought to,
he, himself, would do so. THAT cause"
he said. lis DIR. Briggs. / would not
be in that mans shoes to-day for all the
world" One reads with amazement
such a statement as this, coming from
one of the leading Presby terian preach
ers of Washington and a man of
national reputation. Can it be possible
that DIR. Sunderland really believes
that the failure of the Presbyterian
Church to reach. interest and convert
the masses is cue to the recent course
of DIR. BriRgsY Does he not know that
the gradual drifting away of the masses
from the church has been going on for
many years, that it has caused much
concern and wide discussion in religious
circles, and that it has been theme of
interviews and comment in the secular
press9 1t is preposterous to say
that such condition as this.
which evidently has its roots in deep
underlying causes, is due to the fact
that DR.. Briggs maintains that the Bible
should be construed in the light of
reason. We believe the Briggs case is
too recent to have had, as yet. any IN
fiuence on the relations between the
Presbyterian Church and the masses,
but, if it has any, we believe it viii be,
exactly opposite to that stated by DR..
Sunder land. 1t will not drive the masses
away from a church to have it known
that its members may construe the Bible
in the light of reason, conscience and
common sense. What the Presbyterian
Church needs to bring it nearer to
the masses is not tightening
of theolog ical lines, but relax
ing of them. 1t does not need
more dogma but less. Instead of adopt
ing a rule of biblical construction which
tends to make the Bible sealed book
to the common mind, it needs to urge it
on the masses as rule of faith and con-
duct so simple and SO plain that the
wayfaring man, though fool, need not
err therein. If the church wishes to
reach the masses it must come down
from the heights of ecclesiastical learn
ing, out from the clouds of dogmatic
mystery. and meet the people on their
own level, offering them something that
they can understand, something of
human interest.
The other incident occurred during
the discussion of Sunday opening of the
worlds fair when the question was be-
fore Congress. A leader and spokes-
man of the labor organizations. pleading
before a congressional committee in
favor of Sunday opening of the fair. de-
cIared, in substance, that the Protestant
ministry no longer represented the peo-
pie and their best interests, but that
they and tn cir followers had become q
class entirely apart from the masses of
the people. In the name of those for
whom he spoke he protested against the
proposed Sunday closing of the fair as an
attempt by minority to enslave the
consciences and dictate the conduct of q
majority. Would it not be we'll for
Sabbatarians and church members gen.
orally to stop and ask themselves if this
is not true? They are in large minor
ity. BY the census of 1890 the total
membership of the Baptist Church in
the United States was 1854. .093; of Pres
byteriaGs, 1878, ,332; of MethOdists, A.
SIS, ,662; of Episcopalians, $40. .5O9 of Con-
gregationalists. 512,771; of Christians or
Complexities. 1O3,722; of Lutherans, l.
231,072. All these denominations to-
gether form but n small proportion of
the total population of 63.O0O,000. 1t is
too plain for argument that very small
minority of the American people are in
favor of Sunday closing of the fair, even
admitting that all church members hold
to that view.
Two facts are self-evident: First, the
Protestant Church in the United States
has been for some time past getting out
of touch with the masses; second, it
will never commend itself to their sup
port by preaching a dogmatic religion
or by trying to enforce n standard of
Sunday observance against which they
rebel.