The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-10-12

Certain II Is the church as yet sits calm
ly by in stupid indifference, or, worse
still, Is active In hostility TO the cause
of the common people who "heard him
gladly"
The separation Of the masses from the
church Is an appalling fact of this age.
The contemptuous neglect of the masses
by the church and the disgusting toady-
ing to the rich Is o still lsadder fact. Mr..
Moody said some time ago, "The gulf
between the church and the masses is
growing deeper, wider and darker every
hour"
DR.. Strong declares that the census
shows that over 82,OO0,0O0 of our people
In America never enter a church OF any
sort-Protestant Or Catholic. OF the
other half Of our population which nom
inally attends, not half of them are in
vital touch with organic church life. In
Vermont, for instance, where 40 towns
were canvassed, only "A per cent Of the
population called themselves churcbgo-
ers. In 10 counties In Maine 1873, ,445
families were canvassed, and 67,S42 Of
these families reported themselves as at
tending no church. The same proper
ton holds in other states Of the Union
where careful canvass has been made.
The working people do not attend
churches as rule. Not only do they
refuse to attend, but thousands of them
hate the sight of church building.
Four Brooklyn pastors, whose churches
aggregate 2,200 active members, repre-
senting four different denominations, In
comparing notes recently found that
there was but one workingman among
the aggregate Of their four establish
ments-one lone carpenter among 1900
professed followers Of the Carpenters
Sonl On the other hand, DIR. GLADDEN.
found in canvass he made of one Of
our cities that Of the leading business
men n per cent were regular attendants
upon church.
Canon Farrar, speaking for England.
says, Mot 8 per cent of the working
classes, who represent the great mass Of
the people, are regular or even occasional
communicates"
The Earl Of Shaftesbury declared be-
fore his death that not Q per cent Of the
English workingmen attend any place of
worship-papal or Protestant.
woRsHIPING GOD AND MAMMoN.
In the weekly prayer meeting Of Anew
England church q gentleman arose and
said: ~ went recently to call on that
man who at the fire the other day 80 he
roically saved the lives Of eight or ten
persons by risking his own life. Ifound
that he and his family are poor, and
that they attend no church. invited
him to our church, and now I hope,
brethren, when they come-if they do
come-you will give them a cordial well
come and make room for them in your
pews." DR.. Strong says that when he
took his seat the wealthiest and most in
fuential members Of the church arose
and said: II don't want any such man
or family in my pew don't want them
near my pew. don't want them in this
church."
The pastor in reply said, II will not
cease my efforts until yonder door swings
in to the lightest touch Of the poorest
man in this city"
1t did swing open, and poor man
went through it. But he went from
the inside out. There was change of
pastors in that church. That was all
And the pastor who made that vigorous
remark-he who had to fold his tent ana
move away-was a man Of great ability
and national reputation.
So does the church continue to try TO
do what Jesus Christ said could not be
done--worhip God and mammon at the
same time.
So a reformed drunkard applied re.
Gently for admission into high nosed
church. He was informed by an officer
Of the church that he believed there were
no vacancies" in the membership at that
time!
Professionalism as an organic power
has declined in membership and powcy
in New York city in the last 90 years
Need there be any wonder at it? Arr
yet while assemblies Of worldngruru
hiss the name of the church they chrc.
the name OF Jesus. Christianity is on,
thing, churchianity another. They L,
well to make the distinction.
THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE HOUR.
Will the statesman, the man of wealtl.
and the ecclesiuStic wake to the call o}
the hour2 Or will they be engulfeG:
They must answer and that soon.
When the expressions of the poor in
Rome became intolerable, you remen
Der what happened. The plebeians bl.
gan to look upon their order as a stat,
Of hereditary seryitude. They met by
common and resistless impulse, ahar
doned the city and encamped in arm
upon the Mons Sacer. The politician,
at last thoroughly intimidatsd. grant,
every demand for their recognitiu-
popular government.
History has way Of repeating it,
Will not the strong turn anything Z
the past?
Strange faulty that befogs the brain
Of the powerful in the hour Of crisis
Could they only know the hour of their
visitation!
The assembly sent a deputation to
Louis XVI of France to request him to
dismiss the troops This Louis declined
to do, but offered, IL the members felt
alarmed, to transfer their sittings to
Soissonsl When the Duke de Liancourt
came to announce to him the fall of the
Bastile, the king exclaimed, "This is a
revoltr "Sire," replied the duke, lit is