The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-06-22
THE SAVORLESS SALT
nav. THOMAS DIXON, Ja-, ON coaRup-
TON IN TIE CHURCH.
Ninth sermon Of the Series oa the Gates
at Hell In afodern Baby Ioa"-Churrhes
e. Social Ciub. and gomauism
without Esonse's sosrr.

Ninth sermon Of the Series on the Gate,
Of Hell In Modern Baby lea"-Churehe'
e. Social ciub- and -Ronanisul
without Hsoa,e's soser.
SEw YORK June ls.-Rev. Thomas
Dixon. Lr.. preached this morning ths
ninth sermon of the series on The
Gates Of Hell Ia Modern Babylon" The
subject Of tie morning sermon was
| The Failure Of the Church In the City
Tie text chosen was from Matthew V,
Is. '-Ye are tine salt of the earth. but il
the salt have lost II SAVIOR wherewlth
shall il be saltedt II Is thenceforth good
Tor nothing but TO be cast ont and trod-
den under foot of men."
One Of the most serious causes for the
present condition of the city is To be
found III the failure of the church OF
Christ to keep pace with its rapid devel-
/ optneut The fact is that the failure OF
| Protestant Christianity in the centers OF
| civic life in America has been one of the
| most painful facts in the history OF the
nation in the last quarter of century.
| There are fewer Methodists in New York
city today than there were 20 years ago.
| There are fewer Baptiats in New York
| city today than % years ago. And this
III the face of the fact that in the mean
| time the city has practically doubled its
| population-gIo own to be the metropolis
OF the new world The truth is. while ev-
| erything else has advanced with marvel
oas strides the church has lost ground.
| And what Is true in New York is true
| really in many other great cities. The
essence of Christianity lies in its power
to save. The work of Christianity is to
save the world When the salt is re-
moved from the earth, it is not to be
wondered at the corruption that results.
There is "a terrible failure today in the
work of applying Christianity to the
needs of the people in the city.
The sad fact IS forcing itself on the
hearts Of many srhO lore the Lord that
thousands of the churches an our centers
Of life are today practically dead.
The trouble about it is. too. that they
are still above ground. They are dead.
and no permit to bury has been issued.
The consequence is that there is natural
elm barrassment. We see this painful
fact
First - In the empty pews in the
churches of the city. The primary idea
of the church of Christ is an assembly.
The word church in its original means
assembly The trouble is they have
ceased to assemble The congregation
in the average church in our great
cities is conspicuous for the people who
are not there. Empty pews are the
first thing that strikes the eye of the
observer. There are various excuses
made for this condition of affairs It is
owing to the point of view from which
you look at it as to the answer you
would make. A man asked another how
he accounted for the small attendance
at our churches. He said he could not
account for it. He said he went one
night himself. and he never could under
stand what could attract those people
that We're there.
The language of empty pews is a sad
one to the church. They are mocking
ghosts 1t is a chilling experience to
any man to come from country district
into the city and face these solemn evil
dences of the decadence of church life.
| shall never forget the first sermon
preached in city church. The house
seated about 800. There were about 80
present. They were scattered over the
solemn building. They shivered in the
cold. and | shivered in sympathy. 1t is
needless to say the service was dismal
failure.
SOCIAL CLUBS.
Second-Many of our churches have
become social clubs and cliques. Mans
social nature is a mighty lever when it
is properly used. 1t should be utilized
for spiritual ends. But social club is
one thing, and an assembly of people
gathered in the name of Jesus Christ to |
do his work, to follow his teachings and
be the medium through which his spirit
shall operate in the w, ld-this is anoth-
er thing. Every part of mans social
nature may be and should be utilized.
bat when the great spiritual fact is over
looked and the church degenerates into |
a mere clique. in which there are parties |
with all sorts of games, in which there |
are festivals with all sorts of swindiing. !
kissing bees and all sorts of cheating in /
we have here the evidences of |
decay.
A pastor recently resigned in one of |
DUR great churches because some of his
people insisted on having dog show in
The church. He said he could stand
good deal, but he drew the line at a dog
show. A young man was recently forced
20 resign his charge because he insisted
III wearing mustache The congrega-
ION did not like preacher with that
tyle OF beard. He refused to part with
lis ornament. and they parted with their
pastor.
Our churches, many of them, have be-
;ome apostles OF the gospel of geography.
lhey believe in moving. One of two
hlngs is true. By this fact either the
gospel is lie or the methods they use TO
propagate it are false. The first of these
alternatives need scarcely be discussed.
S the gospel failure? Hardly. Is it
weak? Can it not answer eyerv accnsa-
Ion OF the enemy of man? Let the ages
nswer. Let every generation since
(alFary answer. Has Jesus Christ, who
Promised to be with his church ALWAYS |
eserteE Ask the church militant TO-
lay, and sou will have the answer. Does
'ot God hear prayer today? Ask those
Fho have faith. who pray. There never
vas time when Christianity was such |
power as today. There never was q
lme when it welded such resistless in
uence over civilization as a whole as
oday. 1t makes and unmakes the poli.
les OF nations and OF parties. Its past {
have been glorious. It's present
over Is practically resistiess when i
rought Is bear on society.
1t need not be said that our methods
re false. The gospel of geography ap-
bed to the city's life is a trayestv On
hrlstlan1ty. 1t IS the cry or the rra,ror /
nat leaves the ground to the enemy
rom whom ne has fed. We are told t
nat the churches leave these districts he G
ause the people are gone, and vet thew f
ere never SO crowded in the history If s
ne city. As far as the eye can reach to t
10 north 10 H. AA W