The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-12-21
HOW TO REACH THE YOUNG MEN.
REV. WILLIAM GEORGE TRowER.

Ii - very dliilcult question to an
swer. 1t is much easier to criticize
the church and give the objections of
non-church goers than it is to present
any plan that shall be of real practical
value. A little girl was asked how
she knew the earth was round. She
arose promptly and said: "We know
the earth is round from the following
facts" and sat down, thinking she had
given the proper answer. This is
about as far as many of us get in our
attempts to answer this question.
Lack of home training is a main
reason for non-church attendance.
Most of the regular attendants have
been brought up to attend church.
One great cause of neglect of this priv
ilege is the apparent Indifference of
many christian fathers and mothers.
They little realize their responsibility
in the matter, and when their children
have grown away from the church
they will repent CT their neglect.
There is, doubtless, a great deal in the
objection that continuous hard work
through the week, with little or no
time for recreation,' units a man for
church gOingOn Sunday. Such a man
is convinced that with the week crowd
ed with hard work, it is his duty to
spend few hours on Sunday in rec
reation.
Say what we will about the disin-
clination of working men to attend
church; admit that thousands of them
if they had more leisure during the
week would abuse it in self indul-
gence, still there stands the fact that
our social order is such to-day that
multitudes of sober, industrious men
are practically disqualified for church
attendance because of long hours and
few holidays. The day must come in
the ideal society when selfishness and
greed and commercial eXpediency
must be subOrdinated to the develop
ment of highest manhood and woman
hood of the race, when there must be
such a division Of labor as shall en-
able every man and woman to make
the most of himself or herself phys
ically, intellectually and morally. The
fact that many would abuse the time
is no more an argument against it.,
than the fact that many abuse the
right of suffrage and the right of free
citizenship is an argument against a
free government. Now for some sug-
gestions on this topic:
First, about the church service. If
we would reach the young men we
must study the service. Make pews
free. This suggestion is not as appli-
cable to our country churches as our
city churches. Free peWs and a free
Gospel mean free church supported
by the free will offerings of a generous
hearted people. Then have the preach
ing plain and practical. Preach the
Gospel directly to young men. Clothe
it in the spirit and metaphor of the
present day. Preach a Gospel that
will come straight home to the hearts
and experiences of young men. Then
have a great deal of music in the
church service. Music is one Of the
strongest attractions which the church
has for young men. Have the best
mns;c that Will reach the heart of the
young men. While they like a good
sermon, some are more interested III
the music.
Secondly, as to church organization
In order to reach this class the church
must throw off her antique convention
alities. She mast come out into I
more elevated position, where she will
assert her place as the center of benev-
olent and charity ministrations. She
must convince the young man that
she is interested in his whole life
physically, intellectually and spirit
ually. Many churches keep then
doors open every day in the week
they have industrial classes, reading
rooms, etc. They show they are try.
ing to help young men through the
things they are Interested in. DR.
Dickinson, of Berkeley Temple, Bos-
ton, says; 1t has beonm my privilege tC
be pastor Of church which has been
trying to reach young men by these
methods. I looked over large au-
dience recently, on Sunday evening
and certainly not one-third were over
forty-Iive years Of age. When [ ask
these young men why they desire to
unite with the church, they almost
universally answer, because [ feel at
home" It is to the credit of the
people of such d church-not to the
ministers.
Thirdly, as to the member himself.
To the member we would say, go for
him." Go for the young man with an
open hand and warm heart, and a
hearty and cordial welcome. AyOung
man said, Il was in the city three
years and did not receive an invita-
| ton to attend the house Of God. |
suppose if [ had been in the wilder
ness of Africa some kind missionary
would have invited me to Jesus" We
ought to speak for Christ. How many
employers ever say word about the
church or Christ to their employees
How many threshers are spoken to by
their employers and asked to attend
church with them! After all, there is
nothing like the power of a christian
life. It is not in the method, but in
the spirit of the method.
These suggestions, think, are APP
plicable to some extent to our smaller
country churches. We may not have
the best music or most efficient organ
ization, but we can all live the Christ
life. Let us ask how He would go
about the matter and then initiate
Him, then we will reach the young
men, who will be the most aggressive
workers and warriors in the conflict
with evil, for the establishment of
Christ's reign of righteousness.