The Progress., 1893-10-14

money kings of the world have just pre-
cipitated one of the greatest panics of
the nineteenth century. They have made
billions of dollars. But few more such
victories and they are lost. Are they
all fools or are they born idiots when
confronted with the problem of selfish
gain on the one hand, justice on the
other?
TIE CHURCH AND THE PEOPLE.
Third-We observe the fact in the
habits and methods of the modern &C.
clesiastical machine.
In the past the church has been the
bulwark of society against every revO-
luton.
Napoleon used it to maintain his
crown after he had walked over it to
mount his throne. Will the church now
/ be able to hold in check another revolu-
/ ton?
/ 1t is exceedingly doubtful. 1t is a
question if the church have not already
lost her divine opportunity. The revolu-
ton at the Vatican and the arousing of
hundreds of Protestant ministers within
the past few years may have come too
late. We hope not. But we fear it.
Certain it 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
L., L
ing to the rich is a still sadder 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 81, 900, 900 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 Al per cent of the
population called themselves churchgo-
ers. In Is counties in Maine 1873. AS
families were canvassed, and 81 .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 a rule. Not only do they
refuse to attend, but thousands of them
hate the sight of church building.
Four Brooklyn pastors, whose churches |
aggregate 1900 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 |
Son! On the other hand, Dr. 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, Not 3 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 2 per cent of the
English workingmen attend any place OF
worship-papal or Protestant.
woRsHIPING GOD AND MAMMoN.
In the weekly prayer meeting of New
England church a gentleman arose and
said: Il went recently to call on that
man who at the fire the other day so he
roically saved the lives of eight or ten
persons by risking his own life found
that he and his family are poor, and
that they attend no church. invited
him to our church, and now | 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 a poor man
went through 1t. But he went from
the inside out. There was a change OF
pastors in that church. That was all
And the pastor who made that vigorous
remark-he who had to fold his tent and
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 power
in New York city in the last 20 years.
Need there be any wonder at it? And