The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-19

Is Pure and True and Knows NC
Caste, No Creed, No Race, Nc
Color-other Points.
The Mems league OF the Penn Ave
nue. Baptist church held a very largely
attended meeting last evening and the
interest was greatly enhanced by an
address on "Why Do Not Men Go tc
Church." by A, l. Collins, member
of the league.
Mr.. Collins said that although al
first thought his subject might be con
sidsred q simple one. yet 1t is. never
theless, a highly important one, a sub
ject on which, to great extent, hangs
the destiny of nations, as the churches
are the very foundation of all oiviliz i
tion. Do away with the churches. he
argued, aud it would be very short
time before the red flag Of anarchy
and the black flag of piracy would
float from staff and masthead. from
dome and minaret and unless churches
are supported and actually upheld by
men their mission becomes fruitless
one and their labor void Of results
The speaker related how he had in
terviewed a number of persons who
did not go to church to ascertain the
conditions that barred the doors of
Gods house against them He quest
ioned several newly made citiZ ms of
this country but learned nothing more
than the fact that there ars great
many citizens Of this land who cam OF
speak English.
WANTED TO REST IiIS BRAIN
One business man interviewed by
Mr.. Collins, SAID he did not 90 t
church on Sunday because he was
obliged to rest his brain on that day.
Another business man. who is mem
ber of two clubs of the city, said
church going was luxury he could
not afford, One man said he would
like to go TO church very much. but he
always found the people so very inhos'
pitable whenever he did go that he had
became disheartened and had given ii
up altogether.
do you know. said this man. that
there is something about this Sunday
Christianity that is really painful to
contemplate. meet meu socially and
in business way aud find
them to be first rate fellows
genial, jovial and unconventional.
meet these same men at their churches
and they have been metaphorphosed,
The starch in their shirt bosoms ha'
apparently stuck in. With their Sun
day suits they have put on their Sun
dVy behavior aud a bronze statue is
more unbending. The Lord surely
showed great wisdom in placing th'
Sundays seven days apart. II they
came on two succeeding days some o
these starched-up Christians woul(
have spinal ossitication,"
FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN
The speaker said that be believed thi
man had told soma truth. Continuing,
Mr.. Collins sail: During my investi
cation l was told that religion was a
sort OF prepared diet fol. women anC
excellent to bring up children on; tina
all preashers were liars and all church
members hypocriteS; that Jesus Chris
was a myth, and his professed follower
either fools or knaves, fanatics or dis
semblers. learned also that the sou
was not immortal, that death endet
ali. and that from the grave there wa
no resurrection. But this knowledge
was without understanding. aud tn
scripture teaches with all our getting
of knowledge to get understanding.
learned that there are two chief
cauSes conspiring to keep men away
from the church. One OF these is the
hospitality of our government II
throwing opeu its gates to every class
and condition Of men. and receiving
them more rapidly than our religious
institutions as at present conducted
can extend their christianizing inf l.
ence over them The other reason is
the indifference and inconsistency o.
many protesting Christians.
Mr.. Collins then severely attacked
the inconsistent Christians. not as in
diyiduals, but as a type. He SCORED
the hypocrites, who use religion as
cloak to cover their iniquities.
The SELFISH CHRISTIAN.
The selfish Christian who considers
himself within the fold and cares no
who NAV be on the outside, was severe
ly criticised, as was also the uncharit
able Christian, who, forgetful of hi
own shortcomings, takes great deligh
in the weakness of others. Tne sspeake
said that the indolent Christian--o
whom there are great many in tn
world--are harder and mora sever
taskmasters than were the Egyptian
of old, for although these latter did nc
furnish straw with which to max
bricks, they did furnish good clay, an
this assistance would be great boo
to some modern ministers
After stating the problem Mr. Col
lins offered solution, not new no
original one by any means, said he
It was interpreted when the Maste
said to His disciples, "A new command
mand / give unto you, and 1t iS this
that We love one another.
Love one another That is the sec
ret Of IL all, Love is the force tha
wins II you wish to bring men In,
the church, you must love them; lov
them with love so broad and deep, 8
pure and true, so high and holy thS
it will reach out into every conditio
of life and know no caste. no creed, n
race, no color
=
TRAMps HAD A ROYAL FEAST.
------L---@--