The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-02-21
A Communication.

cation to listen" Ministers are alike
in one respect, they want plenty OF
listeners, and are anxious to have the
young men in the church. This is
right. But why are they not there?
The ministers are sometimes at fault,
they invite the young men to come to
church, then tell them about the an
Gent traveller who took shelter in a
peculiar fish to keep from getting wet,
or, as Box says, take for their subject
the prodigal son, or announce a series
of talks on manly sports, Of which the
pastor knows little, and | suppose the
pious members know less. The young
men, knowing these subjects are chosen
to attract him, does not enter that
sacred edifce again. What they do
want is a sermon full Of interest, of
plain unvarnished truths, something
they can take into their everyday life,
into their homes, into their business.
Many q bright, intellectual man and
woman have separated themselves
from the church because they could
not accept the creed, or, accepting it,,
can nave no companionship with those
members who by their every day walk
and conduct, show they are not what
they seem Nature teaches one lesson,
that Of unity. The passing breeze that
fans the heated brow, the moons
bright rays, or twinkling stars that
guide the wanderer through the silent
night, teaches unity, would to God our
churches could learn this lesson from
nature. Antagonist, bitterness, i'll
feeling cannot exist where there is
unity. The pastor by his mpartiality,
the members living up to their solemn
VOWS made when entering the church,
will contribute greatly toward this
unity should those whose souls are con-
sidered already saved be left to take
care of themselves, and more of the
pastors leisure be spent in bringing in
and holding the young men in the
church, something along this line Of
thought might be accomplished. In
vestigation would reveal sad state of
affairs in many churches. Some of
their members are walking through
life believing the path in which they
tread will lead to pastures green and
beside still waters"
At some time in life some of these
christian members have tasted the
bitterness Of poverty, but fortune final
ly bestowed upon them considerable of
the filthy lucre. One would naturally
suppose their sympathies would go out
to those who are now as they we're
once, The rich and the poor meet to-
gether; the Lord is the maker of them
ALL" But let a bit of shivering hu-
mainly apply at their door for bite to
eat or garment to wear, and these
goody good creatures will shrug their
righteous shoulders, bid the man or
child "move on" then wrapping the
mantle of charity (?) about their warm
clothed forms and well fed bodies, will
sit beside their bright fire and compose
prayer to be prayed at the next
meeting, in which they ask God to
pity the poor, relieve the distressed,
and bring souls into Thy Kingdom,
and before the echo of the Amen
has died away, they doubt
less wonder if that prayer was
eloquent enough to please the pas
tOr-and people. The reader may, and
no doubt does think the writer pre-
sumptious, but know whereof speak.
Is it any wonder there are vacant pews
in the churches? Let the modern con-
science become awakened. Let super
ciliousness and supericIality be chased
from the heart of pastor and people.
Let there be consistent christianity.
Let the wrongs that have been COM
mitted be righted before it be eternally
too late. Let the prayers come from
the innermost researches of the heart
and not lip service to be heard for their
much speaking. When there is SINGER
ity there will be no empty benches. As
things are now we are almost forced to
believe that the christian religion itself
must be mistake.
| And now comes the question, " Is
the young woman, and | may add, the
married woman safe There are faith
ers, brothers, husbands and sons, pure,
true, noble men, in whom the mothers,
sisters and wives have the utmost con-
+, tidence Then there is the one man il
ten who, as wolf in sleeps clothing
tries with persuasive voice and flatter-
inc words to win,-and he often sue
ceeds, the confidence of the young OF
older woman, and with protestations O
being gery Gerry true, whispers words
that if listened to will bring sorrow and
disgrace. While such man is abroad
the women are not safe. From such
good Lord deliver us. B.