Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-10-10

A Place wb.rs psorie save Lots "'
Preaching aud Litiie hFliE'""

so CONCORD. Street, Brooklyn
September rs, $50
Thu, far my association with the
people here has been limited d1s 20
the lac, that my labots have been mainly
confined to Office worl. Sill, ] hna
enough In observation to oaus, feille'
lion, and especially concerning 'no
spiritual condition Of the people
Perhaps a few impressions on ina,
subject may prove Vi some benefit ana
also be most appropriate ind tat
Indifference Is quite general toward re-
ligion, and even those who take a pass
ing interest, have relieved their minds
OF trouble concerning It, by placing the
work and responsibility Of beng
Christians upon their ministers and pray
ing them to look alter their souls saliva
ton. OF course, there arc an honorable
lew everywhere who arc not AFRAID to
study out the problem Of salvation Tor
themselves, instead Of allowing their
ministers to do II Tor them.
Il really seems that man Who has
been through a theological Seminary Tor
iex years, and has secured a title aud
diploma Is considered as having obtained
the divine right TO lay aside the PLAIN
truths Of the New Testament and 1each
any plan Of salvation he plealcs. In
other words the authority 10 preach and
eSpound the Gospel and the power 70
oliciate IN the name oil the Lord, Is
gai- ID nowadays in the minds OF
nany, by learning, while In ancient
times II was given by the Priesthood
through ordination ! have heard OF
one OF our missionaries. who IN con.
vcrsinK with a lady accidentally be.
trayed the TACT that he did not under.
stand Greek. You cannot read
Cfcekr' she exclaimed In surprise,
then do not believe you can teach me
ANYTHING about the Cospel' aud her
investigation ended.
Religion Is business to-day its
advocates arc paid to teach a beautiful
system OF morality, witch will excite
the emotions and dazzle the intellect
while In church, but Is no, really be.
lieved In or followed by one tenth OF
us admirers. Truly Paul was Prophet
when he wrote OF time when men
should have "iofm Of goodness but
deny the power thereof"
Ia olden times, a servant OF God
dictated the holy will To the people
with Thus saith the Lord" To-day
how different A minister has TO be
very careful that he pleases the people;
he must cater to their desires and
cautiously avoid coming In contact with
their pfeiudiees; Otherwise he will lose
his fine position and salary, and they
will get another divine" more In har.
mony with their views and feelings.
The other day, minister was dis.
charged because he worked during the
week at the fishing boats. The mem.
befs OF his congregation said they did
not want labofing-man for their min
isief--ihey wanted a gentleman. ]
mention this, because II is a common
condition here, and Is an index to the
state Of religion"
notice also that the field OF clerical
labor Is permitted TO be much more ex'
tensivc here than In Utah, AZ home
Tor the last few years particularly u any
VI our people preached anything iron
the stand having the least bearing upof
politics, II was heralded abroad as az
evidence that the Church was trying tC
run the State. The other extreme Is IN,
condition here. For instance, only lasl
Sunday, minister OF one OF the lead
log churches IN Brooklyn preached On
the subject OF politics and urged thI
people TO vote for gold and Mckinley
and his remarks were received viii
frequent bursts Of applause. Minister
are dong the same all over the countrl
here. A lew weeks ago a minister haI
the temefity TO preach silver. but hi
congregation took especial care that HI
old not do such thing the second time
They discharged him at once.
think inhdelity IS growing rapidly
Il Is freely admitted that three iourihs i
the people who regularly attend chufc
do so merely Tor fashions sake, and yer
many Of these arc as atheisuc at hear
as Psine aud VolialIe ever were.
ID. J. WATTS.