The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-19
CITY OFFICIAL PAPEW-
SEATTLE, SUNDAY, DEC. I'D.
POOR ATTENDANCE AT CHURCH.

POOR ATTENDANCE AT CHURCH.
The complaint made by the preachers
of Seattle of Indifferent attendance al
the churches is experienced in other
places. Only a short time ago the
preachers Of Philadelphia saw the ne
cessIty OF revival Of interest in church
matters and now Des Moines has had a
very lively awakening.
The rector Of the parish summoned a
number Of his congregation to a meet
Ing. with the understanding that they
were all to give honest expressions of
their convictions and speak plainly as
to what should be done to subserve the
best interests of the church. This priv
ilege some OF the members took advan-
tage OF with quite delicious courage and
frankness. but II is very gratifying to
observe that not one Of them had any
complaint to make of their minister.
The different opinions expressed by
their members took a wide range, but
they showed degree Of intelligent ac-
quaintance with the subject, and their
observations are OF interest far beyond
the limits OF their parish. One of the
causes to which the lack of interest In
church matters was attributed was
that the Protestant church OF America
had been gradually drifting away from
the people and It's influence has become
less and less as the years have passed
by.
This II q rather startling view OF the
subject and one which should shock
the ministry II II be true. It is not true
iaas the number OF those who attend
church is less. but 1t may be true that
tee proportion Of those attending church
- .sss Influenced by Il. ard that the
ircreAss in church membership has not
sss;, IL. the sake rs.tio as the Increase
IN populatio II is clcired that ,sa
increase comes from the rural pop,.ls-
Ion attracted 20 the cities. aid nat
these pco:'l-. being rcIgicus.y incisne,.
continue their attendance at church.
but. after a tine. fall Oft and their
rlacea are taken by newcomers.
Some o: tho speakers at the Des
aoin's r.eeting agreed that the trouble
With the church was that Il was .'too
cold. TOO reese, we'd and too ex-lusi, >"
one II the me,..b.es sid that ten yeo,s
ago when lac eLs.re. the church for the
hrst u2le Il wa so Cold he ucsrly fr6ze
10 death 'ie though. they shtuld mix
mere and not hole themselves SO much
aiI9s. Another also regretted the lack
OF soeiabi'ity. lie believed in extending
cordial welcome To all strangers 70
enter the church doors. 4 conrreea-
'ion shonld make II pleasant, for new
corners. Judging from all the speeches
the rector Is very sociable man and
there was therefore no reflection upon
him :" the adiura,ious to greater CIR.
diality.
Hut when II came 10 a consideration
Ok the remedy for the want Of ,nteres,
by the people in their own spiritual
welfare and their failure 10 attend
church II cannot be said that Their, WAS
anything very novel or very PROMISING
The views Of speakers took a wide
range. going from the belief OF ono 81
the members that the young women
In the church could DO much towards
bringing this about" to the eonvle,ion
of another that the church shouls "a
kept open all week.
The young women plan has been
tried in a church IN the Fas, fatally,
and has been very successful. Girls
have been appointed psheys. and Their.
Is considerable Increase In the attend.
Hnce. Whether this method 81 attract,
las men 10 church viii outiast Sta ,o,,-
city is a matter for experysne. >, -
'ornine. hat II IS open 70 tina, souh,
In this aspect OF the subject wa r,r.
slider only the increased nurpe~lc,,
strength Of the church and leave on, @.
the question the ethical phase o, TIRE
subject.
II was the opinion OF some speakers
that the church should BE- KEEP, open
every tay In the week and as many
nights as possible: IT should Be "a a.
eessih'e 70 the public as hotel: the
services should vary In their Kind and
should rot he wholly theological. Ore
nan 81 very practical turn % r,,ns |
saii the church plant cost over $50 100
snt vas only kept open i've hours !
seek and only employed 9 rector ana |
aniser. He wanted 70 know II any one |
.ver heard 81 any Kind af bushes. ar.
,loytnx the amour, % capital invested /