The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-11-22
SLUMS AND THE CHURCHES
SAYING FORCES AT FORK IN THE
BIG CITIES.

Taking for his text Luke 19-41, "And
when he was come near he beheld the
city and wept over it," Rev. DR.. Gilbert
of Trinity M. e. church yesterday fore
noon preached an excellent discourse.
In the course Of the sermon DR.. Gilbert
said:
''The fine sympathy of Christ is ex-
pressed herein. The same sympathy is
enlisted in behalf of the cities of to-day
and their problems There is a tenden-
cy Of population toward the cities. In
1900 there We're only six cities in this
country with a population of 5000 and
over. There are 4S3 at the present day.
AT the beginning of this century three
per cent. of the population of the coun-
try lived in the cities. At present our
cities contain thirty per cent, or nearly
third of the entire population. One
can see that this is not a phase exclu-
sively of American civilization. The
tendency is worldwide. Rome, Berlin,
Paris and london are growing tremend-
ously. The fact is providential, not to
be grieved over, full of significance.
The reason can be discovered in mod
ern science, which has made the cities
into centers.
Young men find something in the
stir and action of a city which arouses
| them. A career is open there that is
not in the country. Young men with
ambition will not stay on the farms.
| The social tendency Of the city is at
| tractive. The advantages of schools,
libraries churches, art, drama and mu-
sic make cities desirable for life.
City life has it's disadvantages also.
| They are the catch basins which bring
every element together The influx Of
| emigration which settles mostly in the
| large cities is a challenge to every
churchman, to every missionary and to
| every philanthropist. This population
is unassimilated, unintelligent most
| turbulent mass, forming a nucleus for
| riots. This great, mad people forms a
| challenge and an invitation to any one
| who believes that Jesus Christ tried to
| save them for their own sake and for
the sake of the country We must try
| to make these places desirable to live
in.
81 would rather take chances of rails
ing boy of mine in the city than in the
village. The saloon is too prominent in
the village. In the city we have educa-
ton prominent, the churches with out
stretching arms and the Y. M c. A., so
that the young man with proper con-
troll stands better chance in the city
than in the country.
Our Lord ministered mostly in large
cities. He sent the disciples into the
cities. In the present time we have not
done what we should. The problems Of
the city are the problems of America.
Our republican government is put to
the test in the cities, and hitherto it
has failed. We have been content with
boss government We are glad to see
rising up of civic consciousness. The
cause is of God and of truth. 1t APP
peals to the highest in man, and such
an appeal is always successful in the
end.
1--WE give undue Importance to the
territories in the west perhaps, where
there are too many struggling churches
There are more people living below
Fourteenth street, New York city, than
in five western territories. They are
calling for help. In 1850 there was one
| CHuICu W every A,oUo peOplc. LII 1o5U
there was but one church to every 1000
people. On the other hand, there is one
saloon to every $50 people. Yet the
churches are DESTROYS of moving up
town. Consequently we have district
congested with churches. There is a
necessity Of redeeming the cities to
which the Methodist church is waking
up God shows by giving US 50 many
of them that He is evidently prejudiced
in favor of common people. We must
give literally for Christian work in the
cities in order to perpetuate foreign
missions.
what are the duties which lie before
us as Methodists? Shall we confess
that Methodism is not adapted to urban
populations? The Episcopal church in
New York has risen to it's opportunities
Why have not we? Some say that 1t
is on account of the change in preach
ers, and am somewhat inclined to be-
lieve this. Again, we have not had the
wealth. Trinity has done vast good
with her money.
"What are the saving forces at work?
New channels of activity for down.
town churches are opening up. The
city church should be among the board
ing houses and hotels. Those which
were deserted are now packed because
they began to minister unto men. ! be-
lieve that Jesus Christ when He moved
into a community did not house Him.
self in a church, but went out to work.
He is heading the church in the new
| movement. Unfortunately there is a
division of workers along social, politi-
cal and UNCONVENTIONAL lines. Jesus
Christ was not simply a preacher. He
was healer, presenting actual practi-
cal help. The institutional churches are
based upon this idea.
1.-THE city union missionary work is
another great factor. The slums are
everywhere. Something more than a
tract is wanted in distress. Jesus suf-
fered with the sufferers. He asked us
to go out into the slums. You can't
save the slums by churches upon the
avenues. If people won't go to church
rent halls and theaters. Some people
will help a man who is drowning in
clean water, but would let him drown
in dirty water. Go down into the slums.
Save the slum itself and the people in