The herald., 1897-10-17
GYMNASIUM

churches Of AmeA' ca were kept closed
through each week from Sunday to
Sunday, except for the regular weekly
prayer meetings and an occasional ex-
ira gathering Of some sort. In most
instances, too, the sum total of the ac-
tivities entered into by the church was
comprised in list Of purely religious
services, only varying in number from
week to wee according to the season
OF the year. such circumstances
1t is no wonder That there was a con-
stant dwindling in the membership of
many once prosperous city church.
nor that, in New York City alone. doz-
ems of them were either abandoned al
together, or removed from localities
that had come to be populated eX-
clusively by working folk to more fash
} ionable parts of the town. 1t is not to
be wondered at, therefore, that there
were prophesyings in many quarters
that Professionalism would soon entire
ly lose it's hold among the toilers in the
great new cities Of this new and great
Republic.
But it is rather to be wondered at, in
the light of the developments of recent
years, that the beneficent and health
full revolution now going on was not
begun years before it was. 1t is pos
sible, however, that progress will now
be all the more rapid and lasting, be-
cause of the need for it arising from
this same delay.
WHAT THE NEW MOVEMENT IS.
In a general way it may be said that
the new church work differs from that
which it is so rapidly superseding by
being eminently practical. The move
ment Is being prosecuted for the espe-
cial purpose of awakening an interest
In the Christian religion in those who
work for living in the great centers
of population.
A very large proportion of these peo-
pie are obliged to labor early and late
to secure bare livelihood. They have
few or no facilities for recreation, for
physical development, for mental i'm
proyement. The saloons and worse in
stitutioEs are about the only places
open to the men when they have few
leisure hours to spare. They must spend
their evenings either in such places, or
in their close and stuffy homes, or on
the streets. There is no place for the
children to play but in the streets. AZ
q matter of course the usual result is
gross ignorance, and sometimes de-
pravity. The children grow up unde-
yeloped mentally, morally, and physic-
ally. They are in no fit condition to un-
derstand and receive the truths OF re-
ligion. They cannot be put in proper
condition unless facilities for improve
ment and development are afforded
them,-and it is the purpose OF the IN
stitutional Church to furnish as many
of these facilities as possible.
One of the most interesting facts OF
the new work Is this: no t>vo churches,
in the nature Of things, are conducted
on exactly the same lines. N every
case the policy Of the organizs> ion is
determined by its actual environment.
For instance, the work of Grace Bap-
tist Church in Philadelphia, which
takes front rank among open and insti-
tutional churches, is chiefly education
al. Gymnasiums and swimming baths,
clubs and hospital, and the like, are
included among its activities; but the
Temple College" absorbs more energy,
time, and thought on the part of its
pastor. the Rev. Russell H. Conwell,
than all the rest put together. "Tem-
pie College" IL one Of the mos. inter-