The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-29
ONE BOY IN EIGHT IN CHURCH.
TwO-THIRDs OF sAVANNAHs BOYS
UNCARED FOR RELIGIoUsLY.

Rev. DIR. schaeffer Points Out The
Duties and responsibilities of the
Church and of Parents to the Com
ing GcneratiOn-Startlin Figures
For Fathers and Mothers to Think
Over-2, 900 Protestant Boys in the
city whose Religious Training Is
the Church's Duty.
A large congregation listened to the
second Of Rev. w. c. Schaeffer's series of
sermons on "Our Boys" at the Lutheran
Church Of the Ascension yesterday morn
ing. The topic Of the sermon was, THE
Church and Our Boys" The text was,
Feed my lambs;" John 2l:15.
ITO my subject this morning. the
church and the boys, I have given much
serious thought" said DR.. schaener. IAN
appalling condition confronts us as
church in this city. Exclusive Of the col
ored and Catholic schools of the city,
there are 1,222 boys in regular attendance
upon cur public schools. These are
the children of Protestants. With
the private schools, the num-
Der will probably reach 1900.
There are at least GOO or 700 boys who
do not attend the public schools, so that
in round numbers we may safely say
there are 1000 boys connected with our
Protestant homes. 1 have secured re-
ports from eighteen Sunday schools, rep
resenting the religious work of our Pro-
testants churches. There are 594 boys in
regular attendance upon all these Sun
day schools. Only one-fourth of our boys
are brought under any religious influences
whatever OF this number probably rot
$50 attend divine worship. Here we have
an army of !, 500 boys in our city ungud-
ed, unrestrained. untaught. What defeat
of being, what disappointment of hopes,
what forces of evil injected into society
If the church fails to meet it's obligations
to them"
The causes of this condition of affairs
were discussed by DR.. Schaeffer and were
attributed mainly to the indifference. neg
lect and godlessness of the parents; and
the failure of the pastors, officers and
members of the churches to discharge
their duty to this neglected class.
LAS to the remedy, is there any%' he
said. There is a growing anxiety in re-
gard to the welfare, training and saving
of our boys all over the land, but the
church must arouse herself to her impera-
tive duty and go fishing for the boys.
Her commission is to teach and save.
"Our Sunday schools, the nurseries of
the church, speaking in the old-fashioned
way, must be made more influential in
reaching the boys. More men, fathers, are
needed in our Sunday schools. The boys
are not there because their fathers are not
there. We need more men to teach in our
dpq VI
the boys. There are few men in our
churches because there have always been
few boys. The officers of our churches
must show a deeper interest in the boys
The boys must be personally invited and
when present, given hearty welcome and
encouragement"
Lately a mothers convention was held
in Washington to discuss the proper train
ing of children. 1t would be novel and
interesting thing for Savannah to have a
convention of the fathers to consider the
question what to do with our boys% Such
convention, believe, would help large
ly to solve this problem. Something must
be done and done quickly. 1 lay it upon the
heart and conscience of the five thousand
Christian Communicates of the Protestant
churches of Savannah. With the emphasis
of Christs command: Save the boys,
the 1900 boys
DIR. Schaeffer referred to the menace to
society, Nne church, anu lllG city by low
boys growing up in our midst uncared for,
with no moral or religious training and
laid the responsibility of the results upon
the church. He drew picture of the hap
py and beneficent condition If the church
reaches out and brings the boys under her
training, molding and saving power.
DR.. Schaeffer closed with an appeal for
immediate action. THE Kings business
requires haste" he said. "Wll the Sun
day schools and the churches, the Chris
tian people of this city, in obedience to
their Lords command, save these boys?'
The beneficent result of such a beneficial
work, the improved condition of society,
the happiness of home. the enlargement of
| the church were dwelt upon as results of
| this work.
The topic of DIR. Schaeffer's sermon next
| Sunday will be 1.-The City and the Boys"
This will be the closing sermon of the Sc
| ries.