The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-08
KEEP OUT OF HELL.
Greed of Rev. Miss Brant, Cam
didate for Chaplains
Believes in Giving PFactlcai
Help to Others Now.
The Tendency is Too Much to Look
to Heaven for Rewards-Some-
thing About the Woman
Preachers Work.

SThe tendency has been to look into
another life for rewards and punish
rnents I believe that if we keep, or
make an effort to keep, people out OF
hell here on earth, that we won't get
into it in the hereafter" These were
the words of the Rev. Miss Frances T.
Brant, candidate for chaplain of the
Kansas senate this afternoon in con-
versation with a reporter for the Jour
nal.
Miss Brant believes in practical relig-
ion; in feeding the hungry; clothing
the poor and an effort to break down
environments tending to destroy or
weaken in any manner the character
and honor of the boys Boys are my
hobby exclaimed Rev. Miss Brant,
land only wish that there were better
and more extended opportunities for
them
Miss Brant is an ordained minister in
the Universalist church. She has lived
in Kansas many years, the home of her
father now being at Walnut Z Crawford
county. She has had charge of church
es in Haven and LeOti, building
church at Valley Center, Kan. Until
three months ago Miss Brant was pas
tor of the Universalst church in Hutch
inson. She went there at a time when
the church was in bad condition finan-
cially and lacked interest. Now it's
affairs have been shaped up, the mem
berS aroused to renewed work. Com
pleting that work, Miss Brant resigned
as pastor to enter her chosen field-that
of reform work through the medium of
an institutional church, Whichis an idea
originating in the Universalist church
Asked for an explanation of her idea
of an institutional church, Miss Brant
said:
AN institutional church is one which
ministers to humanity. AS a rule other
churches do not do this. Our institu-
tionaI churches have departments in
which boys are taught how to become
carpenters; girls to make dresses and
sew; where all manner of useful edu
cation is given the poor people absO-
lutely free.
In this manner we are able to do
good. We are permitted to preach the
gospel and aid in religious work, at the
same time making poor boy or girl
better and qualifying them for useful
ness in life. The environments which
surround our boys and girs are not al
ways of the best. This is especially
true of the poorer classes. The church
which relieves those conditions is
benefactor to humanity and a servant
of the master.
I do not believe that the churches
which are opened two or three times
week to a select few can reach this
end. The object of church going, it
seems to me, should be not to see how
much we can get out of it altogether
but to see how much good influence we
may give
I'VE have been feeding the wrong
man" continued Rev. Miss Brant. I'VE
nave mad TOO mucn theory and too little
practical work. What we want is the
work of the Institutional church. 1t
is high time something were being done
to aid our poor people throughout the
United states. High ambitions are al
ways cOmmenda bic and the ideal is
pleasing, but we have a stern, cold
world to contend with, and the quicker
we adapt ourselves to those conditions
leaving theories and ideals to care for
themselves, the earlier will we begin
doing good in the world"