New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-26
CHTPCV GOTTG ~ SIMMER.

We notice that the time honored question of
summer religion IS coming I'm for discussion
again. but thus far nobody has said anything
about II very different from what has been said
many times before or course. no good man
would claim the moral right 10 be irrellglous az
nnv time unless religion should be defined sim
NV "a belief in n cread Even tho men who
profess no religious creed would say. If they
were asked that they were trying 10 live in the
spirit Of tine religion taught 10y the creeds. And
Christians generally would gladly admit that
many such men are religious in spite Of their
lack OF belief or. as the Master put II, that they
are mot far from the Kingdom Of Heaven"
Still. In popular language people are said 10
be religious when they are scrupuous In com
pIving with the ordinances of the Church. and
espncIally the stated services of the Church.
Therefore. when large number Of Christian
people for various reasons cease going 10 church
in summer. or go only occn Sonally. the question
arises why they are thus remsS and how they
may he made ~ see the error OF their ways. As
we have snid. nothing new has been uttered on
the subject, possibly because there is nothing
new TO say Just AT present the Epscopalans
are discussing the question whether 1t is oh
lgatory TO say morning and evening prayer
good reasons ere advanced why the use of these
Offices should bc made obligatory, II they are not
already Yet. after all. the question will be
largely an academic one until some genius per
SHADES everybody In the Church to attend the
daily service So. similarly. the problem Of
summer religion will be solved when the minis
ters have persuaded their hocks that church
going is as necessary I'm summer as In winter.
L.,
are not wholly successful In getting everybody
Oli To church the rest of the year.
The truth Is that a great multitude OF people
have ceased to regard church attendance as in
all cases essential. Whether rightly or wrongly.
they believe that a man may be religious
and even n good Christian, without going 10
church every Sunday. Professionalism has never
wholly succeeded In exalting church attendance
10 the place held by the service Of the mass in
the Catholic Church. In general way ii Is
recognized that church going is n good and do
sira bic thing and many even 90 so far as TO say
that some special outnourng Of Divine grace
follows II. But II Is generally held that unless
man is In n receptive religious mood his going
to church will do him no good. Moreover in
Professionalism 1t IL coming IL be widely believed
that the true function Of church services is 10
arouse the moral impulses OF those WHO take
part in them II that is So then going to
church is unnecessary for those whose moral
impulses are already in a state of great activity
Indeed church going for such people might be-
come altogether too stimulating. We do not
say that this is n correct view To take OF church
going: but II Is View that has become very
common among Protcstants today. 1t elimi-
mates almost entirely the old idea that in some
way or other God works on the hearts of the
assembled worshppers and turns church ser
vice into lecture yceum. the value OF which
depends on the ability of the minister and pos
sibly also on the effectiveness of the music. II
would he idle. OF course. to expect people so be-
lieving to attend church on n hot day. or. In
deed. on any day when their doing so would
cause them discomfort or trouble
A Oh cd M YornlOilth