New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-18
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
THE CHuRCH's LACK.
MEN NEEDED WHO WILL CALL OTHERS TO THE
WORK OF THE HOUR

MEN NEEDED WHO WILL CALL OTHERS TO THE
WORK OF THE HOUR
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: / was greatly interested In your timely
editorial Of the 9th ut.. The Church ana tho
workingmen." and trust the question VIII enc''
m ich attention.
Probably all our best thinkers would voice Miss
Addamss assertion that the reason tho cfurches
are not reaching the masses Is because '"e'r
methods are not adapted to present conditions ana
needs and doubtless the Rev. Dr, Cadys asser-
ton that there is more brotherhood In the saoo"
the theatre and the mutual benefit society IMAM
in the churches will hardly be denied: and as We
have in New-York sixteen saloons to one church
we can easily find reason for the statement
One thing is sure: The activities OF our churches
were never so great at present. but the prop
lem. o. evil are even greater and tho morals OF
the world do not keep pace with the earnest eHo's
In every line OF Christian service
One difficulty in the way seems sef-evideht- 100
MANY of our ministers prefer to deliver aesthetic
essays rather than to preach those e'hic" p'i"-
ciples Of Jesus Christ that bear directly upon
the economic problems which are at the very
core of our present industrial system lheh' 'oo'
these wcpaid lecturers have much to say ABOUT
the Philippines and the much-discussed Monroe
Doctrine. but have not a word to utter as 10 a
Giving wage" the abolition or "commercit'
slavery" Never have the masses OF the people SO
Ionged for or needed. a leader and prophet as
they do to-day. Why cannot the chuTch iiSc ~
this great opportunity?
AS n church member for nearly forty years. the
writer has known many cases where minister
sense OF duty has become dulled by oppressive
social conditions and resulting dependence upon
certain rich parishioners so that he. the pastor
though willing and conscientious. has become
spiritually crippled and his sacred calling perverted
into Il system OF what Mr.. Warmer calls pro-
fessonal beggary." Such men are looked upon by
the respectable Garner with little interest OF
arlrn n al
reason to ridicule what they call mere churchianty
or religosty
Unfortunately, there are too many such men IN
a church whose real duty is 10 work for re-
deemed world and be. as Mr. Stead puts H. "a
union Of all who love, In the service OF All VINO
suffer" And the fact that We have among us
such true opponents OF Christianity as bish R!s
Huntington and Potter and such ministers as DTS.
ISG ps and es only MAKES the
failures OF the rank and h.e more prominent ,u
Some have said the ehnrSh Is p'aE,ns zach az re-
len n rs iyns ne so has lost its hold upon
Se s minds Change mS m ct s
sage calling men TO the work Of the nour. Al me
IL was solemnly affirmed that the gradual re,
building of national life on PRINCIPLES OF nat0nsi
men be about and hat the labor mSormeH' n, Is
religious movement which uni,es msmoTpH OF All
Bishop Huntington writes me to this theme;
eft Is The great and benefcent cause OF industrial
and social reform which in time and country is
half the Gospel. .
IL this be So then the labor movement is todays
form Of humanity's upward struggle, ana as ~ IS
the business Of the church to uplft humanity. thcn
there exists Logical connection between TINS
movement and the church And II the latter VIII
but be IT'S guide and leader our progress and our
civilization Will move right lines. and society
will no longer be al war with itself soo,,,
| believe every minister Is an 0nlcer or sOclal
institution which is important factor IN the
life of humanity and he has a grea; duty In re-
laion TO all the social economic problems which
are confronting to-day. This is a trust given
him by man well God. Should we not all
pray that he
Fight not with ghosts and shadows; let us hear
The snap OF chain links. Let our gaddened ear
Catch the pale prisoners welcome as the light
Follows thy axe stroke through his cell OF night
Re faithful TO both worlds think TO feed
Earths starving millions with the husks of creed
Servant OF Him whose mission high and holy
Was to the wronGed. the Borrowing. and the lowly
Thrust not his Eden promise from our sphere
Distant and dim beyond the blue sky's span;
Like him Of Patmos see II now and here
The New Jerusalem comes down TO man.
JOSIAH c. PUMPELLY