The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-10
aentfles." The question really was altogether
irrelevant and my error did mot weaken any
reply he meant 70 mako.
NEW YoRK. Dec. T. TENrH NEW JEnsrT.
Faith Not Declining In Pennsylvania.

Faith Not Declining In Pennsylvanis.
To TIE EDrToR OF THE SuN-Sir: Some OF
your many correspondents wish to know why
.he men have to such an extent ceased 10 at
.enu the sanctuary. and others are attempting
70 answer the uuestion-partially.a At leaN-on
the assumed ground that the people generally
nave lost confidence In the Bible as the word
OF GOD. owing to the work OF modern Bible
critics. heresy hunters and dull preaching.
NOW. as matter OF fact. IL 1t true that mon
or women have ceased to attend the sanctuary
or nave lost their faith In the Bible as our rulo
OF faith and practlce2 Personally, do not be-
llevc they have. believe that the Bible and
the ordinances Of Gods house never hal a
nrmer hold on the masses OF our people than
they nave to-day 1t may be true. and be!lcveit
strue. that our evening congregations are not
az mrgs as they were formerly. and am not
sure they should be- I am under the impress
sion TINT " Christian parents would spend
their evenings ut their homes with their
children. studying as their fathers did. their
Bibles and caiechsms. It would be as well or
better for them and their children.
The Presbytery In Ponnsylvnnia with which
nave been connected since it's organ igation.
Is next to the largest In the State an !. IN this
Presbytcry. we have heard OF no abatement
OF the interest felt in maintaining tho ordi.
nances OF Gods house. The Bible critics
and the herctics are talked about. and,
to some extent, lioniZed: II that Ia what
they arc after. they have II. and prosecu-
lions before the General Assembly are
helpful In that line. But these lionized
ministers chiefly professors. who apparently
covet martyrdom. are to the Church OF God
In our land very largely rs driftwood on the
swollen river that Is moving it's waters to the
ocean. They are not to he ignored. but they
are not OF as much importance as they and
their friends imagine. Our churches and our
pastors. our organized church workers. were
never doing better work than they are doing
now. Say not thou. what Is the cause that
the former days were better than thesep for
thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this"
tEcc vii. 1Ol
II certainly Is a fact TINT In the Church's his
tory. as have road II, there has been no time
when there was more OF a spirit OF federation
among the professed followers OF Christ than
there Is at the close OF the nineteenth century.
There has been no tlme. too when the Bible
was more universally acknowledged as the |
Word OF God, and there are now more tons OF
Bibles published annually than at the COM
mcncement OF the century. Moreover. there |
has been no time when tho mem bership OF the |
entire Church including men. women and chill |
dren. was so fully engaged In Christian work. |
The Y. N. c. A.. the Sabbath school. tho |
Christian Endeavorers and the missionary !
societies are features n the age. and they were
never more In evidence than they are now. |
Nor has there been time when money wa. |
given as II Ia given now for missions at homo
md abroad. for church erection. for educa-
tional institutions. and for every type Of Sanar-
Itan work. The deliverances OF tho Churches
Of every name on the subjects OF Sabbath OBJ
servance. temperance. marriage. social and
political purity. have never been more In line
with the teaching Of the Bible.
II Ia true that iniluity abounds: Satan IL not
bound offences have come. and they will come
Pride and envy and jealousy and worldliness
md solnshness are In the hearts OF men. as
hey always have been: but only child. in
view OF the work that the Church under its
Divine Leader Is doing. can ask. Is God dead1
IrTrsToS. Pa. Dec. u. n @. PARKE