The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-02
why Men DO Not Go to Church.


Several OF our correspondents have
undertaken to explain the cause Of de-
cline In church going which seems to DO
indicated by irrefutable facts. The same
subject was first discussed at length by q
correspondent OF the Boston Eveninp Tran-
script He lays the blame on the clergy
because they preach from the old texts In
the old FORM Incidentally too, he refers
to the distractions OF the Sunday news
paper and Of bicycling and other Sunday
sports.
Really these afford no explanation OF the
decline When people are earnestly de-
sirous Of spiritual instruction and Of wor-
shipping God they are not critical OF the
preachers unless they betray Indifference
to their deep religious desires or conduct
their services In purely perfunctory man.
ner. Moreover, the coldness OF his audience
reacts on the preacher. As with actors on
the stage and orators OF the platform, re-
sponsive warmth in the audience s neces-
sary to fire eloQuence In the preacher.
Pervasive and passionate religious emotion
in the congregation will inspire SYM
pathetic feeling in the pulpit. To such
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. He catches their tone
and feels with them.
Doubtless. there are more distractions
from church going than formerly. Social
activities are more numerous and attrac-
tive. New sports appeal to the people. The
Sunday newspaper gives them food for
thought, and the instruction OF the pulpit
is no longer OF the singular Importance to
them, outside OF its mere religious edia-
cation, It once was. Perhaps the social
instinct once gratifled only by church,
going. finds other outlets. But, after all,
the explanation OF the decline in church,
going, II II exists. Is not to be
found in any OF these. They would
all be swept aside like chaff II wave OF
religious enthusiasm passed over the people
like that OF tho great awakening In 1857,
for instance. The explanation OF the CORE
spondent who said that people do not go to
church simply because they do not want
to go is more philosophical. And why do
they not want TO go? Is IL not because they
are losing faith in the truth or necessity OF
the doctrines preached by the churches?
How, too. is It with the churchesP Are
not many OF the clergy themselves engaged
in destroying the force OF the doctrines
they can preach? Are not doubters appeal
ing to doubt though under q semblnnce OF
consistency as professional champions OF
religious faith? In the churches where
the old strength and ardor OF faith re-
main Is there such decline In church
going as our correspondents describe2 We
do not hear Of 1t In the Roman Catholic
churches. for instance, and Mr.. Moody,
preaching the old Bible and the old way OF
salvation. does not complain OF slim
audiences, so far as we know. People still
crowd political meetings appealing to their
partisan spirit. The theatres OF New York
were never before so many and so numer-
ously attended as now.
II, then, people do not go. to church to
the same extent as OF old, Is 1t not because
they have lost interest in 1t? But how can
their interest be maintained by ministers
and thcologians who tell them that tho
Bible, in which they have believed AS point
ing out unerrlngly the way OF salvation by
Divine revelation. is after all, only
human book, human literature" faulty,
questionable and full OF evidences OF
the limitations OF weak and erring human
nature? Is II not idle for ministers to
attempt to fill their churches unless they
believe earnestly and absolutely that they
have message to deliver which men must
hear and heed for their souls salvati0n2