Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-04-20
EN- AT CHURCH.
An Interesting piscussion at Trinity Parish
house Tnursday Evening.

mouse lnursuhy GVtuihg.
why mon do not attend the
churches, was discussed at meeting
in Trinity parishhouse Thursday night,
under the auspices of Wilmington As
sembly, Brotherhood Of ST. Andrew.
President James ID. Carter of the or
ganization, presided. After devotional
exercises, conducted by Bishop Cole
man, Charles M. Curtis read paper
written by the Rev. w. M. Jefferis,
d. D., on why are men conspicuously
absent from the services of the
church?' and "What can we do to
win them?n DR.. Jefferis held these
topics to be in the highest degree
practical, as we'll as of the very great
est moment to the individual, the
family, the church and the nation.
Some Of the responsibility for the
non attendance Of men upon the SER
vices seems to lie at the doors of the
clergy. The clergy should show yearn-
ing for souls that will draw men to
them. The non-clerical members of
the Episcopal church, and the re-
sponsibility for the on-attendance of
men is in no inconsiderable measure
theirs. The church members affect
Others by example and by neglect. DIR.
for personal attendance upon the sanct-
uary. The church witnesses for ali
that is hottest and best in our lives.
1t adds dignity to labor, hallows
| trade, preserves the State, and like a
great river of benediction, irrigates
and fructifies the world
9 Another cause of mems absentinp
themselves from church is in the non.
attendants themselves. Nine years age
q clergyman of this city investigated
the indifference of men on the subject
of church membership. He found only
379 men of 35 years of age and under
out of total church membership oil
1900. He was told that out of 25(
members of a political club, not more
than 10 were church members.
DR.. Jefferis discussed the reasons given
by the non-attendants themselves, and
by others, saying that the church
neglectors are claiming in some quar-.
ters. that they are feeling no interest
in attending church, because of the
waning power OF the pulpit, and tn,
gradual but certain decay of Chris
tianity itself, DIR. Jefferis took issu,
with this allegation. saying that Their,
never has been time since the birth o
Christianity, when the deliverances o
the pulpit have been stronger and tn,
real influence of the preacher greater
neither a time when Christianity ha
been go widespread, and its upliftin,
influences more potent in the civilza
tion of the world.
As to another reason, that of takini
Sunday as a day of recreation afte
working hard all the week, DIR. Jefferi
said that we have no right to de
; liberately exhaust ourselves on weel
days, with the intent of making up TO
1T, out of Gods time on the followin
Sunday. The unattractiveness of tn
: churches as schools for spiritual cul
ture has also been urged, clergyme
, being held as class to be inslncer
! and church members, as chronic hypc
critics. The modern reopening and dis
j cussion of great questions as to th
J Bible, the possibility OF the miraculous
, eternal punishment and the like
another reason why men are not i
I attendance upon the services. Tb
effect of such discussion tends to lea
3 men to drift into lily defined uniyel
I salism. f.H
! Some men do not 20 to church b,
\ cause of some dereliotion in their pei
0 sonal conduct. 8
S In speaking of the remedy, III
0 writer said he would train the youn
. in church going; he would have I'll
s strong arm of the law place the max
t mum restraint upon gambling and IL
drink habit. The efficacy Of the methut
of the Brotherhood of ST. Andrew wei
9 extolled. But after ali, the great ma,
8 net to draw men is the vision of ii
8 cross.