Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-24

that the decline Of religion. particularly
IN our rural communities. IL marked
feature Of the times. There are
towns" he inserted. where no church
bell sounds forth It's solemn calls; there
are villages where children grow to
manhood unchristianized: there are
communities where the dead are laid
away without the benson Of the name
Of Christ. and where marriages are SOL
smnlzsd by justices Of the pcnceS
The decline Of religion In the cltics
is not less apparent. on this subject
DR.. Charles Il. jefferson. in the Inde-
ndeni n Aprli 18th. has some timely
and pointed remarks. lie points out
that the "clty Christian" MS n rule Is
not strong enough to hold his own
ground. The city pushes the news
paper under his eyes on sunday morn
Ing. and he r. not strong enough Of
will TO turn his eyes away. A friend
drops In TO see him Sunday evening.
and he remains away from evening
worship. There II n dinner on prayer
meeting evenings. and his seat Is va
cant"
lie has noticed that many OF these
"city Christians" are scrupuious In
keeping engagements IN society and
business. but they have no conscience
whatever concerning the duties they
owe to their church." As far M con-
Germs the duties Of church.membesi hip.
they are ncar-siRhted and blind
They are caught In the swiri Of city
life and carried hither and thither by
the swift flowing currents. and. be-
fore they are aware Of II. their church
life IN reduced 90 prccarioua and
dcsultory attendance on divine worship
on bright Sunday mornings"
Mr.. Jefferson sees clearly the out
come Of this lingering decay Of religion.
lie II aware that the church today
lacks "thc one quality for which the
Lord looks and waits" "Ci,y Chris
tians" should stand like rock. beating
back the determined social and indus
trial forces. Nothing but rock" he
cyciaima. will save New York and
Chicago. Boston and San Francisco
from the fate OF sodom and oomorrah."
No one can successfully deny tho
truths hero 80 forcibly set forth. hut
Il the faul, all with the peopie7 Has
the pulpit no part In the responsibility
for the condition complained of
To any ono at oil familiar with the
Christian religion. It II plain that a
Christian" ministry without divine au-
thority In farce. What would for
cign Ambassador be without proper ere
dcntlals7 Tho mlnlstcra Of today deny
the possibility OF obtaining direct d.
vine authority. and yet they profess 10
be Ambassadors VI Christ; they claim
to have a divine message. but when
asked 10 deliver n. they anxiouaiy look
for the most profitable market IN which
TO exhibit their wares" and then. their
payment being secured. the message in
not forthcoming.
To be sure, they give lectures. elo-
quent discouruoe, learned dissertations.
sometimes upon social toplra and some
times upon religious subjects. They tell
their hearers OF divine mea.axcs de-
iivercd centuries ago, often Interesting
~ ana sometimes In an c,iifying and in-
n,ructivc manner. bu, US TO their own
divine message, that which tho peoplc
have a right TO expect from men claim
Ing 10 be divine ambassadors, that IL
never delivered, and II the minister 4.
pressed hard on that point. as likely AZ
not he win turn ngaInst tho honest In.
qulrcr and dcnounoe him as n crank. a
hereto. n fraud. or villain.
This II one cause OF tho decline OF re-.
ilglon. Sacred yestmentr, n pecullar
cut Of the coat, lectures and concerts
do not inspire enthusiasm for Christ.
nor do they form the Christian charao.
tor that can withstand tho aIiurementu
OF modern life.
The christian" world. In the country
and In the cities. n in a position similar
TO that Of the ancient covenant people
after the extinction Of the light Of In
SEPARATION. The people had the Word OF
uodi they had synasoguca and n tenn