The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-04
CHURCHES LOSING GROUND?
NO eROWTH IN BROOKLYN, SAYS DIR
CARSON, AND NEW MhTHODS NEEDED

Blnmes Pulpit Talk the Higher Criticism
and the EmphasizinG of the Social Side
of Church Work Churches Get $500
Members out OF 80. 900 New Brookiynites.
The statementof the Rev. John F. Carson OF
the Central Presbyterian Church. Brooklyn. at
the fall meeting OF the Brooklyn Prssbytery on
Monday. that there were In that borough some
100000 people absolutely untouched by the
church. either Protestant or Roman. was quite
shock to his fellow members OF the Presby-
terry and was a matter Of much discussion
among clerRymen OF other demo nations yea
terday. The first impression gained was
that DR.. Carson had exaggerated the matter.
which was precisely what that clergyman ex-
pccted.
He admits himself that when he finished
figuring on the matter some days ago he was
amazed at the results and realized that it
would be hard to make anyone believe that
there was much religion apathy In a COM
munity so long and widely known rs the City
Of Churches. Tho large amount OF work be-
fore the Presbytery on Monday made 1t pos
sible for DIR. Carson to go into the subject as
lengthily as he would have liked. When he
was seen by Sun reporter yesterday he
talked freely on the matter.
Il don't wish to be understood as taking a
pessmistic view OF this question" he said.
because the action OF the Presbytery yester-
day in appointing committees to mako plans
for tho widening OF the Churchs influence in
Brooklyn shows that we are waking up to
conditions. and preparing to cope with them.
Nothing 10 more encouraging than this waking
up on the part Of the constituted authorities OF
the Church. for / am convinced that the con-
dtions referred to yesterday are as much a
result OF apathy on the part OF ministers and
church people as anything else. l look into
the future with great hope. for now that we are
going to stir ourselves havent doubt that
We will reach the vast majority OF tho enor-
nous non-church going population in a very
short time.
Despite my optimistic Wow OF the future do
not hesitate to say that the present conditions
are absolutely appalling. / think that many
ministers realized as did that there were too
many non-churchgolng people in Brooklyn
and that the class was growing. but there
wasn't q suspicion In my mind or any one
slsss mind that it had reached such an cpor-
nous figure. When finished my calculations.
based on published statistics. and found that
there are nearly SOC. 900 people in our borough
who do not go to church and are not under
church influence in any degree. / was 80
shock cd that thought must be mistaken.
But when ! went over It two or three times I
saw that 1t was all straight and felt the
sooner my fellow clergymen knew OF 1t the
more chance for a change there would be. 1t
10 no wonder they were shocked aud SIX eptical.
1t was to be expected. but II there are any who
doubt the accuracy of my reckoning. / think
can convince them that 1t is all right
There are 100. 900 persons in the m en- Der.
ship Of the Protestant and jewish churches In
Brooklyn and there are 2sl 900 in the Roman
Catholic churches. These figures do not ndi.
cate the relative strength NJ the Roman and
Protestant Churches. because in the former
included ALL who haDtiyed W. al
children, while IN the Protestant Church we
only include adults, These figures chow a
"A careful study Of the SUNDAY SCHOOL stats,
children who are in the SUNDAY schools. In
addition. there are about 10000 persens in
schools and mission stations. which leaves
594.OOO people out OF population Of .20O.O00
whG are hs by GhHr Ss
tic q Frote.tsnt Church. Am i not right to
on the published rsports o. the frotestsnt and
BrooiIyn. t up 10 Jan T. 1896 have loo2sd IN
vain for some imgErovssment since then There
the beginning of the year has Just been hold:
as It ys. at the % Of sS 10 ss Lax
sfssii: q P% ;sa and Ia. not sine: the be-
and H?RSson
oiic Church Was 8. 100; in the Protestant Church
i was .. DOS g With an Increase Of Popula-
siittIe over 1000 fheI. ought e BE- an in;
sRe IN
1t is reasonable to expect it. and the Church Is
FSdS rs 0 o EwSos i
! located 10 what might be called church going
neghborhood; short time ago my assistant
seventy families IN radius oi few blocks
that had moved n here within a year. aud
in the places from which they came. but had
not allied themselves with any church since
appalling e to my mind than actual g church
members giving np the practice OF going
s Il am Of the opinion that church S stthods
spirit + what we want. The chursh should
out and reach tho people; Heretofore evan,
side Of the church, and so not as fruitful as
they might be- But when ., he Church l.
frsSalizp,Ion ~" Of facts a. hey T..lly are. :hs
re are reached, I am delighted to say
ysf than HF Ia: bs.n .s so'rs
this fall. With the awakening to the condi-
| tons has come DETERMINATION 10 I'm provo
| them. and at once. The greatest emit usiasm
was shown at Yesterdays meeting OF the
Presbytery. and already committees made up
deylsing ways and means to end. the growing
indifference ID n to The Church th a and is work
three things, which IN my opinion have
| Injured the Church in the eyes OF outsiders.
| Theological o6ntroyersy in the past is one
thing and another is tho discussion Of the
| higher criticism which is. perhaps. well and
| right in tho class room OF a theological semi
nary. but out Of place in the pulpit. Then
again there is the emphasis Elaced on the
social side OF church work-the soup kitchen.
| the gymnasium and such devices. which have
been used to reach the people. but which have
| mimi lzed the force OF the Church. l believe
| in all OF these things in their place. but the
| people can get them outside OF the Church. The
| business OF the Church is to emphasize the
spiritual and to bring man into harmony with
| his God.
For tho first time in it's history the Brook
| lyn Pre- shytery spent three hours Yesterday dis
| Cussing the 'unchurched masses 1t decided
10 have special meetings f9r prayer each Sat
| urday afternoon. At 30 O'Clock. for mil IsterS.
| allgFS lRacOns and trusteRA OF the churches