The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-16
TWO SIDES.
Non Church Goers
Tell Their Story.
WHY THEY DON'T GO
Interesting Sequel to Mr..
Lewis First Sermon

Rev. Alexander Lewis preached a de-
cidedly interesting sermon last evening
on How to- reach the non-church-
goers, from the church goers'
standpoint" 1t was the second sermon
Mr.. Lewis has delivered on this sub
ject. A week ago he delivered SER
mon on How to reach nom church
goers, from the church -goers' point of
view" and during the week called for
suggestions from people who never
darken the doors of sanctuary
The pastor took for his text last eve
ming, Kings X, 10: rs thine heart
right, as my heart is with thy heart
If it be, give me thine hand. And he
gave him his hand"
The speaker reviewed last week $
by non-church-goers. The points
were:
Personal invitation.
More sympathy with working people
Let the church use its influence tC
compel cessation Of Sunday work.
Form a class in Sunday school for
cadets
Let the church put out all hypocrites,
Have no collection for foreign mis-
sions.
Let the well-to-do church people
dress palmer.
Let the church make fewer calls for
money
1 am too tired after my weeks work
and must rest next Sunday.
Sing old hymns to old tunes.
The speaker answered each sugges-
tion and the sermon was so well liked
that at the close of the services nearly
one third of the congregation pushed
forward and grasped the pastors hand.
A few Of the pithy suggestions are
given in part below:
One non church goer says:
81 have lived eight years at the same
street and number, within the shadows
of Pilgrim tower. l have attended
services at Pilgrim not infrequently,
and always received a welcome,
which was framed and, hung in the YES
thule"
"Once in a while received hand
shake and pleasant word from an
attendant at the door, who was posi-
bly, a member of a committee to greet
strangers.
IT have received circulars a6vertis-
ing your mems union socials, suppers,
special services and entertainments,
which were either free or else had an
admission fee attached. But with that
exception, l have never been asked
personally by pastor, layman or com
mittee, to enter the doors of church.
mo love nor desire to assemble with
the on-church- goers' is manifested by
the church-goers. Give the non-church-
goers Christian welcome; the best
Of everything Don't ask them to eat
on the porch, and they may, perhaps,
sometime stop their 'tremping.'"
Another non-goer feels the pressure
of the hard times. He wrote as fol-
lows:
Il do not go to church now, because
cannot afford it. l can barely pay
my honest debts. Some of the mem
bers in your church land other church
es, too) pay into the church and neg
lect outside bills; this is not right. I
was a church attendant when l had a
good salary; but now / cannot afford
to pay pew rent, contribute to the
many collections, attend entertain
ments. unite with the various church
societies, ETC.; it costs too much money,
and unless man can do all this, he is
nobody in the church"
This person made suggestions thus
ly:
Don't have collections for foreign
missions Don't have rich men in the
best seats and make poor people take
the poorest seats. Lastly, put all the
hypocrites out Of the church-how many