Arizona republican., 1899-03-31
CHURCHES AND
 CHURCH WORK
By Rev. Lewis Halsey, D. D.

MT Moody has been criticised for saying that church work is hard work
 in Arizona. MT. Moody has used only kind and appreciative words in speak ing of his reception and treatment by the citizens of Phoenix, and the criti- cisms which imply lack. of apprecia- tiOn on his part are uncalled for and unjust. The statistics of the churches and the testimony of those who have looked into the matter of which he speaks show that Mir Moody made no mistake when he said that there IS plenty of hard work for evangelists in Arizona
 The number of Protestant unurch members as compared with the popu- lation is small, the value of their i'm plements of labor, buildings, etc, IS slight The number Of saloons is large larger in proportion to the pOpula- tion than in almost any other part of the United States. Crowds of men who never enter church doors throng the streets of the cities of Arizona. Gambling is licensed Women arc permitted to sing in saloons. Even in the city of Phoenix on summer Sun days citizens who have gathered fo" public worship have been rudely inter rupted and disturbed by loud brass bands playing only a short distance from their places of prayer. But there has been advance all along the line, and the time will soon come when the saloons will be closed on Sunday, when public gambling will be put down, when citizens can worship undis- turbed.
 Hundreds of voters signed petitions for an anti-gambling law; haunts of licentiousness have been closed; evan gelists meetings have been attended by crowds of interested worshippers; Sunday prize fights have been di6con- tinued; streets which only few years ago were lined with open shops on Sunday are quiet on that day; the sen timent in favor Of a respectful and or derly observance of the Christian Sab bath is growing stronger every day, and in this all good citizens rejoice.
 The churches ,lo not wish to inter- fere in the slightest degree with the rights or privileges of any citizens, but ask for their members the right of un- molested worship on the day which is recognized as the national rest-day They have no right or wish to dictate to others how they shall spend their Sa bbaths, but in the spirit of brother hood they do plead with them to use the day as a rest day, as a home day, as a day devoted to WOfkS or ch5Illy and in preparation for the future life, believing that such an observance Of the day is for the welfare of the state and the health and happiness of the in dividual.
 I have referred to the hard work there is to be done in Arizona. Those who never have visited some Of the large mining camps can have little idea of it's magnitude. There is much Christian work called for in these fields and the laoorers are few. There is only one self-sustaining Baptist church in the territory of Arizona, and not a single Episcopal church which is self-supporting. Other churches are also weak, but every year they are growing stronger and the workers have every reason to look with hope to the future But if you think tha- the field is an easy one, look to the Stauls- | tics in the reports of Governor Murphy | and his predecessors. Note the mag | nitude of the work and how few are the workers.
 The newcomer in Phoenix, if he looks about him, will find wideaWake | churches. earnest, faithful clergymen | whose ministry has been approved on other fields, self-sacrificing and sue .cessful workers, bright and 5ympa- l ehetic young people, excellent music. | land cturcEe5 ready to give cordial and constant welcome to all who are will /.