Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-03
ALARMED FOR THE CHURCHES.

Rev. Dr. w. s. Rainsford OF ST..
Georges church, Manhattan quite re-
Gently al an Episcopalian gathering in
Philadelphia, told some truths which
the churches OF the world would do well
TO consider seriously. Speaking Of the
failure Of the religious denominations
to be in touch with the people, he sald:
"The church Is not fitting herself to
new conditions. The people don't want
her, because away down In her soul she
don't want them. Our clergy are narrow
and Ignorant. II We are going 10 be able
ministers Of the New Testament we
have got to know our country for one
thing. Wherever ! 90 ] see churches
that are failures. You never zee printed
records OF the falling, but you hear OF
the sudden collapse. What causes
these failures2 Because the churches
DO not hold the fact that new times
bring new duties You don't suppose
the church Is absolutely right today 1t
is that spirit Of life which means
growth that the church wants. Church
failures result not from lack OF zeal or
lack OF earnestness, but because again
and again the thing that Is good In one
age is not good IN the next decade. New
occasions have not taught the church
new duties. Growth or death, choose
which you will have. The living Gods
organization has TO be the most vitality
instinct with mind Of any organization
In the world But IL Is not"
The defeat Of modern denominations
In their struggle with the world Is per-
haps best illustrated in the statistics
OF the Presbyterians. The total mum.
Der Of persons added to their church has
steadily decreased from 5000 In 1894 to
5000 in 1899. The number added by
certificate decreased during the same
time from 1000 to $4,000. The net gain
In membership tells the story. In 1895
the report showed 1900 net gain; in
1896. $1,000; in 1899 only 5000, a remark
ably small gain for 30 large religious
body.
The New York Observer, from which
these statistics are taken. goes on 10
state that the synod Of New Jersey last
year suffered a net loss in membership
OF 493. The synod Of New York gained
last year IS members, but the year
previous It lost more than II gained in
two years, and It IL smaller now by SjS
members than Il was two years ago.
The synod OF Indiana last year lost 1872
members and in three years its mem
bership has decreased LIZA. The synods
OF Wisconsin and Nebraska, both fell
OF In membership last year.
The Sunday school statistics Of that
denomination show a similar decrease
In vitality A year ago the Assembly
commenced a movement, the object OF
which was to add 100000 scholars to the
schools In celebration Of the commence
ment Of the goth century. After one
years work the result Is a decrease Of
scholars TO the tune OF 1885 The
synod Of Pennsylvania, the largest in
the church, contributes one-fourth of
this decrease, and the city OF Phlladel-
phia, the very fortress OF Presbyterian
ism, is among the heavy losers.
Various explanations are sought for
this decay but none Is more to the
point than that given by Dr. Rainsford.
The people don't want the church, be-
cause the church don't want the peo-
pie" "our clergy are narrow and
ignorant"
The doctor wants the churches TO
adapt her teachings to the changed
conditions, and not to lag centuries be-
hind modern progress, and he Is right,
But does It occur 70 him, that the truth
he announces Is identical with that
which made the Prophet Joseph an OBJ
ject Of hatred among all the sectarian
ministers? Or. Ralnsford breaches one
Of the fundamental principles Of Nor
monism"-the continual growth Of the
Church under the divine guidance The
remedy he would apply 10 arrest the
progress Of the decay is really oontInu-
Gus revelation, for without that there
can be no progress In truth. Are the
churches ready for the remedy Of
Dr. Rainsford? What is their reply 10