The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-04-03
Coprtqht 1s99 by The Aduance Publishing Co.


well to do, respectable people do not
need the influence of the church and
the preaching of the gospel. But they
can get these privileges without such a
fearful waste of material and power.
If we had only three or four churches
on this street they would be enough.
We are wasting our Christianity with
the present arrangement. We are CIV
ing the rich and the educated and well
to do people seven times as much
church as we are giving the poor, the
ignorant and the struggling workers
in the tenement district. There is no
question, there can be no question, that
all this is wrong. 1t is opposed to ev-
cry principle that Christ advocated.
And in the face of these plain facts,
Which no one can dispute, there is a
duty before these churches on this
street which cannot be evaded without
denying the very purpose of church.
1t is that duty which 1 am now going
to urge upon this Calvary church.
SIT has been said by some of the
ministers and members of the churches
that we might combine in an effort and
build large and commodious mission
in the tenement district. But that, to
my mind, would not settle the problem
at all as it should be settled. 1t is an
easy and lazy thing for church men,
bers to put their hands in their pock-
cts and say to few other church
members: we will help build a mis-
sion if you will run it after it is up.
We will attend our church up town
here while the mission is worked for
the poor people down there That is not
what will meet the needs of the situa-
ton. What that part of Milton needs
is the church Of Christ in it's men,
bers-the whole church on the largest
possible scale. What am now going
to propose, therefore, is something
which l believe Christ would advocate,
if not in the exact manner l shall eX-
plain, at least in the same spirit"
Philip paused a moment and looked
over the congregation earnestly. The
expectation of the people was reused
almost to the point of sensation as he
went on:
81 have consulted competent authori-
ties, and they say that our church
building here could be moved from it's
present foundation without serious
damage to the structure. A part of it
would have to be torn down to assist
the moving, but it could easily be re-
placed. The expense would not be
more than we could readily meet We
are out of debt, and the property is
free from incumbrance. What 1 pro-
pose, therefore, is very simple thing
that we move our church edifice
down into the heart of the tenement
district, where we can buy a suitable
lot for a comparatively small sum, and
at once begin the work of a Christian
church in the very neighborhood where
such work is most needed.
"There are certain objections to this
plan. 1 think they can be met by the
exercise of the Christ spirit of sacrifice
and love. A great many members will
not be able to go that distance to at
tend service any more than the people
there at present can well come up here.
But there are six churches left on B
street. What is to hinder any Chris
tian member of Calvary church from
working and fellowshiping with those
| churches if he cannot put in his service
| in the tenement district? None of these
| churches is crowded. They will well
| come the advent of more members.
| But the main strength of the plan
| which 1 propose lies in the fact that if
| it be done it will be live illustration
A. al,
and save men. The very sight of our
church moving down off from this
| street to the lower part of the town
will be an object lesson to the people,
and the church will at once begin to
| mean something to them. Once estab-
| lished there, we can work from it as a
| center. The distance ought to be NO
| discoura cement to any healthy person
| There is not a young woman in this
| church who is in the habit of dancing
who does not make twice as many
steps during an evening dancing party
| as would be necessary to take her to the
tenement district and back again. Sure
! ly any Christian church member is as
willing to endure fatigue and sacrifice
and to give as much time to help make
| men and women better as he iS to have
q good time himself. Think for mo-
| mcnt what this move which | propose
would mean TO the life of this towI
and to our Christian growth. At pres
ent we 20 to church. We listen to c
good choir. we go home again, we have
q pleasant Sunday school. we are al
comfortable and well clothed here, We
enjoy our services, we are not disturb
ed by the sight of disagreeable or un
congenial people.
But is that Christianity? Where d.
the service and the self denial and tht
working for mems souls come in? All
my dear brothers and sisters, what il
this church really doing for the saliva
ton of men in this place? Is it Chris
tianity to have a comfortable churcl
and go to it once or twice week tt
enjoy nice music and listen to preach
ing, and then go home to good din
ner, and that is about all? What hav,
we sacrificed? What have we denied
ourselves? What have we done t,
show the poor or the sinful that W,
care anything for their souls or tina
Christianity is anything but a comfort
able, select religion for those who cal
afford the good thiDCs of the world