The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1900-08-17
why Go To Church!

A writer in the the Ladies
Home Journal of June, 1899, asks
the question, "What is the good
of going to church, which he
says is a question very often
asked by young men, in different
spirits and with varying motives.
AS he says in almost every case
an honest doubt is expressed as
to the real efficacy Of church-g go
ing, the writer sent the question
to seven Of the leaders in the
different religious denominations
to send their answers as direct
as possible to the question. We
purpose giving one of these
answers each week as presented
by these leaders of religious.
thought.
The following was from DR..
Edward McGlynn, priest of the
church Of the ST. Mary's, New
burg, n. Y:
God made man social animal to
be developed through human society,
without which he would be little better
than jabbering ape. Ii men dill
gently frequent all other gatherings
bit the church, it is because they are
more interested in things to which
they devote their energies. time and
money, while in the things OF religion
their interest is languid or none at all.
It is a good thing to go to church,
| because it is good thing IN fact,
the best and greatest thing in the
world: and the church is peculiarly
sion in worship. The men who do not
90 to church need most the good
things the Church would give them
/ They are living in their lower natures
lives, at best, Of refined or aesthetic
| animalism, but more probably i'm
moral, corrupt and sensual. Loss Of
religion, or lukewarmness in it, re-
| suits commonly from violations OF
the moral law-from the loss Of
| honesty, chastity or sobriety. Honest
not hypocritical, church-going would
bring men back to virtue and pity
through instruction, prayer and
worship, through purifying and
strengthening sacrements, and through
sympathy, good example and mutual
help.
Right reason teaches the Immortality
of the soul, the existance OF God, the
filial relation OF man to God, and the
moral law craven on mems hearts b,
the Creator. Right reason lso teaches
that obedience to the moral law Il
necessary for mans happiness here
and hereafter, and for .he best gooe
Of human society. Therefore. ii ther'
t were no Christian revelation no
Christian church at all, wise and tru'
! men would form ethical and religious
societies, to have the immense aid @
association il the greatest OF all con
Germs.
So Christ, as matter OF course
! must have advised and enjoined tn
; same powerful help to mora
religious and Christian life. Th
y very word that He used for His Chris
J tian society is given in the Greek q
, ecclesia, which is derived from Il
y idea of congregation. He has SCI
u authoritative teachers-we must COZ
y together to hear them. He has esta'
= lished sacrements to be admlnlstfre
:. by these consecrated teachers
~ must come together TO receive then
% He has enjoined upon men the duty
o belonging to family larger than u
10 domestic one-namely, His Church.
p which He has established the famll
altar that is at the same time the ram,
: " table, at which the larger famI
must come together to commemOra
=, what he has done for US, and to r
= ceive a Heavenly bread for streng1
and purifcation.