Gilpin observer., 1900-03-08
HURTS SINCERITY.
TOO MUCH AMUSEMENT IN
THE CHURCHES.
Some of tho Things which Gov. Roll
lins of New Hampshire Thinks Are
Making Americans Neutrality-suspicious.
the Clergy

Gov. Rollins Of New Hampshire. who
in fast day proclamation deplored
the decline of religion in that state,
made an address before the Boston
Ministers Union the other day. Among
other things he said:
Il am an Episcopalian and feel the
need of Christianity to make our ma
tion's future all that we would like to
have it. Without it we will go the way
of Greece and Rome. Decay is sure to
set in if we take the infidelity of
France as our model, and we are
steadily tending to it. l know Chris
tianity is losing its hold upon the
American people. 1t is so in New
Hampshire and so in every sub-divi-
sion of the Union.
The Methodists, Baptists and Cath
olics approved of my fast day proc
lamation, while the Congregational
lists did not. Episcopalians were
prompted by it to undertake a house
toulouse canvass of the state to be sure
of its truthfulness. One reason of the
decline in religion is loosening of re-
ligious faith. You clergymen are no
longer the spiritual guides of the peo-
pie. The people now follow the re-
ligion of the newspapers. The ark
has been overturned, the Bible account
of the creation denied, Jonah repu-
dated and the anchor of the old faith
has been pulled up before the sails
are set for the new The best blood
of the country towns of northern New
England has for generations been go
ing to Boston and New York, leaving
in some places only the weaklings to
do the work in the old country home
These less energetic ones have inter
married, till in one town l am ac-
quainted with in Maine there is an i'm
beetle in almost every family.
"Denominational discord is another
cause, especially in the country towns.
People carry their religious disputes
into weekday business, and thus weak
en- church influence From this decline
in religion naturally arises a neglect of
the Sabbath, the introduction of Euro
pean Sunday customs. The playing of
golf on Sunday is one of our problems
in New Hampshire. Shops are open,
and Sunday theaters will be the next
step. You will see them in Boston
within a few years. The increase of
foreign population is a gain rather
than loss to the country towns. for
1t brings in new blood.so greatly need
ed, and the people are usually strong
Catholics, not irreligious, and their in
crease is a favorable element.
"What 10 ranadvo Sucb
tions of yours, the meeting of minis
ters of all denominations to discuss re-
ligious problems is a good feature, as
is the work of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association. But the keenest and
strongest men in every community now
hold entirely aloof from church work
and spend their Sundays in physical
rest, and are seldom or never seen in
church, which is now principally run
by the women. The kind of men who
go into the ministry is also a damage
to the cause of religion. Young men
who have no special call to anything
else drift into the pulpit, where they
seek chance to get an easy living.
Protestant churches have much to
learn from the Roman Catholics, who
take care to select the brightest young
men for the priesthood. not allowing
any drones to go to the theological
seminary. There is too much atten-
tion to amusement in the church, too
many candy pulls, and too little
gospel preached. There
are too many endeavorers and too lit
tie endeavor among the young people.
We must combat materialism, and this
can best be done by using the straight.
old ia shiOnod pOsnel" p"