Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1900-03-23

centered in the evening service,
when the subject Conditions that will
bring more men tu the church services"
was considered. Letters were read
giving the opinions of prominent citi-
zeDs on the question, the substance of
which is given below. Much was
brought to the attention of the cOngre-
cation that might we'll be acted upon
both by those in the church AID those
out of it. The music was special and
interesting feature. Miss Francis EN-
merson sang a very beautiful solo. As
the letters show men do not attend
church because:
l. Of their love of sin and the world.
2. They do not believe in God and
life after this.
3. They are unable to see the need
of spiritual training in connection with
the affairs of life. Or seeing such need
are unable to understand why such
power and training should be sought in
the church
4. Not enough is made OF fact and
reason and too much of faith and revel-
alton, or what some term assumption.
5. Nearly all men belong to organi-
cations which claim to seek the sd-
vancement of society and whose theories
they are busy advocating. All of
which proves that they have large
interest in tenn ,orsl than in spiritual
affairs.
g. They are absorbed in business
matters, rushing headlong in the mad
struggle for money.
Z. They have not formed the habit
of church going. or having formed such
habit have allowed it to be broken up.
8. The services are not attractive,
and for the further reason that modern
business methods are not employed in
conducting the churoh's affairs.
9. They are more interested in seek
ing personal advantage or preferment
than in building character, or in pro-
noting their own actual wellbeing.
10. They think too much is made of
creed, dogma, sectarianism, ETC.
IL. They use Sunday as day of rec
reation, or to loaf, or as time to be
with the family or to read.
IL. The church will not recognize
this as an age of intellectual advance
ment and lay chief stress upon that
fact in all its work.
Ii. The church is too unsociable and
too incOnsiderate of the worlds honest
opinions and difficulties.
IA. Some do not attend church, or
will not join the church at any rate, on
account of the great expense.
Conditions That Will Bring More Men
to Church."
1. When the services are made more
attractive.
2. When modern business methods
are employed in the conduct % the
churchs affairs.
3. When services are advertised, and
all other legitimate means are used to
let the public know that something
special, or important, or worth hearing
is going to be given.
4. When by such means or any
formed.
5. When the old, old story is pro-
claimed in such way that the modern
mind may net only understand but be
interested.
6. When everything is done with
reference to the mind, and much is
made of education, of science, history,
biography, literature, sociology, etc.
Z. When more is made of fact and
reason and not 80 much of faith and
revelation.
8. When nearly everything is made
of mans humanity to man, and we
might add therefore, when next to
nothing is made of holiness.
8. When institutional churches are
organized throughout the land.
10. When they are brought to see
that there are some things of more i'm
portsnce than money or personal advan-
tage.
IL. When they can understand that
there is need of spiritual aid in human
material advancement.
IL. When it can be shown that the
church is the place to receive instruc-
ton and training in spiritual things.
IL. When the church is willing to go
to the world and not expect the world
to come to it.
ID. When creed, dogma and sectar-
isnism are not given so much PROM
inence.
10. When the spirit of misunderstood
ing, intolerance and unfsirness be-
tween christians and non christians is
broken down-by sociability, gentle
ness forbesrance, the spirit to carry
truth and to seek christianity of the
heart not of the head.
Bremen Items.
Henry Vollnsgle is dangerously sick.