The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-07
SOCIAL SIDE OF THE CHURCH.


The notices which have appeared in the
city papers regarding the team of the
Young Mems Christian Association and the
reports OF the game of basket ball which
it played on Friday night with Yale team
have doubtless surprised many people well
along in life and having rather austere
views regarding religion. Many, when they
recall their early religious training, with
it's harsh limitations. cannot reconcile ball
teams and match games with religious
teaching that was always serious and most
always gloomy. This change is more
marked in cities than in the country. but
1t has been very great in all churches COM
posed of the more intelligent people. There
are yet sects which look upon the wearing
of suspenders and the use Of buttons as
offenses. but they are small and vanishing
and have no influence. The sects that have
refused to take part in temporal govern
ment and to vote are not potential in the
religious world, and are divided among
themselves. The Protestant denominations
nance the hysterical demonstrations which
now only a limited number of ignorant peo-
pie In one or two uninfluential sects keep
up as REVEALS of religion.
The social element in the churches, now
so pronounced. may be said to have been
In the country, when there were two serv-
ices with an hours intermission, those who
attended talked of neighborhood matters
between meetings, in very quiet half
guilty manner, but the only social gather
ing was the annual donation party given to
the minister and his wife. But within fifty
years the social side of the churches has
been wonderfully developed. The church
festival. the church sale, the Sunday-school
picnic and the social gatherings at which
the religious service is very brief. If not en-
tirely omitted. is church institution. The
character Of the preaching has greatly
changed In all the denominations whose
growth has. kept pace with that OF the
country. The preacher discusses many
phases Of life and often considers topics
which a few years ago would be criticised
as being too worldly for the pulpit. Years
ago the preacher who INDUCED in a face
tious remark would have lost caste, and
the layman who should take part in
a spectator would have been lucky If he
escaped with public reprimand. To realize
the radical change which has taken place
in the character Of the pulpit service, the
printed sermons of the prominent divines
in all the leading denominations hundred
years ago must be compared with those of
preachers equally prominent at the pres
ent time. The intolerance between sects
has departed. In the cities, at least, the
Presbyterian preacher is cordially well
gregation whose pastor is absent or has
exchanged. Indeed, in later years, minis
tiers of churches whose creeds are not so
clearly defined as others appear in orthodox
pulpits in exchange. Seventy-fve years
ago the clergymen in a city like Indianap-
oils would not have had an organization
| embracing those Of all denominations as
| they now have.
| There are those, probably, who deplore
this broadening IN methods and opinions
| because they fear that it is departure
| from the old paths and creeds. This, how
ever, is not a numerous or an influential
class. and 1t is diminishing with the pass
| ing years. The authority of belief and
practice were doubtless necessary in the
| days when people were less intelligent and
| the restraint and discipline of rigorous
| creeds were necessary to hold men in
check. But with the passing Of the CEN
turtles, with the dying out of contentious,
/ the humane element in the life and teach
| ings of Christ has been found to be the
more important part of Christian teaching.
1t Is the process Of evolution, and evolu-
ton for the better. In the words of the
old hymn: Religion is not designed to
| make our pleasures less" The social ele-
ment In the churches gives them the power
they need to maintain their hold on COM
munities. The basket ball of the Young
| Mems Christian Association may be trifie
| frivolous TO old fogies. but it brings under
the refining and elevating influence of
Christian teaching scores who could not be
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