The Portland daily press., 1900-01-01
REACHING THE MASSES.
Topic OF Rev. Luther Freeman's Sermon
at Chestnut street Church.

Reaching the Mssses' was the topic
OF Rev. Luther bresman's practical talk
at the Chestnut street Methodist church
at yesterday mornings service. and the
preachers first thought was that We are
rapidly becoming country Of cities,
and In any state where one third OF the
population Ia In the cities and the other
two-thirds In the country. the one third
In the city will lie the controlling power.
"Why," said he, ~ can name daily
metropolitan papers, two In Boston, three
In New York. and three in Chicago.
which unitsdly make the pabiid opinion
of the day"
He thought thu moral and religious
pace Was set by the tiles, either uplifting
and snnobling, or o virus poisoning the
public system, and this led him to call
attention t, the prast work which de-
voivsd on the oity II the Church Of
Christ 10 to be advanced.
1.-THE church 10 making slight i'm
preston ON the city today" said Rev.
Mr.. freeman. 1.-THE people don't 60 to
church. Not more than onethird Of our
oity's population could get into the
churches. II they tried. On the whole the
churches are not half full and hundreds
of families never attend divine wor-
Ship"
The preacher said the church did not
act as . unit and II he wanted to run
for any office II could snap his finger
In Its face, for the better half has NO vote
and the other half does not know enough
to vots right halt the time"
He re ferret to the social gatherings at
tended by the younger people and sp-
proved them. and said the church ought
to do more along the line of getting
hold on the social life of the people. The
benevolenc's OF Its individual members
might be letter spen. through the church
as such.
IF then the masses are not touched,
what shall we dor We are trying to
solve it,
The shortcomings Of the church were
pointed out and the preacher believed
that the Church of Chri.t Is trying to do
too much in one day. Too much was
packed into one day ana such spasmodio
work never did and never will reach its
masses. He thought the Roman Catholic
church could teach some churches
methods In practical work and give them
soJue valusble lessons
In the second place he spoke OF the
absolute necessity of personal contact Of
the Christian with the nom Christian sle-
msnt of a community, and urged that the
duties OF msmbsrs Of churches ended not
with the mere attendance at worship as
means of rest from this weeks labor.
for II this DO all, churoh-going in the
IaAt analysis Is selfish thing. OF courss
1t Is well t, go to church for ones own
spiritual welfare. hut that Ii not all the
church should do.
He spoke OF the Sunday school work,
but II did not 60 far enough for the
teacher sses her scholars only about an
hour each week, and he asked: How
many who were In our Sunday schools
fifteen or twenty years ago are now 40
tive church memberaf"
To reach the masses, church mbers
should adapt themselves to the particu
lar individual. Some Of our people are
totally indifferent and regard Sunday as
m ere day OF rest. Others will not make
the personal sacrifice and there are thos
who say they have only working CLOTHES.
"Carry the Gospel to them In their
hoiaes," was the remedy suggested by
Rev. Mr.. Freeman. and he was perfectly
willing to excuse his members from at
tendance on prayer meeting II this time
was occupied In hunting up and saving
some one In their homes. Work for God
and humanity. not ny prayer meeting
testimony alone but by personal work.
The social side Of the church was oon-
sldersd, and it was urged. that beans were
cheaper than boys. and boys were worth
many barrels Of beans. and q sur pr now
aud then might be the means Of arousing
| interest in the chursh.
In conclusion, ths preacher said, "Tns
/ demand OF the day Is larger personal
activity OF Christian workers, truer city
life which will influence ard dstermine
for the better a national life.