New-York tribune., 1901-04-22
COMNERCIALISM IN CHURCHES
| THE REV. DIR. BABBTTT OF BROOKLYN.
| MAKES STARTLING COMMENTS


At the Church of the Epiphany. McDonough-st-
and Tompkins-ave, Brooklyn. the Rev. DR.. Dean
Richmond Babbitt, the rector. preached startling
sermon yesterday morning on What Is the Matter
with the Churches?" The subject itself is sug-
gestive one and DR.. Babbtt handled 1t in such a
free, frank and fearless manner rouse great
interest among his people.
His text was, Take heed, therefore, unto your
selves and unto all the flock over which the Holy
Ghost hath made you overseers." In the course
OF his sermon DR.. Babbtt sad
In these words a great and jealous pastor. ST.
tender socitude for his flock his beautiful ock''
Ephesgs take up Th yoT 1edaS T his tender
thringly Apostle and pertinent to all churches.
a pastor of any keen intelligence penetrates to the
underlying conditions Of church life In this greater
necessarily rushes to his lips. The churches are
no uaote sac T5t They deceive Numbers do
count in religion but GHaIity and S religious ts
at the house of God, / venture to remark in the
first place, with full respect for the pety learning
with full recognition of my own weakness, that one
Is es the Condition Of the clergy Confession should
start In the pulpit. and thence reach the peWs:
easn 9ns e to the pp and shs be- face
0 Rs many o m pop Sf ha@a "sa
mere veneering of Christianity. Often the clergy
devoted loving Christians; there are thousands in
the churches who are the reverse | say all TINS.
''t in the spirit Of the Pharisee the Publican
who ssd God be , meren S to me ana resed law
for years although powerfully inpeIed 10 'nt
Waa a9 unmaniy o. Calling whose functions
chiefly social, conducting funerals, drinking tea
terms with rich parishioners. My dread found,
somewhat based on fact There never never " was sb
Church when an able. absolutely fearless clean
a1rse thsn by Putting himself into the midst
present day ministerial difficulties; IL Is not SO;
selfish. They can dodge or go around opssat5es tb
by lowering manhood One tning I hae ahes 1sa tss
fed of an utterly sincere and devout minded
fbs acfs and With great appreciation OF
thousands in the ministry of the churcnes: me h
| hampered impeded and unqualified clergy help 10
make the alarming conditions IN m InS believe who
dare declare the truth the Holy spirit iaSnes
Look at the ministerial conditions, and see their
cause and reflex in decadent religious NE.
there was not clergyman that did not want
hanEf nmer Mhsn Of PacSn d Wh in the
determinations of vesries and trustees are ptteu
against each other rivals point by point as to to
having private means as TO social stanuite, &
longest purse greatest social prestige while an
qe reSaTded ed as almost irrelevant
by the pious fiction of the Church, are to Stand IN
jeremiah an Isaiah. ST. Paul or ST. Peter, as to
preaching righteousness Why Inc Inc peInorT opx so 9
poor that writer on the subject suggests $50, $50,
ciety for decreasing the ministry! And along
with this is the craze for divinity neoRhytes JUS
fresh from their teens and their New Testaments
70 take the place OF honorable learned men whose
chief fault is that they are forty and nave
family" , In, .,o
chnrches2 1a Yes much think am n o3s1o pes,
smist l am an optimist. Where one critlclsrn
can be made against the Church thousand com
mendations may be spoken Tor Il, bSt NJ vhere b,I
much the matter with the churches NOW thlN
OF the pews. and of general church NE; the scan
dalous uuarrels; the extravaganza IN music hiId
.ba fer of
failure of churches meet their debts; thelr pad
financial management. worse than that or any IN
stttutions America except city goVernr,lehtS lie
predominant commerciahsm In the chur , thelI
iIsa bv business and professional men Tor business
success: their by society for social utllaIloh
and mutual admiration Of "A favored rev; the PlaC-
ience OF broadcoth and silks. so that clothes
bav a great religious question, the seCu-
Iarized and commercialized chors. with music AT
so many dollars a bar. and vestrymen quahied ior
their office only by money. Is there not much the
Now ms TO remedies First, let men who intend
to enter the ministry count the cost small SUI
nends often less than those OF letter carriers pos
sibiy a slow martyrdom. and then having rlnne ,
IN their minds to enter. declare for utter SIN
fafthflness in mnlstra tions ana preacIl.
ing the Word Let them also ask tneHlselVeS II
thev are keen enough, strong enough In neau anu anu
heart vertebral enough In character TO meet the
.ben, her themselves whether they are
prepared TO live celbate lives for the klngdo o.; o.
Gods sake for years. Then having mace up ti Inei;
,Jnds to enter let them stick to their work anna
oil storm and stress In the dignity and great use
fulness of their calling. Again, earnest men ana
women should band themselves together 10 pdNlstl
co1Ira the and. especially. 10 rea en- gre1t
masses of people by the institutional church IhuS
C'hrist's example, teachings, power can anu Will
prevail.