Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-03-03
The Church-Going Controversy.

The Church-Going Controversy.
To the Editor of the Register.
Sir:-I have read, with some atten-
ton, the communication signed by "a
Sincere Wisher," in your issue of
last Sunday, the topic being some
thoughts suggested by myself the pre-
vious week, without the expectation of
arousing a controversy. ! will say at
the outset that l merely reelected a
portion Of my personal beliefs and con-
victions, and disclaim any intent to
arouse either sympathy or opposition.
l have neither a "disquietei heart" as
to religious matters, nor has it Deer al
lowed TO dwell in a ~listless apathy"
On the contrary there has been much
mental activity upon religious mot
UNCONVENTIONAL or creed) gubjects, and
the result has been both conviction and
freedom from conventionalities.
The idea of my unknown friend that
Jesus fought in the open air because
there was no temple for the worship
pers is rather aside from the question.
My point was that Christ and His dis
ciples went to the people, and did not
expect the people to come TO them. 4
luXurious-even a comfortable--place
of worship, is doubtless a great con-
venience-for those who care to pub
licly attend divine worship. But the
mere going to church is nothing of it
self. The ~undoubted fact is that a
great majority of the people do o at
tend. Why? Not necessarily because
they are not Christians in belief AMI
practice. 1t is somewhat approa hing
the truth will not be too circum-
stantial-to say that as the church will
not come to them, they do not feel
called upon to go to the church, as a
tious form. And this leads me to a
consideration OF the following par
agraph by my critic:
Now, dear friend, besides the fact
that humanity should rejoice and feel
grateful in being able to build temples
to the honor of our dear Father, who
is pleased to accept them as an abode
on earth, you must also see that the
act of going to church is an act OF
worship"
Now, 1 have no wish to be contro-
v~ersial, but l submit that the claim
that the 'act of going to church is an
act of worship somewhat approaches
that idolatry which we unite in CON
demning in the Pagan who gropes IL
the dark. The ancients believed in a
supernatural being, or in many OF
them, as the cast may be, and S be-
lieving they worshipped the supreme
power, through a representation made
by human hands. and prayers were ut
tered and offerings made to many
statutes as typical or representative of
supreme beings. My friend approx
mates that obsolete form, it occurs to
me, when he Tor she) advocates the
suggestion contained in the latter
clause of the last sentence above quot
ed, and there is a ga approach by this
test, to conforml.y to my thought
possibly but inadequately expressed
that the mere act of attending church
services is not in itself piety, but
merely conformity to a custom, limit
ed in its extent. and sometimes mis-
construed as evidence or its face of
either Righteousness or of righteous in
tent. Personally, I have no fears of
the ultimate result if l do not respond
to the call of the cle%ar-toned notes of
the vibrant church bells to Come" |
have rather more fear for the minister
who. knowing the needs of humanity,
does not go" l believe that those
who serve the Master as their life work
should go out and preach to and work
among the people. If man, for any
reason whatsoever-even nay own-will
not go to the church, then the church
should go to the man, and so quickly
and persistently.
The church ~certainIy invites. Init The
invitation is rather formal. and the re-
ception often somewhat chilly. This
must be so, else the result would be
different Three-fourths of the people
do not go to church. for reasons too