The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-10-13

effective oloquenoe-soon worked on theil
srsceptibilities. and they wept. Brooks
rept with them.
Following the resolve TO become a clergy.
man, he entered q theological seminary
and at the age of IS was ordained. Back 10
Texas and the scenes of his earlier days
he went. ard preached the gospel among
the men with whom he lad formerly lived,
He was~ singu!arly successful, and remained
among them three years.
PAsTORATE Al PANA.
I In March of 1856 Mr.. Brooks left the West
ard became pastor Of the Christian Church
at Pana, H.. continuing 30 for several
years. II was while stationed at Pana that
he married Miss BadshOm OF Paris, and
two children were born to them. When Mr..
Brooks lett the Pana congregation 1t was
one of the strongest in the State. Since then
he has been located at Dixon, Paris and
Tuscola.
There are at least two great questions
confronting the church at this time de-
clareS Mr.. Brooks.
"first-How can We get the gospel to the
unchurched masses?
"Second-What shall We tell the people
when We reach them?
These are Twentieth Century problems.
Any one who is acquainted with present
methods and conditions must see that they
are comparative failures. Joseph Parker. the
great London preacher, says that only 9
per cent OF the English w~orkingmen at
| tend church services. As a matter of fact.
the percentage OF the American working
men who attend church is more than 2.
but 1t is all the time getting smaller.
The church ought TO change its tactics.
Ing to get the people to come to us, and
we have. in a great measure, failed. Now
l think 1t Is time to go 10 them.
OuSES NOT NECESSARY.
And when We go to them let us try to
build them and then build church houses
afterwards. The important thing is TO build
the people. We are not carrying out the
spirit OF the gospel when We build fine
church houses. because houses are not a
necessity. but Il convenience. But the
building of the people is a necessity.
Statistics show that the churches of this
country have a seating capacity of 5000
600. and our population Is almost Sd O1. 600
So IL will be seen that there are about
100000 people who are not provided for in
this particular.
Again. there is rot on an average more
than half of the room already provided
used by the people.
1T is evident that there is something
wrong. Not long ago 1t was stated by an
Eastern Methodist preacher that there are
go empty or unused church buildings In
New England and 30 in New York State.
OF oil the religious bodies in all the
States. Last spring 1t was stated by the
secretary of the Baptist Mission Board OF
New York City that there are only ao. O0
Protestant members of all the Protestant
churches in that city of 100000 inhabitants.
These are. to me. alarming facts.
CRITICISES MODERN LIFE.
hNp L u SiuitiiS hhNstil dtIu COMPROMISE
with my conscience. l might be filling some
large pulpit to-day.
'But would have to preach that you
must repent ito an extentD and be COM
verted lin q deGreeD or you will he
damned TN q measureD.
1T Is lamentable, but true, that the mod
ern church doesn't want to reach the
masses. but the classes. 1t wants that part
of humanity that has social and financial
standing.
Statistics show that crime is on the in
crease. In the homes of church-par.nts.
children are being taught that the chief
end Of life is to get money and live lives
of %opulence. As a result, we have a new
generation OF both sexes that has no con-
scientious scruples in what it does to ac-
Quire pelf."
Mr.. Brooks's meetings here We're
thronged with II class of people who were
never before known to go to church. many
OF them leading business and professional
men. He told them that what was needed
was a church society where men and women
came to worship. not to display their
clothes or ape respectablity-a church
where a plainly attired woman or man
could lift the heart in devotion to a Maker
without fearing the derision Of some fash |
ionable FOOL