The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-23
WHY CHURCHES DECLINE.
Reasons as They Appear to Secular
Newspaper.
Leslie's Weekly.

Lesltes Weekly.
The real difficulty with the church is that
II has lost its militant spirit. 1t is no longer
1crced TO fight its way TO success. Except
ing In rare instances, such as have re-
Gently occurred in China, its disciples and
preachers are not called upon TO face
naartyrdom- No sermons are heard upon
the mount or in the wilderness. Massive
cathedrals, costly edifices, beautiful ritu-
ais, enchanting music, all indicate that
the taste for luxury common to the age
has permeated. the church. An architect in
New York has calculated that the cost OF
the steeples on the churches of that city,
invested at per cent. would annually real
lie more than the entire appropriation of
the Methodist Church for its missions in
China
Instead of competing for souls, many
churches have entered into a competition
TO see which shall obtain the most eloquent
preachers, the most costly cathedrals, the
finest singers, the most expensive chimes,
and the largest membership among the
wealthy and the leaders OF society. In
stead of the free church Of the early days,
we have a system OF pew rents and con-
slant calls for contributions for the sup
port of innumerable benevolences, mis-
sions and moral and religious enterprises.
az We'll as for the support OF the minister
and the choir, the payment of interest on
church debts, and the infinite variety of
expenditures involved in the maintenance
OF commodious structures. While the min
listers preach the gospel of economy
an. unselfsh life, the church buildings,
costly as they are, are used really for but
one great service during the week, and
that is the leading service of the Sunday.
During the remainder Of the week the
magnificent pile OF masonry and decorative
work is in too many instances as use
less as toll-gate on an abandoned turn
pike
Thoughtful and practical men in some of
our great churches, realizing this situa-
ton and the fact that the support of the
churches conducted q ir1Q
an onerouS burden, are in favor of build
ing churches that can be rented for lecture
and other purposes throughout the week,
and utilized for the service of God on the
Sabbath or on any other chosen day.
There is no reason why every church
should not only be self-sustaining. but self
supporting. This would mean free pews.
less frequent demands for collections and
a return TO the church which the Master
established when he preached by the sea-
side, in the wilderness and on the mount.
and even fed the hungry multitude that
gathered first of all to satisfy their souls
with spiritual bread.
Another fault of the church is that it
lacks the strenuous life Ii does not as
sert itself. 1t is not difficult to ascertain
whether q man in these days is Democrat
or a Republican. The badge Of the party
is openly worn during the heat of every
Presidential campaign But where Is the
badge of the church? Why should the
church member wear IL? In what struggle
is he engaged that calls for an assertion of
his faith?
If political parties did not engage In
political battles they would speedily cease
to exist and their membership blend into
each other. The warfare against sin cam
not succeed unless IL is waged as every
struggle must be-with earnestness and
strength. The battle must be sufficiently
vigorous to make men openly take sides
and proclaim their allegiance. What could
not the churches in our great cities do IL
their membership were united for the COM
mon good? This membership includes, be-
yond question, the majority of those who
represent the wealth, responsibility and
the influence of every community