The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1901-07-25
the MISSION OF THE CHURCH.

In Wow OF tue tendency In some
quarters TO sneer and scoff aud pass
fippant criticism upon churches,
church people and church customs,
the following from the st. Joseph
Daily News Is both pertinent and
timely:
"a certain minister OF st. Joseph
recently approached one of the
wcalthiest mon Of tho city to ask for
assistance IN the building Of q new
church. The appeal was briefly
stated, aud was met with tho still
more brief reply: TO hell with
your churches.
"Of course this reply could mean
but ono thing. Our wealthy citizen
could not sec how be was to be
protlted TO the extent of q single
dollar by an investment In . church;
neither could hc sec how no was 10
be injured In anything by refusing to
support this church. Therefore be
could afford not only to refuse assist
ahce, but to play the boor III doing 60.
But our wealthy neighbor was mis-
taken. lie might not be able to make
a dollar out of an Investment In a
church, but he stands to lose all he
has II ever all tho people begin to
look at the matter as he does.
THE people that ceases to fear God
also ceases TO fear tho law. The
people that ceases TO love God ceases
to love righteousness. These are
fundamental truths that all the
history OF all tho world sbundsntly
proves. A religion of some kind is
absolutely necessary for the per-
pctuity Of every nation, aud an eco
nomic institution IL equally essential
for the life Of any religion. The
church Is the only economic institu-
tiOn we have whose end II 10 TO work
for righteousness. Destroy the church
and anarchy 10 inevitable, and along
with anarchy comes the destruction
of all private rights in property. II
the people who now maintain the
churches were 10 take our Young
millionaire at his word, and let the
churches go to destruction, he would
not live out half his days until he
would bc begging his daily bread
from those who had despollod him.
"The church of Jesus Christ Is aud
always has been q conservative In.
stitution. Its aim is to curb mems
lusts aud passions. 1t secks TO pre-
serve existing institutions and guar
xnteo to oil the peaceful possession of
property aud life. In fact, to such al
extent has the church been found on
the side of conservatism that leaders
among tho workiugnen, with some
show Of truth, have often charged
that the church is an institution Oi
the rich aud for the rich. Aud this
very suspicion of being welded to
existing conditions to u great OK.
tent alicna,cd the poor man from the
church. Destroy tho church aud you
destroy the last and ouly bulwark of
conservatism, aud tho destruction Of
civil society becomes inevitable.
"The church A. i exists may DO
very far from the ideal, but it is the
best We have. 1t is the only institu-
iion we have that makes any pretcnsc
TO a control Of moral actions. Its
very errors are due 10 its innate tend.
ency to preserve tho existing order
Of things In social and economic
affairs. As such the church has a
right to ask the assistance of every
msn who receives protection to life
aud property from the moral sane
lions ofA popular government. Aud
the man who refuses to support the
church, either morally or financially,
10 Sinking his responsibilities. lfthe
church 10 not what II ought to DO II
is every mans privilege to use biz
best endcavors to reform or trans
form II. But no one but an enemy Il
ROcIety and n man who has nothing