New-York tribune., 1901-02-10
DECLINE IN RELIGION?
THE REV W F. CRAFTS BELIEVES THAT
THE LAST THIRD OF THE NINETEENTH
CENTURY SHOWS RETROGREssION
IN THE MORAL AND RELIC
IOUS STATUS OF THE
UNITED STATES.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR; Everywhere tests Of progress are being
made by comparing the beginning OF the nineteenth
century with its end. Such comparison is incon-
elusive The country the y orld might be better
IN 1901 than in 1901. even though there had been
receding tide for the last third of the century, as
believe there has been in our country. And the
breaking down OF total abstinence religions. max
ing half the world worse. through greed OF
nerce raises the question whether for that period
the world has gained morally. This study is, how
ever. of our country only:
The fundamental distinction Of Christendom in
the United States is the separation of Church and
State by which its people believe they have pro-
NOTED a type OF Christianity at spiritual
and more ethical than the prevalent type IN
countries where Chrch and State are united We
have neither party denomination that advo-
Gates State Church. Cardinal Gibbons, the chief
Bishop Of the Roman Catholic Church, has said
cFaith of Our Fathers, p. 2sD: Il much prefer the
system which prevails in this country. where the
temporal needs OF the Church are supplied by vol
untary contributions of the faithful the system
which obtains in Catholic countries of Europe.
where the Church is supported by the Government
American environment had so far Influenced Roman
Catholics that they share in the ethical pre-emi-
nence OF American churches all others Like
American Protestants. American Catholics in
advance of Europeans OF the creed in the pro-
portion of total abstainers. in condemnations Of
sabbath breaking-especially of the Sunday saloon
and in moral and social reforms generally. We
should not be faithful TO this aspect OF
vey II We passed 1t without adding that while any
formal union Of Church and State though still
legally possible for State Governments is out Of the
question in this country. because it is peither de-
srable nor tolerable. the closely related evil of
sectarian appropriations. though mortally wounded
survives into the twentieth century.
Having shown thar this first National experiment
in the separation OF Church and State has re-
suited in permanent independence for each of the
parties involved. we ars next called upon 10 show
whether the effect of this reversal Of Old World
customs has proved advantageous to the Church.
Even on the financial side the American verdict
is unanimous in favor Of the voluntary system. No
one would have the State pay the pastors, even II
that did not involve their appointment and d-
recton by politicians And IN mission fields. such
as China. the supreme advantage OF independent
churches is seen in that missionary from State
Church is far more likely to be counted as the
advance guard of land grabbing army.
THIS NATIONS GOOD START.
Christianity in the United States had other funda-
mental advantages at the besides the separa-
tion Of Church and State The original coIonists
were ''sifted out OF all nations And these picked
men were kept at their best by busy lives. free
from the moral perils OF luxury and also from those
Of poverty. its companion plague in old countries
Down to the Civil War there almost no idlers
IN this country Boston had only millionaire in
those aute-bellum days and New-York had only
three or four. The idle rich OF the second genera
ton, who spend their lives In yachting and the
Ike. and so develop the soft vices Of luxury. were
known tllI the quarter or the nineteenth
century. Few were poor and few rich. and
almost everybody at work. a stalwart Chris
tanty was the result. albeit certain modern forms
Of ethics had been little recognized up the Co.
lonial period Drunkenness and devotion dwelt
harmoniously together. slavery and sanctidcation
were preached from the pulpit. and gambling
10 the glory OF God IN church lotteries common
and unchaIlenged
The Revolution hurt religion, not only by the de-
moralizaton common TO all wars. but especially by
assocatlng French InhieIity with civil liberty, so
that az the beginning OF the nineteenth century
sceptics. at least among the educated classes. were
more numerous than Christians. Counteracting
forces were. however at work. The American anti
slavery movement organized by Benjamin
Franklin In l775. The Sunday school movement
begun by Robert Raikes in England In I7SD soon
after became influential here. The modern tenn
perance movement launched by Dr. BENJAMIN
Rush at Philadelphia in 17s5. And the modern mis-
sionary movement introduced by William Cary, OF
Great Britain. in 1898. after began 20 arouse
American churches to this neglected work. Aided
by these and the organization OF Bible societies
the beginning OF the century. and by frequent re-
vivals. the Church began 70 grow faster than
the population, rising from one Protestant church
member to each fourteen OF the population in 1900
to in in 1850 and in three ls95-one-
half the population. II children be left out OF ac-
count.
FEWER CONVERSIONS
Thoughtful men took note Of the fact that It did
not signify much 10 become church member
when = was usual when IL was exceptional.
The term church member is not like the term
gold dollar" representing a standard of uniform
weight and hneness. In New-EngIand total absti-
nence among church members since 1886 has been
increasingly the rule but in New-York City II has
never been unusual for rich church members 70
wine and offer II TO others. and in the South
States. in the last year of the century, the
Baptstsin this respect in advance of several other
tions-were warning liquor dealers that
Professional optimlSts, however. so long the
church membership roll increasing, refused 10
see any dangerous symptoms in the Church, even
though the consumption OF liquors divorces, muir
ders lynchngs labor riots municipal msrule cor
rupt Journalism, brutal sports. gambling. Sabbath
breaking and npurity We're also Increasing. But in
1895 99 with seeming suGdenness. the growth of the
not actual. but relative decline Three thou
versions in whole year, That the fire bell
that Mr. Moody rang at the beginning OF this de-
cline. The gain of the whole Christian Church in |
the United States only per cent in 1893. I'M
agine hundred recruiting officers out TO re-
crult king army for the, conquest or the world
one added to their number,
The general situation at the end OF the century !
did not look so unfavorabe when the statistical |
totals given. The census OF 1900 reported the
1899 DR. H. K Carroll had reported 26 97 S53 church
members, with lSSi96 churches and l5 al ministers
"a per while the countrys gain in population
has been only p per cent More than One-third of
the population were church members. This church |
army OF the United States larger than all thS /
armies Of the world. strong enough TO rescue the
Sabbath disodge the regnant saloon, or cure |
municipal misrule whenever It would awake and |
go forth 10 holy war. And DR.. Carroll found
token that the quality OF church membership had |
not been so much weakened by cOmmercialIsm and |
luxury and the new passion for amusements as
never before equalled, which given in the last
year of the century 10 religion. education and |
philanthropy
CHURCH-GOING. ETC.
off against this. however. must be set not only
he al