The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-11-13
WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE
STAY AWAY FROM CHURCH?
Various Correspondents, Clerical and Law,
Discuss the interesting Question.
An Atheists Views.

Editor Advertiser:--I desire to record
my hearty approval of the suggestion
made in Mr.. Pearson's article in Tues
days Advertiser The sweeping state
ments of Mr.. Sinner" would suggest
that he has observed very closely, has
lad wide experience with Sunday
Christians and Monday Devils, that
he knows hypocrite when he sees one
and seldom makes a mistake in point
ing him out, and that he is able to de-
ternine the motive back of the conduct
OF the people who attend church. Such
a man Cor woman) would be of inesti-
mable value to the preachers in help
ing them to discover the hypocrites
both inside and outside of the church.
have had several men charge the
preacher with harboring hypocrites in
their churches, but when have asked
them to point out those in my church
they have never yet been willing to
undertake the task. They are even
Unwilling, TO 90 SO WneE L frankly
acknowledge that believe every church
has some hypocrites. AS Mr. Sinner"
seems TO know great deal that he
did not tell in Mondays article, indeed
could not tell without going into per-
sonalities, I would like to know him by
his other name, in order to avail my
self of his information. He may know
some things about my members I ought
to know. So with Mr.. Pearson I enter
O plea, in all sincerity. that the critics
of Christianity and the churches and
| Christians in general sign their names.
| ton of your editorial, 1.-THE Outsider
ard the Church. in Tuesdays paper.
| have never read more sensible editor
! ial on a religious question from an
| editor of what we call a secular paper.
Too many editors are either Indifferent
or inimical, to the claims of the church.
| judging from the conspicuous absence
or the unfriendly character, of such ar
| ticles. Hence my pleasure, which
| have no disposition to conceal, over the
editorial Give us more on the same
order.
| l would like to cite two cases thai
will help to confirm the conviction thai
some who have grievances against the
church have wrong motives in using
/ the church. Many could be cited from
my personal observation. But these
two are selected because they relate
| to Honolulu.
Soon after I came to Honolulu
began to inquire the whereabouts
of one whose name was on the
| church record / found he had not
been in church for several months
| No one knew where he lived. Ii
about three months I met him anC
asked him to come to church. He saio
he would never again enter our church
| and he gave this as his reason: Thai
when he Joined the church he had beer
given to understand that the church
would help him to get a job. They
hadn't done so and he had no use fol-
such a church. If the minister or any
other member of the church assured
| him they would get him job or try tc
do so, as an inducement for him to joir
our church they did wrong. No such
| luuuceInent SHouiu NC helO oue " OH
one. And 1 don't believe ouch induce
}nent was offered. This man in esthe'
event joined the church for the ''loaves
and fishes and was naturally disap'
pointed as he should have been. TX
still further show up his character he
asked the Y NJ. C. A secretary tt
recommend him for membership in the
| Central Union church. He doubles:
thought that he would more likely get
| help there because the church was lar
| ger But the secretary, reading HI:
motives, Gid not recommend him.
| The other case was told me by on'