Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-28
DECLINING CHURCHES.

10 Rhii'Nlaihis leNiluItb ~
question that, like the ghost in Hamlet
will not down. 1t has come UP repeat
eddy for long time, and although sta
tlstics have been employed to prove
that the numerous churches are -four
ishing. churchmen themselves seem TO
be aware that the proofs are not con-
vincng DR.. William Elliot Griflis now
takes up the same question in the Bos-
ton Transcript He shows that the ad-
herents OF churches have cause for
disquiet. Referring TO the Church Of
England, he says In the decade past
the number Of combinations in a year
has fallen, with some huctuat ons. from
2l4,7SO to 1868 ami the dec ease dur
Ing the last five years has been con-
tinuous and rapid. The same pheno-
mena are seen In the Sunday schools, IN
the number of baptisms, and more
striklngly in the field OF total abstIn-
ence. Compare these figures. he says,
gloomy as they look with the increase
IN population, and the reason for deep
searchlngs of heart in England are
even more manifest.
The churches OF America are not In
more vigorous condition. The United
States census proves that though the
statistics OF church membership look
very cheerful. the actual gain as com
pared with the population is very small
mot three per cent The rolls swell.
but the rate decreases. The number OF
names given in individual church re.
ports is never the minimum, nor do
these on the average show close
accuracy. II the names of those
dead, absent or non-attendant,
or Of the myriads whose let
tiers OF admission still lie In their
trunks, were erased, there would be a
veritable black Friday in shrnkage.
II ANYTHING seems certain. It Is that
net gain In church memberships is
small. while decrease In its rate is GER
tain Whether ritualistic or with plain
service. orthodox" or "liberal" OF
Dives with social prestige, or Of Lazar-
US ever In constant need OF help, the
churches tell the same story
Dr. Grifis summarizes the various
causes assigned for this decrease Of
ohnroh t,,sooharchfp II 10 a iopo ttot -
complaints, gathered from many
sources. Preachers are no longer emf
nent as scholars The brains are now
in the pews The clergy are not the
ideal, but only the average Of educated
men. Theology is too much the pro-
duct OF monastic, medieval and scholas-
tic ages, Instead Of the real message Of
the living Christ. Men of today cannot
live upon "cut straw Ave hundred years
ola Most Of our preaching satisfies
women more than men. The church
seems to be a place for bonnets and
fine dress. rather than for thinkers and
devout worshipers. often from the pull
pit there is almost morbldly feminine
outlook. upon life. Reylyallsm.
which roots It's success IN emotion, has
been the blne Of popular religion. The
vast majority OF converts thus made
are women and gils. The crop OF
burnt ant or hardened fathers, who
talk before their children In way
that does not breed respect for the
churches, is large, The clerical stand
ard of eoaduct seems negative rather
Than manly. Religion is measured
more by shat a girl win not than what
boy may do. Hence the male goes
where he is respected and invited--to
the lodges. saloons, clubs and athletic
games. The Sunday school works hand
IN hand with the church, and the Ideal
Of religious life is rather sweet young
rirL VINO will not do anything rough,
That wealth and social ambition domln-
nte many churches. sweeping out the
wage-earners. cannot be denied. The
worklngman has notion that the
chief supporters OF Protestant churches
are those prominent In the corporations,
which are soulless TO proverb And
then the rapid and almost unprece-
dented multiplication Of amusements,
the multifrrlous attractions and luxur-
les which come in the wake OF national
prosperity. and the phenomenal revival
OF outdoor sports aud recreatIons have
much to do with the decline Of the
churches.
Such are the complaints made on
every hand. Most Of them however, do
not touch the real source. TO which all
these defects can be traced. Christian
ny today Is very much in the same con-
'lltion In which Judaism was, at the
time preceding the end OF the Hebrew
polty. II had its magnificent temple,
though the sacred precincts were de-
filed by changers and cattle
gcndors II had the Law, but not the
Right Interpretation that secured unity
In faith and practice. II had a divine
service. hut the commandments Of
men" were made more prominent than
The word OF God. There was form,
vt TIE spirit was almost entirely With
lrawa 'fnis. we say, is very much the
aase Of christendom today. And there
an be no renewal Of power, Of yigor,
sntll at the lifting up OF the mighty
dice OF the prophet Of God, the Lord
auses the divine Spirit to move among
heidry bones OF the valley, and give
hem both form and life.