Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-07-12
Religious Condition of the Middle
West.

| West.
| las viewed by an expert observer from
the Fasti
| The series of articles in the Outlook
on Religious Life in America by Ernest
Hamlin Abbott, is continued in the eur
rent issue by study of the religious
condition of the middle west. or the
eastern west, as Mr.. Abbott calls it
MIR. Abbott finds conventionalism to be
the keynote OF the churches In this
region.
"True religion and undefiled, in tho
eyes of the jewellers in that part OF
the west. is to conform to certain stan
dards of thought and conduct. In re-
ligious thinking, too, conformity is tho
rule Tie questioning spirit which
will not down even in the southwes.
exists also in this land of broad acres
and growing cities. but it is on TIL
defensive. When it becomes too ac-
tive, it crystalliZes into one of numer-
Gus new and strange sects, of which
the land yields more .han its share.
and ceases to have any portion in re
ligion pure and indebted. Eloquence
of sort that must meet the test
Of the summer assembly platforms
which are within reach of most of tho
people, rather than thought, is the
primary essential in making sermo
acceptable. The successful minister
must have business enterprise. The
preacher who warns up to his sub
eict' and is efficient in raising debt
challenges admiration
THE combination of traditionalism
and enterprise, of conventionality and
hustle is what gives distinctive char
acter to this large region which may
DE called the eastern west. 1t has
come into its enterprise by Inheritance,
for not long ago It was pioneer coun-
try But with the years its unconven
tional manners have become stereo-
typed and developed into new con-
ventions. the nonconformist has madu
of his nonconfornity n new conform
ity 1t is the history over again of the
Protestant freeing himself from an in
faliable church only to set up in its
place an Invaluable Bible-of the Pur-
itan fleeing from an established church
in England only to set up an estab-
lishment of his own in America"
One of the most Contemplating
churches visited by Mr.. Abbott in q
city to which he gives no name, was
the Central Church of Christ be-
longing to the denomination known
colloquially as "Canlpbellite' and also
as Christian" and Disciple One
characteristic of this church was ito
remarkable growth in numbers, attri
buted by Mr.. Abbott to "parochial UNI
selfishness" On this point he compares
it with the Congregationalists. Among
Congregationalists the local church j
living unto itself 1t may, and usually
does, give largely to missions, but its
chief interest is in it's own prosper9
ity. A small Congregational church
almost invariably feels the COMPETE
ton, rather than the assistance, of a
neighhoring rich church of it's own de-
nomination. This Central Church OF
Christ was called by It's pastor semi
institutional. The oulding contained
two reading rooms each with it's own
function. a recreation-room, with
games; classrooms for the use of the
Bible school, Weekday classes. and
various church clubs: and a gymnas-
ium, besides the pastors office. thu
church auditorium, and the lectures
room.
Another church of the same type,
but not by any means so obviously
successful. 1 saw in a Wisconsin city.
L had made an appointment to meet
the pastor at the church, but missed
my appointment because. when 1.
reached the place to which had been
/ could see no sign of a
church. After n fruitless search, l re-
turned to the place and discovered that
what l had taken to be an elegant club
house apartment house was in fact
the church. Within, except for the
main auditorium, the building was APP
to it's eXterior-tasteful par
lors good library, convenient class
rooms, two kitchens, ottice-roomS for
the pastor and officers of the church,
and a small theater, with stage COM
plete. Its comparative inactivity was