The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-01
RAGGED NO BAR
Minneapolis Clergymen and Others
DENY That Workmen Are Made
Unwelcome in Churches.
Accuracy Of Statements of Rev. Geo.
L. McNutt Questioned by Prom
inent Local Christians.

Denial almost unqualified was given
yesterday by well-informed men in this
city to the recent statement Of Rev.
George L. McNutt before the National
Winona Bible conference at Warsaw, Ind,
that there is no American church where
laboring people are welcome and that this
explains why workingmen spend their
Sundays in saloons or any place away
from churches.
Mr.. McNutt left his pulpit number of
years ago to become a day laborer, so that
he might by actual experience become &C
quainted with laboring men, their trials.
temptations and circumstances
He said that he had tasted the bitter
ness Of the wage earners situation and
that because his clothes were old and
worn he had been forced to leave church
where he had gone to listen to the SER
mon.
''This is very sad, If it is true" replied
President Northrop of the state untver-
sity, after reading the reported state
ments Of Mr.. McNutt. But think that,
essentially, 1t is not true.
Undoubtedly the working men have
been drifting away from the churches in
recent years-that is. from the Protestant
churches. The same thing cannot be said
| Of the working men in the Catholic
churches.
And we all know that certain Protest.
ant churches are aristocratic in their
spirit With them style is the important
thing. At the service of such churches the
entrance of shabbily dressed man, an
evident toiler, would probably excite some
expression Of disapproval.
| But these aristocratic churches are a
small minority. believe that In Ameri-
can churches generally any man would
be welcomed that desired to worship, how
ever shabby mi ht be his clothes, 1t is
certainly so In four-fifths Of the churches
of Minneapolis and with four fifths of the
members of those churches: think am
fairly familiar with out local congrega-
| lions.
Patched Clothing No Bar.
! "Of course, it IS to be expected that
anysman coming to church will be clean
But it certainly should make not the
slightest difference whether his clothing
is old or new, stylish or otherwise, with
or without patches
For myself, T should be delighted to
see every seat not otherwise taken occu-
pied by handwriting men, by laborers,
at the church that I attend, no>matter how
shabby these worshippers might be. Any
such man Is welcome to seat in my own
pew. And If no place, should happen to
be vacant there, T should be glad to sur
render my own seat.
Indeed, If any churches are thus cut
ting loose from the poor and the, hard
working, such churches are betraying the
master they profess to serve. They might
!; as we'll close their church buildings. The
mission of these churches Is at an end.
, For there can be no trace Of the spirit of
} Jesus Christ. the lowly saviour of the
lowly, In the man that Is not willing to
share in the worship of the universal
l God with the humblest Of Gods children. -
Mr.. McNutt an Extremist.
II think that Mr.. McNutt is rather
an extremist" said Rev. James S. Mont
gomery, pastor of the Wesley M E.
church. I'm his just enthusiasm for the
man Of toll he is quite apt to go to the
other extreme. H. =
II appreciate that the church, in nu.
merous individual cases, has failed tc
welcome and extend the Christian spirit
to the laboring men. But the church as
i, an institution, believe, stands for man.
of whatever rank or station. I believe
that the Christian pulpit Of this land is
heart and soul with the laboring man. II
the laboring man would hear the discus
sions Of the assemblies of clergymen,
their weekly, monthly and annual con-
ferences, believe every prejudice would
be dispelled.
I'm the first place, the average min
lister is product Of the common stock,
and through experience has come in con-
tact with the diverse conditions of toll. In
the next place, no fair minded, minister
can read the precepts Of the Savior with
r out concluding that the heart Of the Christ
t was with the bread winners.
= Let me say further that believe that
> there is not church in Minneapolis
> which would refuse to welcome to its
pews the sons of the Iowliest toll. AS
for my own church-Wesley church.
. there Is not a single square inch of pew
Q space rented. Every pew is open to the
a public-hrst come, first served This Is
. the law that directs all of our public
d congregations.
9 His Absence Voluntary.
las for the management of our larger
city churches, I am unable to speak def.
y nitely, but let me say that if the labor.
ing man has not voice in local church
government it is because of voluntar,
o absence rather than desire to have
t the rich in control.
speaking from my own viewpoint-i1
s the appointment Of officials, in seekins
:; advisors, I always seek the man rattle
k than his purse. Men walk the aisles O
e Wesley church to-day as genteel ushers
II who have been members Of the churcl
:; less than year, and who belong to tn
If honorable ranks Of the laboring class.
n II have just came in this afternoon
n from place where went to see la
70 boring man who belongs to the plumb
II ers union of this city, skilled work
l. man, an upright, Christian gentleman
70 and my personal friend. This. man
u AA1VO OOOAI oCChAl6 DIS Ollc VI lily 4lGd
,e ushers at the evening services.
e ''Mr. McNutt need not come to Wesle
" church for his game because he won
le find 1t there. I have already written owe
e the church door, This is open to peopl
10 who live on EARTH" r.
"a Similar contradiction to Mr. McNutt'
statement was offered by Rev. Simeon T
IL Hutsinpiller, pastor of the Hennepin Ave
l. nue. M. E. church. j..
& LaborIng Man Is Welcome.
to 1.-The declaration of Mr. McNutt," sal
'e Mr.. Hutsinpiller, do not accord with m
~ experience or with my knowledge
know that this statement is not true as
at my own denomination. I have visite
III churches all across the country, from Bos
s, ton, where received my theological train
III ing, to San Francisco, where served a
Of a pastor. In every church where hav
made observations the laboring man ha
l. been as welcome as any other man. I
e. one Of the largest churches in San Fran
Or cisco, a Methodist church, a church ths
l. eXerts as much influence as any in the
D. city, nine out of ten members are workin
IN men, and besides, there are usually MOI
ill men than women at the prayer meeting
of that church. s-s.t =. =. l.. .,.::- /
1.-THE condition described by Mr.. McNu
doesn't exist in any Minneapolis churc
that know OF. am sure that it isn't
be found in our Methodist churches her
m I am certain 1t isn't true of the Yves
is minister Presbyterian church., which he
he an important congregation. And it ism