Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-09
PRAYERS FOR TIE RICH
New York Banker Appeals to
Churches to Save Souls
Of Rich Men.
Scores Preachers for Their In.
difference to Fate OF
the Wealthy.
Would Take Millionaires Out OF
Their "Wretched Selfish
Lives"

New York, April 9.--Warner Van
| Norden, whose two daughters de-
serted their positions in society TO be-
come Salvation Army Workers, APP
pealed to the churches to save the souls
/ of rich men. He is president of the
bank of North America and d rich
man.
! At a meeting of the Presbyterian un-
! ion at the Hotel Savoy he scored the
preachers for being so prosiac. Mr.. Van
Norden reiterated and added to his
statements in talking after the meeting.
Here are some of the things he said:
Greed il, not the all important ques-
ton confronting the Presbyterian
church. The problem IS to find way
to cure the rich of their GOODNESS and
indifference. Young people are paying
too much attention to the music and
consider the sermon bore.
Some prominent preachers actually
read their sermons. A man who reads
his address loses three-fourths of his
power of expression and impression.
Think of an actor reading his lines or
of a politician or lawyer his speeches!
who ever heard of e. sinner being
converted in one of our big chuches?
1 mean real sinner; some big million
aire, purse proud and hard hearted, or
some crime tainted, hardened criminal.
Not one of YOU AT least, not one of
YOU has heard of such a thing in the
last twenty years.
What we ought to strive for is to
,,,j11io,, ,rac aud faka them O11f
of their wretched, selfish lives; and
the women, those foolish butterflies
who are wasting their lives. Why don't
we, do that?
we speak of sin in the abstract. and
Russell Sage smiles and rubs his hands
and says, That's right.
1T has become nothing less than
scandal that so many ministers leave
their worl; for three or four months IN
the year. Merchants and bankers do
not get any such vacations. We are
not able to, take them. There are mil
lion people living in tanements, and
they cannot go away for the summer.
If we are going to bring the gospel to
the people it is not a good thing for the
leaders in the work to shirk.
There are many of the rich laity
who take a vacation from church ac-
tivities not merely for three months,
but for the whole year. If poor peo-
pie came to fashionable church
among wealthy persons they are made
to feel uncomfortable and SO they stay
away.
1.-The straight from the shoulder
preachers seem to have departed. ]
4
preclude the real devotion. Time
up to social duties. The new and |
swifter environment comes from
money, Of course-money the hardener
lit harde.ns the heart
"a man looks less to its creator and
to his fellow-men when fortune smiles |
on him. And when will we be strong
err? Only when the mental attitude is
equal to our increased prosperity.
'"The sordid grasping after wealth
and the things of this world which are
only mortal has taken away the at
tention OIL the human race from the
and ideal. The soul is
forgotten. Our mental attitude is
unequal to our temporal making a
condition really abnormal"
Banker Van Norden's daughter,
Emma, was the first to leave her home
IF luxury to take up the work of saw
ng souls. In 1898, after having made
her debut in Newport and New York
society. she astonished her friends by
that she had joined the
Salvation army. After regular
course of instruction In the garrison of
London she became editor OF the army
paper here Six years later her sister
Cora met the Booth fuckers and pub
icly abandoned society for the spirit
ial life OF the Salvation army.