Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-05
THE nELIGIoUs OUTLOOK.

that "will not down" Occasionally we
hear OF the millions contributed for
denomlnatlonal purposes and of the
interest manifested IN missions, etc.
but presently the old complaint Is
heard again, Of decline in matters Of a
spiritual character II Is well that the
question should come up again and
again, for only 50 can II command the
attention Il deserves.
Mr.. George c. Morgan, the successor
of Mr.. Moody, Is one Of those who sees
only gloomy outlook, lie says II Is In
controvertlble that there has been for
many years religious declination in
the United States. The decliuaton has
covered both faith and practice lie
says all the churches have partaken OF
the spirit Of decay. but he mentions
particularly Presbyterlans. Baptlsts,
Congregationalists and Catholics. 1t is'
he thinks, the result Of the world be-
Ing "money-crazy and science-crazy'
Mr.. Morgan Is not the only one to re-
gard the Immediate future with appre-
henslon. The Evangelical Messenger re-
Gently said
eve seem 10 be experiencing a de-
cline In church attendance, especially
la the cities. We build large ana Deau-
tlfu churches equip them with every
convenience aud comfort, we nave me
music, aud there arc many able preach-
ers In our pulpits. men VINO Keep
abreast of the times, who read ana
think. who have something TO say ana
know how TO say II. Yet the peWs are
sparseiy filled. The people are else
where. on the street, In the parks or
at home reading the newspapers ana
novels
A contributor to the New York OBJ
server regrets that the churches appear
TO have influence mainly over one sex.
He says:
"The average preacher goes along
year after year preaching mainly 70
women, devotlng most OF MS hours Oh
pastoral labor to calling on women,
and is seemingly not greatly troubled
because the overwhelming majority OF
the church membership consists OF WOO
men, There are millions Of men IN ms
republic who have no personal relation
to Christian churches and no interest In
them
The Evangelical Messenger comments
editorally thus
"There are many churches and
preachers who are filed With the spirit,
and they have a measure OF success
But they are not enough to turn the
whole tide The unifying Of the masses
| through modern social, commercial, ana
| Industrial conditions. makes the mil
| lions move together. This mighty, NOV
ing mass all going In one direction, ac-
aulres appalling momentum. II seems
reMstless ms river, Turn Mississippi
and Amazon and Ganges and Nile all
into one channel and II would be no
more irresistible TO human power than
IL this awful tide OF passion for ma
torlal things and pleasures.
Those who propose remedies, gener-
ally suggest that pentecostal re
vlval" Is needed But In the first place.
"reylyals" do not come to order, ao-
cordlng to the pleasure Of man, and In
the second place, modern REVEALS
are more or less of temporary effect
Those that have taken place in recest
times do not seem to have made any
lasting impression upon the country, or
the cities in which they have taken
place.
one Congregational minister recently
said that one Of the great needs OF the
pulpit was "sensationalism His idea
Is somewhat like this III you are in a
book-readlng community preach a
scries on the popular books OF the day
II music Is prominent weave sermon
and music into dramatic form II in
a manufacturing community. visit the
| factories and let them supply themes
and illustration; II the people read
nothing but newspapers, preach on the
topics Of the day; II evolution Is in
mems minds, base sermons on that"
II Is argued that modern preachers
are far from as sensational IN their
methods as We're the prophets Of old.
and that there Is room for great deaf
Of sensationalism, But those who so
argue generally forget what Is the most
important point in this connection,
namely that the ancient prophets were
inspired by God TO deliver their mes.
sages In the particular manner they
chose. Thus for instance. jeremiah
preached on linen glrdle that had
been burned and become rotten: Eze.
kiel acted very strangely at times,
when delivering his message to the PEG.
pie (Sec chapters 4 and 81 but these
acts. this sensationallsm was command.
ed by God. II was all original. adapted
for the time and the people, limitations
would be folly. perhaps even dangerous
az In the case OF the men who tried TO
initiate Paul In casting out evil spirits.
1t Is evident that sensationallsm
alone is Of no benefit AZ the present
time there Is no more sensational
preacher than Alexander Dowle. He
prays before the telephone receiver, in
order that people at a distance may
be benefited by his words. lie preache,
and prays in Photographs; he has a
ROBBED choir 10 attract attention TO his
tabernacle. And what does he not do
for the same purpose? And yet. tn,
world Is not vlslbly improving around
him.
Others are looking for the union n
churches as means Of strength art
Improvement
II Is wen that the condition Is brough
20 the attention o. those who thlnl
seriously about such things. but 1
should be said and understood that 3
&c not In human power to lind q remedy
\ ship damaged IN the storm can b,
dry-docked Experts can Investigate
| No condition and nrn,,pao rt.Nof Ga 4,