The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-01-30
By CHARLES NJ SHELDON.
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he paused. and his grave face light
ed up with CLEAN of interest that
transformed his scholarly appearance
into something quite different Gordon
sat down again.
what do you think of the church,
Gordon? How much is it worth after
au?"
The question surprised Gordon.
"I'm not judge and don't want to
be. ! neglected my duties to the church,
and l am the last man in the world to
criticise it"
Falmouth sat silent awhile.
1.-THE church in this city is not doing
its duty he said at last 81 sometimes
question how much it is really obeying
Christ's commands When | consider
the wealth and business ability and
talent and culture in my own individ-
ual church alone, J. cannot help asking
myself how much of it is really conse-
Grated to the uses of the kingdom. l do
not know six men in my own congre-
CATION who accept the doctrine of Gods
ownership of property, so plainly
taught in the Bible and by Christ.
When I preach on the subject, my peo-
pie listen in a half amused manner. as
If l were theorist giving out ideas
that will not work in the practical bust
ness world There are not a dozen peo-
pie in my whole parish who give one
tenth of their income to the religious
work of the world"
How large is your church," Gordon
asked. He was growing exceedingly
interested in Falmouth's monologue.
for the minister had talked on as if
alone.
1--WE have 976 names on the church
roll. There are seventy-two absentees.
Over 900 resident members. There are
twenty-five men In the church worth
over $4,000, if their returns to the tax
assessor are true. We raise for all
church, missionary and benevolent pur-
poses, including my salary, which is
$4,000, the sum of $4,000 annually.
We pay quartet choir $1,000 year.
We pay an organist 5000. The flower
committee paid S1,7O0 last year for
flowers and decorations in the church.
At least dozen women in the church
spent $500 apiece on flowers and deco
rations in the church. At least a
dozen women in the church spent $500
apiece on flowers and decorations in
their homes for receptions and parties
and gave less than $40 apiece to city
missions. This sounds like a sordid
and gossipy string of details, Gordon
But am reminded of an extract from
one of Starr Kings essays
lover against every prominent al
lowance for personal luxury the
celestial record book ought to show
some entry in favor OF the cause of
goodness and suffering humanity. For
every guinea that goes into a theater
or museum there ought to be some
twin guinea pledged for truth or fly.
ing on some errand of mercy in Il city
so crowded with misery as this. Then
we have right to our amusements.
Otherwise we have no right to them.
but are liable every moment TO i'm
parchment in the court of righteous
ness and charity for our treachery to
heaven and our race
Rather strong, Ell? But not too
strong when you consider that the
earth is the Lords: the gold, the silver,
the time, are all his. And when / look
over my list of church members and
then read the society or business col
umns. which tell or their uses or mon
ey for luxury and amusement, is it any
wonder that | ask. Where is the Chris
tan discipleship that gives so out of
proportion to it's own qualification COM
pared with its duty to great causes
and social needs? Lowelrs verse
haunts me:
God bends from out the deep and says:
i gave thee of my seed to sow;
Bringest thou me- my hundredfold?'
Can / look up with face aglow
= And answer. Father, here is gold? .
II am afraid the celestial record book
will not show very heavy deposit on
the part of the luxury loving Chris
uans of this day and generation
Then you consider that one of the
indictments against the church of to-
day" Gordon asked as Falmouth
raised Lis head and sorrowfully gazed
at picture of the crucifixion that
hung over his desk
Yes. that and lack of Willingness
to bear personal burdens, to carry
crosses, to walk humbly, to apply
Jesus teaching to business, politics and
Amusements. There is a striking in
consistency between the church mem
bers' VOWS and their daily lives, espe-
cially in the business and money max
ing world. The Christians in our
churches are not making their money
as they ought. many of them, and they
are not giving tenth part as much as
they ought to help Gods kingdom"
''That is sweeping charge, Mr.. Fal-
mouth. Yet you remain in the church
and continue to preach and act under
these conditions"
81 love the church." Falmouth spoke
slowly, again sinking into reverie. "My
father and his were ministers. My
mother is saint If. there ever was
one, and her heart would almost break
II she heard what have said today, for
she believes the church is Gods leaven
in q sinful world So do |. but see its