New-York tribune., 1903-04-20
MENACES TO THE CHURCH
The Saloon, the Theatre and Imn'-
grafton. SAYS DR.. L0rimer.

''Wnen large corporations being almost daiis
brought into the courts for fraud. when promneli.
citizens are arrayed IN court for tricKery anu
fraud how can expect the lower classes 10 learl
honor and honesty? We count the man VINO eai e'
nothing for the public veal as worthless nuisance
and inoffensive nonenity- -
Thus the Rev. Dr.. George c. Lormer nesan h,s
sermon On The Religious Problem OF the City
at the Madison Avenue Baptist Church yesterday.
THE world has never yet been blessed win d red'
Christian city he continued IN greater ->e"
York there are 5000 out Of churcn frotes'an's
who are practically opposing the faith they profess
and the recent census taken in New-York and
in Liverpool and London OF church attenoahce re-
veals a woful indifference to the minisuatohs VI
the sanctuary. The disregard or the Saooath .he
tricks frauds and schemes In business and the eoo
in public conscience all demonstrate clearly that
our centres population are far from being ChriS
tians in deed and thought
The Church has neither the money nor authority
even II she had the power, to interpose III an
autocratic fashion for the compulsory resuia'io',
of society according to her ideals. the money h'
her disposal is not sufficient to rescue the thou-
sands who are the verge OF starValioh Aoii'
scant pay resulting from the new industrlal sss-
tenn whose watchword is economy, which means
cutting down expenses. few are reapihs 'iie
f-,,+s of industry at the expense of the public and
sometimes returning to the public IN charty 'iia'
which is In justice due. If she permits the iih.
preston to obtain thet she is bound TO make UP
in charity what the Industrial system Is pouhd
~ nav, IN Justice the Injustice will grow beyond
the charity to mitigate by gifts and the oiaie io
the resulting degradation and misery VIII Dc laiu
at the door OF the Church. Already vague ii-
preston of this kind seems to be advanced Never
before has the Church given as much money 10
correct social evils, and never before has there
been so many of her benefciaries VINO reiuseu 10
attend her services and never before mas thefe oee
so widespread disposition to hold her responsioie
for evils which she has not created ana "HiCh Sio
has been striving to ameliorate
There are three forces in the community winch
are enemies Of the church and the nation Inc
first of these forces is the saloon In Ne"-ioiA
the position of the Mayor in relation 10 the Liqui
Dealers Association has given rise TO the suspc'oA
that that organization has raised large .corrup-
ton fund charge of which its members ought ~
purge themselves instead OF 1noulglhs III
threats-Iar threats tantamout TO cohleSsioi'
The second force that renders harder the soiu-
ton of the religious problem is the tneare' hot
the theatre as 1t might be. We may prefer not 70
patronfze any but let that not blind US 10 "Ia
ever may be of actual value 1t Is declareo 'i
ben the tbe ebmrcb has however let admit that
the theatre frequently debases the taste. ollo i
apmnses 70 1lch an extent that majority of the
people confne their time TO puSIhtsS ~ tT disposi
Tion has grown until the people want the cnuIeil
to supply them amusement or thr they VIII eenteman
urces that in the theatre learns without @ tne
Wbe the sehoaP is being diverted Personally
seriously qnestion the efs6y yTonsT OF fns eompcates
the problem particularly in an American city, Is
the Immigrant. This is not a question OF raCe &c
prejudice but religion Never was imin 70
ma yI1ed and never there such an iIfux OF tne
lowest types Of humanity from some OF the %oTse ge
Quarters Of Europe. The foreign element in New
York represents over rs per cent and as man! on
these foreigners fall into the hands OF the men VINO
use them for personal gain or greed 1t Amos mos
seems like we dying out or becoming r1ut IL V
neanized Cannot the church afford to look into this
poftan nrobieo which threatens to swallow her up!
Instead OF building magnificent churches 10 KEEP
open few hours in the week some action should
be taken to keep them open every day IN the ~esh
The church cannot afford truce with these learIui
agencies which threaten to engulf her'