The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-08
Work for the Churches.

Since interest in doctrines has declined,
and it is no longer easy to appeal to peo-
pie by dogmatic preaching, the strongest
hold the church can have on the public Is
by preserving at all times its moral tone
struction and inspiration. It is the pecu-
liar mission of religion with its intimate |
connection with ethics, to stir it's votar- |
les to righteous living and doing Never |
did the Christian churches have a nobler
or more pressing work to do than now
lies before them in stirring the people OF
the republic up to realization that the
rules that govern correct conduct apply
in politics and government as we'll, as
elsewhere, to awaken the people to the
awfulness Of the great sin Of the day-the
corruption of public life.
The Outlook calls attention to the fact
that the churches are beginning to realize
what the situation demands of them, and
that, rousing themselves from their SUI
ming to speak out with an emphasis that
recalls the prophets. The Wilmington,
Del, conference of the Methodist church
has adopted resolutions called forth by the
Addicks infamy and concluding: 1--WE
therefore admonish all our people that any
one guilty of this shameless crime stands
discredited before the church, contempti-
BILE in the eyes of his brethren and con-
demned in the sight of God" It is well
for Delaware if every corruptionist is con-
temptible in the eyes of his brethren and
discredited before the church. The truth
is that the conference has made an ex-
preston Of what should be the fact, in
stead Of what is. George KEENAN, has
shown that whole regions in Delaware
are infected with a callous political i'm
morality. If the churches had done their
duty and fought the corruptionists it is
hardly likely that Delaware would have
fallen to such a low estate. The fact is
that in a sense the church, like other
elements in society, has not put the stamp
of its disapproval on boodling as it should.
1t has been possible for notorious corrup-
tionists to maintain themselves in good
standing in churches. The churches like
individuals have considered commercial
ism in politics as at worst a venial Of
Tense. But it is sign of a better era
| when the churches begin to speak in such
clear tones as those of the Delaware con-
ference.
The Congregational association Of New
Jersey urges churches and pastors to
earnestness in striving to raise the ideals
Of political thought and life Bishop Nc
Vickar of the Episcopal church in Rhode
Island is struggling manfully against the
| insidious corruption that dominates that
state to such an extent that local pastors
their places. Bishop Mcvickar made the
political decentralization of Rhode Island
the main theme Of his annual address, and
declared that in his belief the very foun-
dations Of the American heritage of pop
| ular government were at stake, and that
| it is the bounden duty of the church to
sound the alarm The Congregational as
ISOLATION Of Massachusetts, frankly attri-
butes the moral decadence of politics ''in
part to the cowardice and lack of fidelity
| of the public teachers of morals, whose
duty 1t Is to rebuke sin and warn Of its
consequences The Congregational as
ISOLATION Of New York asserts that the
country has a right to look to the
churches and their ministers for the
awakening Of the public conscience
It is most encouraging to have the Out
look give it as Its opinion that nothing
like the moral awakening now passing
over the nation has been known since
the free soil struggle in Kansas. .'The
i churches" 1t says, that have thus spok-
a standard for all other churches to rally
to-" Indeed, they have BY rallyine
around such standard the churches car
at the same time vitalize and strengthen
themselves and redeem the nation.