The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-06-18

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today faces many critical problems
He said that in the metropolis fewer OF
the wealthier classes attend church on
week ends, In summer this Is es.
pecially true, as all who can afford to
leave town Saturday afternoon To spend
the hours until Monday morning in the
open The preacher of today to draw a
metropolitan audience. says Senator De,
pew must have an attractive personal.
ity. He must be favorite with all
classes of his congregation. but espec,
tally with the younger people; he must
be interested in golf, tennis, and lin
everything they are interested in" He
must keep in close touch with othe,
| things besides his church. There are
a number of things he must not see
much less preach about from the pul.
pit"
The senator believes that the day of
the doctrinal sermon is passed; that it
now bores congregation, He thinks
people are no longer interested in what
may be styled "technichal religion
He declares, too that fewer young men
of brains can be induced to enter the
pulpit. When | was graduated, 80 years
ago" he said about so percent OF my
class were intended for the ministry. II
do not believe that, on an average, 10
percent of the college classes that
graduate today intend to take up the
ministry. There is no reason apparent
to the minds OF young men why they
should, with the splendid opportunitie
that are now open before them in com,
mercial life, Congregations are too
small, and the ministry offers such poor
rewards as far as these worlds goods
are concerned, that the churches can
not pay young men enough to make it
an induccment for them to enter the
ministry.
Theological seminaries no longer
nave their full quota OF students. They
ire run at loss. In my correspon.
lenee | am constantly getting letters
rom clergymen in the West and the
south, as well as nearer home, asking
ne why. in my opinion, young people
annot be persuaded to 20 to church; ,
Why ministers of unquestioned ability g
ind it impossible to draw large congre-
ions.n
1t would be a sad mistake to Judge .
be nation by New York even if it were
ranted, which it Is not, that Mr.. De.
ew's picture of church conditions in
he metropolis Is faithful What the 7
enator speaks OF at the Weather =
lasss" In reality is that portion of the
metropolitan smart set in which he
loyes. These may not attend the ser r.
ice as their fathers did; but they com. ,
ose an infnitesimal portion of the city !
nd the city is a small portion of the
alton. Elsewhere there is no serious =
omplaint that the church is going
ackward. In the rural districts,
reacher need not be interested in golf
'ciology, Ibsenism or pink tea to draw
congregation and the burning ques-
ons of soulsaving fought over today
4 much the same lines as in the days of
lie Hebrew prophets are still discussed
ith interest among men. 1t would be
fortunate should the impression ac-
edited in this interview to Senator
epew be shared generally by the ri.
ng generations. Times and manners
ange; expression of devout thoughts -
not the same today as it was in Mr. =
spew's earlier day. But it exists inr j
great proportion, it is safe to say,
when he received his first impres.
ms OF things.