New-York tribune., 1905-08-24
CONDEMNS THE CHURCHES.
american Business Man to Blame,
Says the ReU. O.. e. Morgan.

The Rev. G. Campbell Morgan the well known
London evangelist sailed for Liverpool yester-
day the Baltic.
Before the steamer sailed DIR. Morgan scath-
ingly criticised the churches of America for
their lack of spirituality and their great devo-
ton to worldly affairs. The American business
man came in for a share of the evangelists
comment. and pictured "a so-called
Christian who thinks more of the frivolities and
pleasures of the world than he does of the
solemn pledges made to his faith" DR.. Morgan
continued:
1 am surprised and astounded at the way the
so-called Christian business man keeps his
pledges to his God and his church. To-day the
churches seem to be little more than social or
ganizatiops Tba,y sDand mora time develonine
along social lines than they do along spiritual
lines. What is the reason for this condition.
The business men, the influential Christians
ana those VINO are In power 90 not 90 thelr
duty. Wrapped up in their own affairs, or busy
in the pursuit of pleasure they lose track of the
way and forget the pledges they made 10 God
and to their church. The oldtime spirit and the
old fire is lacking and without this what can be
expected?
Many man whose name is on a church roll
is not doing his part In the conversion of the
sinner the spread Of the Gospel How can q
business man expect to have an influence with
his employees when they know his life, ms
methods, and Just how far he practises what he
breaches? What the churches want Is more Oh
God and less of dress and social position; more
Of the spirit of the Master and less OF STRIFE
for place and money, and more religion by
example and life than by preaching and talking
Follow God in the life and you become a con-
tinual sermon for Him.
Charles Alexander, the Gospel singer who at
tended the Mortified conference with Dr.
Morgan, alsu sailed on the Baltic. He will re-
turn in February to conduct a great revival
meeting in Philadelphia, the expenses of which
will be betrayed by John Wanamaker. Dr.
Torrey will also participate in the revivals.
Mr. Alexander, in discussing the question Of
tainted money. said:
Tainted money is not the question the
other side of the Atlantic that it is this side.
1t is a question that requires study. and 1 do
not know how 1 would act if tainted money
were offered to me. All money that comes to us
has been through dirty channels at some time,
and the thing to be considered is how the taint
comes. You must define tainted money to your
own conscience What would do would depend
on circumstances Is Rockefeller's money
tainted? l know that II has been said but
there are many witnesses to prove that Mr..
Rockefeller has been wronged. Only the other
day I talked to q man who belongs TO his church
and who is convinced that great wrong has
been done Mr.. Rockefeller.
So I say, who must pass upon the taint on the
money but your own conscience? Can we Judge
what money in a collection is tainted? And yet
all that money is used to spread the Gospel and
that It does do good is abundantly testified TO.
know Of a man who cursed and whose money
was not OF the best That man was persuaded to
give SO for the work and his conversion soon
followed Who would say that that tainted
money did not bring blessing?