Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-20
Theme of Address by Prof.
Mitchell Carroll.
NON-CHURCH GOERS
HOW CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS
MAY REACH AND HOLD THEM.
The Institutional Church-1nformal
Banquet of Vaughan Glass
Program of Exercises.

The second semi-annual informal banquet
of the Vaughan class of Calvary Baptist
Church was held in the banquet room or
the Sunday school building at the corner
OF Sth and II streets northwest last even
ing at $50 o'clock with about one hundred
men in attendance. There was no set pro-
gram and the POSTMASTER. Mr.. Arthur
Copeland. called upon those who were to
respond to informal toasts. At the close
the banqueters sang "Blest Be the Tie That
Binds
The first speaker called after the coffee
had been served was Mr. f. Richard Shipp.
whose subject was THE Tie That Binds"
Mr.. Shipp said: There is one tie that
binds and that is love, and when applied
to our God it binds to heaven. Force
and fear constitute another bond. Alex
ander the Great established his empire in
great degree by force and fear. but II
crumbled and decayed. Jesus Christ estao-
nshed His kingdom by love. and 1t VIII hve
through all eternity Love binds une lam
.ly. the government and the Christian
would instead of faith. hope and charity
make the three Christian graces faith. hope
and love, because faith leads from earth TO
heaven, while love leads from heaven 10
earth.
Mr. Ship closed his address with word
as 10 the great good the Vaughan class is
doing in its work among men.
Other Addresses.
Mr.. Copeland then called upon Mr.. ]. St.
Clair Hambly. who, after pleading that he
was no speaker. made a stirring appeal to
the members of the class present to put
forth still greater effort for the success of
the class and it's work. DIR. Grant S. Barn
hart spoke upon the subject "A Young
Mans Duty to Himself" in which ne said
that the Christian young man is more GER
tain TO succeed than the young man who
does not take Jesus Christ as his standard
and live UP to the teachings of the holy
writ.
In conclusion DR.. Barnhart said: "Busi-
ness houses want the young man in their
employ upon whom they can depend and
the young man who lives up to the teach
fnSs OF the Bible is the one they are after
Judge Charles S. Bundy was next called
upon. He said he an Episcopalian
and supposed the reason he had been called
upon TO speak that the POSTMASTER
wanted him to explain his presence at the
banquet as he was not Sunday school
teacher or scholar. He had come. how
ever. upon the invitation of his friend Mr..
Shipp. and he was glad to see the progress
that was being made in the work of the
class. Mr.. George II. Matthews Of the ball
team which represents the school in the
Sunday School League told of the work the
members of the team doing and ended
with the plea to the members of the class
to come out in still greater numbers to the
games. so that the team would have more
rooters as an encouragement to win games
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Matthew'S re-
marks Prof. Mitchell Carroll, co-instructer
OF the class and member of the faculty
of the George Washington University
spoke upon the subject, How Can a
Church Reach and Hold Non-churchgoing
Men and Women"
Prof. CarrolPs Theme.
Prof Carroll said in part:
This is a very practical question Only
81 per cent of the total population of our
country are members of churches or SIS
per cent of all over twelve years of age
OF the 100000 young men between the
ages of sixteen and thirty-five not over
6Wo.CoO. or 43 per cent of the total attend
church services. On the basis of these fig
ures IL is a safe statement to make that
not over tn per cent of the adult population
OF our country ever enters the door of d
church. either Protestant or Catholic.
This Is a much-discussed problem How
10 reach the masses; the aliena ton of
working men from the church: the relig-
ious indifference of the intellectual and the
wealthy; the popularity of Sunday resorts
OF Sunday amusements. of weekend house
cussion In religious gatherings and in the
religious and secular press
There is no doubt that the teachings OF
Jesus are more potent in the world today
than they have ever been; yet the Influence
or the churches over masses of men has
not kept pace with Christianity Possibly
the cause is not far to seek. This is an
era of changes in economic and intellectual
conditions The basis of civilization has
changed from the individuaistic to the So
cial type. Commercial enterprises are con-
Quoted by syndicates or corporations Work.
Ing men are banded in unions and stand or
fall together. Employers have also unified
10 accomplish the end of capital The So
clai conscience has been aroused. The In
dlvidual Is realizing his relations to his
fellows. and seeks to work out his destiny
as member of a class. Furthermore the
progress of science has directed attention
10 the influence OF physical condition upon
the higher life
Religious Activities.
In Christian organizations, where there
has been a change in religious activities
corresponding TO and sympathetic with the
change in everyday life and thought. The
hold on non-churchgoers has been strength
ened. This is evident In many churches
which have responded TO the spirit of the
age: in the Young Mems Christian Asso-
citation and in the Salvation Army: and 10
them We may go for the answer m orr
query. How can a church reach and hold
the non-churchgoing men and women?
Inc fundamental idea inherent in these
fenslous movements is that the church
should become the center and source of ALI
take the leading part in every movement
which has for its end the alienation of
human suffering. the elevation of man and
the betterment of the world The upIift-
ing OF the whole man. the salvation of So
c!ety as well as of the Individual the union
or religion and philanthropy the attain
ment of spiritual end by the improvements
OF physical conditions-is the appeal they
make to nOn-churchgoers.
Institutional Church Theory.
The theory of the institutional church.
the other organizations which are success
fully reaching the masses Is. in brief that as
the church and the home are the two great
saving institutions of society when the
nome fails to provide for the normal deyel-
opment of both body and soul the church
must supply these deficiencies The home
less are to be found at both extremes of so
ciety- The rich have so many homes and
nit so from place to place, that there is no
spot they can really call home. The people
OF limited means are shut up in tenements
and boarding houses. with almost nothing
of home life. To reach these classes the
churches must seek TO supply the restrain
ing. elevating and saving infiuencles Of the
home. The genesis of the institutional
church-such as ST. Bartholomew Parish
House in New York and the Baptist Tenn
pie in Philadelphia-is its adaptation to its
iron