Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-20
SAYS UNIVERSITY
NOT CHRISTIAN
MINISTER DISLlKES MODERN
STATE COLLEGES
Declares Young Women and Men Re.
turn from These Institutions Un..
fitted for the Home They
Preside over

II am Methodist by marriage and a
Baptist by persuasion," said Rev. AL
pert Hatch Smith, pastor of the First
Baptist church Of Pasadena, yesterday
| morning at the Methodist ministera'
meeting at the First Methodist church.
Rev. Mr.. Smith addressed the meet
ing on the line of Christian work in CO.
operation with the teachings of Christ.
He said in part:
True Christian spirit lies in the
broad sense of denominational fellow
snip. While 1 am a Baptist 1 respect
you as Methodists and can work heart
lily with you.
II think that 1t is consistent at this
time to speak of other parts of the
| country In comparison to this, the most
| uellghttul spot on earth. In some of
the New England states the status Of
| the foreign element is decidedly pitiful
In the increase and conditions arising
| from their great numbers and the man
ner of their lives in the large cities.
| Compared to the conditions in theseast,
we have but few foreigners here, and
we are favored with the best element
for Christian and moral fellowship, and
1t is natural that we should expect
much in the onward and upward move
ments of Christianity in Southern Cali
fornia.
truth never wrong
"These are days of marvellous devel-
| opments. In 1888 the ancient Whittier
house was built over q large rock that
caused the family to step up and down
several steps because of no practical
method at hand to dispose of the rock.
How quickly the dynamite of today
would have scattered that rock into
fragments, and the extra steps would
have been unnecessary in the home.
I'VE have marvellous recuperative
powers, and when we have such disas-
ters as those of San Francisco, Balti-
more and other places, while terrible
in themselves, they seem 20 be blessings
in disguise, and the great reserve pow
er comes in and performs such wonder
full results in the magnitude of Chris
tian fortitude and material improve
ments.
Truth is often found on the scaffold,
but it Is never in the wrong. There
never was q time when the churches
were better equipped for aggressive
work than now. The laborers with
their eight hours of daily work have
more time for study and recuperation
for better service in the Christian
world. 1t is not intended that the lazy
and ignorant should succeed while 9TH
ers must work and study to accom-
plish this end. The incentive should be
ing the success of others and profiting
by them.
Universities Lack Religion
1--WE have four fundamental principles
upon which to work, and each of these
has it's special backing. They are:
Reformation, education, Organization
and moral growth. These are the catch
words which call forth vigorous action
in ferreting out the underlying princi-
/ pies. These catchwords are and may
be thrown out by the pastor in the pull
pit, but they must have substantial
backing to result in much good in the
saving of souls.
''Is it true that the homes of the twen-
| tieth century are to be practically un-
| der the control of the state universe
| ties? 1t is certainly a sad thought to
consider that the tendencies are in that
| direction, for state universities do not
| produce Christianity. And when the
young men and women go home from
them many have lost the Christian prin-
ciples instilled into them under the
parental roofs, and the situations are
made unpleasant besides tending in the
wrong direction for the future welfare
of themselves and those with whom
| they come in contact.
There is no body equal to the moth
erhood of America, and the formula of
| family consists in the trinity of IA
ther, mother and child and yet the trim
| ity Of three women or three men would
be far different.
Dislikes AuxiIiaries
"I am not a thorough believer in
| church auxiliaries as they exist today.
They need recasting every few years
to place them in sound spiritual condi-
tion. There is too much formality and
not enough spirituality in their work,
| ,I,< 4
| versely. Do not worry II they seem
devoid of spiritual activity, but step in
and recast them into Christian growth
| for the conversion of souls.
What shall we do with the children
| to hold them in the Christian atmos-
phere so that they may not depart from
the Sunday schools in the ratio of four
of every five as they grow older, which
is the case today? The flowers are
blooming and other beauties are shown
all around us with special care and pro-
lection, but what is becoming of the
children? This is a great problem to
be solved. But the time is coming that
false philosophy, on general principles,
will be domed."
In the discussion of the address Rev.
7. c. lliller spoke discouragingly of the
Epworth league work. He said: "The
league is formed without reference to
the pastors authority, and the young
people do not govern themselves in
manner to develop spirituality. Leaders
chosen by the society dance through
the week and lead meetings on Sunday.
The result is not good. Unless the soci-
ETY. can be under the eye of the pastor
it will cease to be spiritual depart
ment of the church"
Rev. Mr.. Stevens spoke more hope
fully of the Epworth league work,
maintaining that the young people were
capable and willing to care for them
selves in their formal plans and work,
without, however, debarring the advice
of the pastors and older people.
-9SS