The sun., 1906-10-23
PRorEsrANrIsM oN TRiAL.
Out OF Touch with Modern Conditions ana
Losing Its Hold On the People.

LONtnR us H0tu On tnC EUVptcs
To The EDIroR or THR sUN-Sir: The
more we study the present attitude OF the
English speakng people with regard to Chris
tianiuy the more we must feel that Protest.
antiem is on trial. In the English churcn
conference which was held IN the north OF
England In the beginning OF this month
there was a long discussion as 10 the decline
in attendance at public worship and although
I am far from admitting that there is gen
eral decline the attendance at the services OF
Protestant churches does not seem TO keep
pace with the increase Of the population
either In England or In this country,
believe there Ia a reason for this, Thirty
or forty years a1o preachers In Protestant
churches were men Of strong convictions, ana
people crowded 10 hear them In order 70 learn
distinctive truths from q Spurgeon In Lon
don and from a Stephen A. Tying In New York.
But now earnestness seems TO have passed
away from the pulpit, and the devil is allowed
to have a quiet time OF It. Instead Of pre-
sentinR Christ as the Saviour OF mankind
everyday politics takes place Of Christb re-
Iigion. The standards OF ProtestAntisnn are
being relaxed. Presbyteriantsnn no longer
teaches predestination. and Episcop paltanIsnt
is a sort Of underlined theology with the Bishop
as an ornamental head. They are all at sea
regarding the virgin birth Of the divine
Christ. the nature Of the Holy Trinity. the
character OF Gods book and the conditions
OF future life. And there is no son OF thun-
der Of the stamp Of q Ridley. Calvin, Q
Luther or q Ssvonarola TO maintain any
decided standard Of religious conviction.
Professionalism seems to be out OF touch
with the general yearnings and aspirations
OF mankind. Yesterday l entered q Roman
Catholic church and found II crowded to the
doors with a praying people was told
that evening after evening the church was
crowded with those who came 20 pray for the
souls OF departed relatives. But Protestant-
ism has not yet made up its mind whether
there is any intermediate state and whether
It is sinful or not to pray for departed spirits.
sSs Sss ShsS sectsd the sale o
masses for the dead, but II has never been
able to formulate a definite belief reearSdlng S
people Of Japan TO Christianity in a country
where prayers for ancestors constitute the
Then as to the healing Of tho sick. Prot
estantism rejects extreme JUNCTION and Win
IL casts aside the apostolic doctrine taught oy
the Apostle James that II there is any sick
among US we should send for the elders OF
the the " sicS IN mt the I'M mesntims a g such prstsndsr
as Alexander Dowie forms q community OF
about 1000 people IN ;y 1sw yeI,O yeSs DecHSsdS snd
churches In Boston and New York. which are
tan science has given them somsthinS which
the Protestant scots never seem to supply;
Then az to the status OF Christian marriage.
Professionalism Is in condition OF perpiekt
confusion regarding holy mstrim9ny. II is
trying to fight the question OF divorce On
purely secular lines, while the world is equally
determined that the civil law regarding mar
riage shall not be interfered with. As We
study the past history OF the Cnurcn, y
distin guished from secular marriage was
OF a sacramental character, lifted altogetner
Hs Pons q Gy standsa Ss Romans
| Church has been as DELINQUENT as the PROT
| estant churches. In Romanism divorce Y
q matter Of indulgence, in ProtestantAsm iS v
As a careful student Of the development
Of all religions am amazed at the depsrtuIe
Standards 81 dsH fofmuiated BY itS di vine founder.
l have no objection 70 an orEaplzed minEfry.
tarseiOd mi1SS bsy nsys sTs no t%S SU5sS or
heVu the ceremonies Of the Christian Church. A
black gown or a white gown, csndhIes ID or no no
OF necessity differ according 20 the, fselIngs
christIan e0eS Church % senessliy rem and Sf PrYtest-
sntlsm in particular is driving the working
man and the average wage Garner into so
side the, Church, because |. can nnd no
place within the Church. And this L & the case =.
whether We copsder the Roman CSuTSgh "a iTgs,Ir ~
biiity smoHs the sects OF ProtsStantlam.
what is needed a. the present time 2 S2me
who win be utterly Indifferent to the cl4Ins
| OF wealth and preach Christianity sucn e
was taught by its founder and z revealed N 70
churches seem 70 be nothing but social oluPs.
AHs yfSs World shfoaGs Sa
UntI some change takes place. I feel Jasti-
ned in holding that ProtestsppsIsm s y on lss
BRooKLTN. October ~.