The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-12-06
THE cHrRcH,s DECAY.

The Rev Washington Gladden's lec- ture in Kansas City the other night on Inventory and Outlook" was a pretty clear illustration of the visionary and impractical views of many more or less distinguished men, preachers, edu- cators and publicists, who assume the task of teaching the public. When Mir Gladden. sprang into the national limeligFt last year by his unsparing denunciations 1eating to what he call- ed tainted money many persons who were charitably willing to con cede his sincerity and earnestness as laborer in the mora, vineyard-instead of mere notoriety seeker as might reasonably have been suspected-set him down as mar Of very little com mon sense. This impression cannot be heightened by his lecture, in which he denounces the churches as being too fine and declares that trey should be located among the komes of the people on the side streets"
 To the ordinary mind 1t would seem immaterial where the churches are To- cated, on the side streets or in the blaze of brilliant boulevard: In fact. if churches are good things 1t would seem reasonable to locate them where they could attract most atten- tion and draw the largest crowds. In these modern days of publicity and push and scientific advertising there could be no impropriety, and it cer- tainly would be better for the cause of religion, if those who have the Lords business in hand should advertise It as bravely as the rest, and wherever possible set the churches on hills where their light could shine upon a naughty world and call sinners to sal- vation so loudly apd msistently that the deafest could not fail to hear.
 For the same reasons the churches csrnot be too fine. When skyscraping business structures are being multipli- ed on every side, dedicated as temples of Mammon, why should not magnifi- cent and imposing buildings be erected to celebrate the most important mat ter that engages the attention of moral man, the preparing of souls for the life hereafter? If millions can be piled on millions in marble and stone and fine woods to facilitate the trans itory works of this fleeting life, what measure or limits could be put upon the latbors for eternity?
 No the churches are not too fine or for ostentaueus, as Mir, Gladden. ar gues. Neither can there be any rea- sonable objection to the congregation of people according to their social culture and station in life It is na- tural and proper for people to prefer, even in religIo.- Wcrship. to meet to- gether in ecngenial surroundings and to preserve the associations which mark their duty walks ir life. A self respecting roor man viii not care to have his wife ard children brought into humlating contrast with the rich God doesrt care fer 6ress, but the best and p&rest D!el and women re- cognl8e the plcrrit;y and wisdom of asseciating with their Cwn class and kill ever thcugA the difference be only il slpc,'tieia matters.
 The real trouble with the cause of religion, and it's average increase oi but a fraction over one member ir each church in the past five years, is not in the churches or congregations It is the preachers who care more fol the fleece than the flock. If the Savior should come again on earth in this city and generation. He would not confint His labors to the walls of a church ol even to visiting His flock. He would heal the sores of society as well as the bodies of men. The preachers are tC blame for their slothfulness and mora cowardice. Christ's work needs to bC done by His vicars in the slums, tC alleviate the soul destroying tene. ments, and among the palaces of the rich to arouse them to a sense of theii duty to society. The preachers are moi militant enough. Too many of them, il is sadly to be feared, are not ever sincere and earnest laborers in the vineyard. If the Church is dying it is not because it is too fine in eXternals it is because it is not fine enough in its internal workings gs.-From the Kansa: {! City Journal.