Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-21

ated by them. We have churches for the rich and
cultured classes and churches for the poor and
humble classes. The social qualification is quite as
marked here as in any portion of society. man
who has lived long in Our great metropolis and knows
intimately the religious life of that city, said to
not long ago: " No man would stand much chance
of being chosen to Office in any of these large
churches, unless he had considerable bank account
strong social position And the entire adj
ministration of these great churches in the cities
proceeds upon plane and scale which makes the
presence in them connection with them simply
impossible to self respecting working people.
WELL" | am answered, what would YOU? Is
not this state of things inevitable? Is there any
in trying to change it? Are not people bound to
carry their social distinctions into their church life
and is it not better that they should do so? Will
not the poor be happier and more comfortable if
they have churches of their own, and the rich also
if they order their worship in accordance with
their fastest
Is Not Convinced
T SUPPOSE that these questions, to most of those
= who hear them, will have IAN almost automatic force
but | confess that they do not convince me. l am
not yet prepared to admit that when the principle
of caste and the principle of Christianity into
contact, Christianity is to succumb, and caste is to
prevail That is not my understanding of this rea-
ton. l can find no word of Jesus of any of His
apostles which gives color to such theory.
In short, it to that the institution
from which every vestige of caste should be emi-
mated is the Christian church. These distinctions by
all ought to vanish and protest that there is
why they should not The churches in
the cities may be conducted in such way that the
rich and the poor may meet together in them with
of condeScenson the side of con-
tempt the other. | believe that this has been
true of Saint Georges Church in NewYork for exam
pie doubtless of others. The poor know that they
welcome in that church, and they make up the
larger part of the congregation; but quite number
of the welltodo and cultured people worship there,
because they prefer to worship there because it is
in harmony with their feelings to worship in
such assembly than in one in which there
but wealthy and fashionable worshipers 1
think that their feeling perfectly sound, rational
Christian feeling. l confess that if l a resident
of big city, and could not find church in which
the poor welcome and knew that they
welcome would not go to church at all. l would
try to gather few of my poorer neighbors together
in a park hall, and worship with them there.
Brotherhood Churches Practical
TT is entirely practical for men and women who
believe in the principle of Christian brotherhood
Jesus taught it and lived it, to organize Christian
churches in all cities which shall be entirely free
plain and simple in their architecture and furnishings
that there shall be suggestion OF luxury; which
shall be administered scale inexpensive that
ordinary working men easily bear their part in
the support; and in which the rich and poor shall