Amador ledger., 1906-03-16
The Church Problem.

The Rev. G. Il. Winning last Sun
day evening discussed the church
problem-the Indifference that pre-,
walls in regard to church work, and
the remedies -therefor-as viewed from
the public standpoint. The previous
week he submitted to a number of
representative men of Jackson
editors, lawyers, doctors, officials,
etc., list of seven questions, which
they were requested to answer, giving
their candid views on the propositions,
which answers formed the theme of
his evenings discourse.
These questions and replies are as
follows:
1. As you see it, of what benefit to
our community are our churches?
Answers. - Edltor-'qThey have
wholesome moral influence, especially
upon the minds of the young"
City father.-I think the churches
are beneficial in that they cause
people to assemble together frequent
ly, and thus get better acquainted
with each other, and thus get the
benefit of an exchange Of ideas, be-
sides cultivating closer friendship
to each other.
Mining man.-They are the founda-
ton and moral support, without
which our community cannot pro-
gress.
County official. AT the present
time they are but a beckoning finger
held up to warn us, and endeavor to
lead our wavering steps into the
straight and narrow path, and as it
is said that, ga constant dropping
weareth away the stone," so in time
will the churches and church in
f1uence be a hand stretched forth to
grasp and to hold US from the path of
evil. - ''
Another official. .-"Benehcial be-
cause of the moral lessons taught
therein.
AAOGHoEs- 1Acy are OH0 VI tHo
great factors in our community for
its advancement
City otticial.-'tAs a believer In
the universally of good, l cannot
doubt that the churches are of some
benefit, else they would not be. If
nothing else, they are a nucleus for
future growth, power for good, in
posse.
A lawyer. are good
civilizers, give employment to many
persons, exert a wholesome restraint
upon the natural tendency of the an
imal man. A little more literal hell
fire should be preached, as the great
masses of mankind can only be made
good by fear. "
Physician. 1.-THE. church is body
of christians, collectively, congreg-
alton of faithful men to whom the
pure word of God is preached, morals
taught, charity and benevolence fost-
cred, sorrows assuaged, disturbed
minds pacitied, fears of impending
danger mitigated and allayed, serenity
and peace to despairing spirits estab-
lished by faith in Jesus Christ, our
savior and redeemer. -
Question 2.-Are the churches in
your opinion accomplishing the work,
which you think they should accomp-
Iish?
Answers-"I think not. Many of
the dogmas of the church are not
accepted by the masses. and do not
count as power of restraint upon the
human passions.
Positively no; there is lack of
faith in the lessons submitted and
want of sufficient interest therein to
excite inquiry and investigation.
'"They are not doing all they should
do. They do not as body practice
the charity they preach, as many of
the fraternaI orders do.''
''No, because they have not yet be-
come sufficiently emancipated from
the narrowness of the old school of
religious thought and because of in
efficient business management.
mot to the extent that we should
like; since the the antagonistic forces
are very strong"
/ Question 3.-ls our community
growing better or worse?
Answers-''There is a steady i'm
provement.
"Both socially and morally our
community is growing better"
81 have not been able to notice any
great change in the morals of the
community for the last ten years.
"Our community is the same as it
has been for the last ten years.
A mining man answers: 1.-The COM
munity could be improved if the
parents of the children would take
the interest in them that they should.
Parents should set an example for
the rising generation.
81 believe on the whole our cum-
munity is growing better, socially
as we'll as morally"
decidedly, it is growing better.
L cannot believe in anything less than
progress. This world knows no such
thing as retrogression.
- Question 4.-What is the most pro-
life source of evil in Amador county?
Anwser-Five attribute it mainly