The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-11-08
Methodism the Same.

"The story Of MethOdlsm Is practical
ly the same. In Manhattan their net
gain Is less than 300 year. while they
are not holding to the church half Of
their own children.
The Presbyterians. with all their so
cial prestige, with perhaps Sl2.OOOON
invested on Manhattan Island, con
tributing over a million year for
church support, gain less than 1000
The EpiscopalianS. with their enormous
endowed funds. their up 10 date. az
gressiye work along Institutional lines
and by their constant accessiOns from
the churches which would put their
members into straitjackets TO save
them. are holding their own.
christian Science churches are crowd
ed; their gospel Of health and hap
plneSs is winning people from all
the churches. The other Sunday on
the way home from my own services
stopped in Christian Science church
Though the service had long since
been dismissed. the whole building
seemed like a social function. | never
before in twenty-five years ministry
saw such enthusiastic handshaking
such freedom in social intercourse
cOuntenances bcaming with such JOY
As n stranger | was given the glad
hand and made TO feel that was a
brother among brethren.
Christianity on Ice.
LET our churches stop serving Chris
tianltv on ice. Sinners catch the chills
i'm our sacred refrigcrators. a well
known Baptist minister. having a sun
day off. visited. with his two sons. one
OF our fashionable churches. 1t was
early. They went into the galleries. As
soon as seated they were told that they
would have to wait out in the hall until
fifteen minutes after the hour annOunc-
ed for service, as the pews were rented.
LET the doors Of our churches be
open to the lghtest touch Of the poor
est man. Let men find as much good
fellowship in the churches as they do
i'm their clubs and as much brotherhood
I'm the churches as they do in the lodges,
and you'wil find as many men I'm the
churches as you now do in the clubs
and lodges. People dOn't'go 10 church
because the churches to which they
would like to go do not give them wei
come. The drift of our churches is al
ways away from the people. The new
church I'm the cleaner and richer part
Of the city takes the property from tho
packed and the poor sections. and If
any obligation is felt due to the poor a
little mission on n side street will be
established to which the rich from the
new church will condescend to 20 Oc-
casionally. as a sort Of a kitchen In
which they can do their dirty work.
The Catholic church's Example.
"God never intended to establish IN
Professionalism an apostleship to the
genteels. America is the only country
on earth where the city church moves
out when the people move in. ST. Pc
ter's in Rome must be reached through
dark and filthy streets. ST stephen :
I'm Vienna Is in the midst of repellent
streets. st. Paurs in London is sur.
rounded by small shops, and Westmin-
ster Is by no means in the midst OF
fine residences. Yet these places are
I visited by people Of every class. The
churches must follow the people Who
are the people? Surely not the few on
the great avenues. The Catholic Church
never moves out. II stays by the peo
pie. and the people stay by the church
The churches must stay among the
people The immigrants in as much
need Of the gospel now that he has
come to America as though be had
stayed at home. We profess a deep in
terest In the heather thousands OF
miles away. There they are an inter
esting objects to us, but at the doors Of
churches at home we avoid them. Prot
estants have too keen sense Of SMELL