The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-12-13
ACTIVITY MEANS SUCCESS.
The Church to Be Successful Must
Stand for More Than Mere Creed.

While there are tokens of reaction
from the scientific, and, by inference, hos
tile attitude toward the church. the con-
gregatons, especially in the city, are put.
to it for means, not merely OF gam, but OF
continuance. Allegations and even stats
ties to the contrary notwithstanding, tine
plain fact is that people do not go TO
church as they did fifty years ago, and
less. The falling off is chiefly in the Prot
estant denominations, for, while there is
in France and Italy an anti.clerical iac'
ton of numerical and political impor-
lance. it little affects the attendance at
services or diminishes the regard in which
millions hold to their faith.
If IL were possible to make a canvass
of the whole field, we should probably ma
that the diminished attendance upon some
churches is result, not of increased sci
entifc thinking, but of an increase in sub
stitutes for the church as social lnstltu-
ton. The significance OF the church as a
gathering place for folk of kindred MINDS
is no longer obvious in the city, but the
CITY might study the country to advantage
when it undertakes to gather It's scat
tered congregations. For, in the village,
the church is still important. And the rea-
son is, that it keeps busy. Indeed, one
reason for the prosperity OF the Catholc
church is that it never rests.
If n factory were open for but one hour
in a week. It could not hope to attain to
great prosperity; yet there are churches,
MANY of them. in this land, that are open
| for n single service on Sunday, usually IN
the morning, and are dark all the rest OF
the time. This does not imply that the
pastor is idle far from 1t. On the con
! trary, the time he might be giving TO the
writing of a second or. third sermon,
such as he would have been compelled 10
| furnish for his grandfathers, Is spent IN
visiting the sick, comforting the mourn
ers, relieving distresses of the poor, en-.
gagnp with his fellow citizens in works, OF
Enlightenment and charity, speaking be-
| fore assemblies, lecturing, and, IN the rou-
fine work attending every church, even
the smallest -, -,.l
All the same the fact that the church
is emntv during the week save for part
If Sunday, and is closed during the whole
Of the summer has its effect on the hesi-
tant. Strangers in a city, curious to near
pulpit celebrities, or wishing, to continue
their home practice of church-golng' seer
congenial UNCONVENTIONAL centre, anu
find the doors stoutly locked ana n mo-
soul stirring about the premises neil III
interest in that church. ana IN IN + dil
churches. is likely to be cooled by the
circumstance. And with the regular con
gregation. also. the fact that II, is assem-
Sled for but an hour in a week can bui
have its deterrent effect on growth anu
I'm In the country, however, the church Is
not merely a place where certain persons
Gather to hear sermons and sing hymns
E is social centre. The people have theli
stated meetings for the study OF the scrip
tures-yes; but also for oyster suppe pen
fairs, sociables, amateur theatrlcals, spell
ing bees. old folks concerts. rummags
sales. lectures, classes IN sewing anu ~ r.
tba making of clothes for the poor. &c
be sure, the habit OF aggregatloh +L rs u 4
times more eager in the country than II
;s in town: for in the former It IS occa
sional whereas in the latter 1t is per
force constant. The shop, the street car
The theatre. the concert hall, the c!up
no professional society, the labor union
the nolitical association, are agencies lol
tbe Gathering of multitudes, which 40 no.
nertain in farming communities or III u ilt
fbiniv peopled districts. Hence the churel
represents more than Its creed anu ~
cause. II. - +bo o;tv for s
church to undertake so many thihgs wi" ~
proft as it does in the country; Eeu f Co,
faot that work for practical moralty, 10
a aar; for education, for charity, i
onraging so much of the attention ant
oner@v That were formerly centred on re
i;pr;o9s work should give to our cierg.
"a to their congregations something u
'i Some Of them. indeed, have though
81 have acted. There are churches Una
"nntain libraries and reading rooms; Una
maintain sewing schools and knaelgal
tens; that have athletic tlelds ana ~ gym YIN
, nas;a. that encourage assemblies OF tne un
nbnrched for recreation and lnstruction
that support employment agencies y TLns
naonle's clubs and reading circles. ny;
aorresnond in measure to the u,il " IL
Settlements of the great cities, ana II 'h r
do not thrive in these enterrprlseS-as wv WV
bel;eve thew do, however-lt Is noI NC
oonsa thew do not deserve to thrive
ca In these days the church must be NOR
u III u cburch. 1t must hold congrega
tlah + 4 in many instances will be toun'
tlon u uHar and insecure, and it must. IN N
Waoe ea bv interesting outsiders, especial!
t tLa Sonno There is no lack OF goo'
tne S h;ug in these times. Probably ther
ple 'or was a season when men OF BRAN
nud training appealed more ,powerf9lly Al, y
anu ,rbl;c Than do those who are IN IN u,
, , vnI today. But the church-that is, tn
pup tion-must do its part; IL mus
u ,naTsa ifs church attractive and useiuii 81
lllaSt been il open for more than an ho gu
nus 5av in the week. However broad u! ~;
aao1;@on that is proclaimed IN IT; us acett'
/ tias and its sympathies must be pro a :
t .ieS tbe words Of its creed. and mus y
, tha eynression of its life into cohs'"n
, antivity.-Brooklyn Eagle.