The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-03-23
CHURCH LIFE IN AMERICA,
 AS SEEN BY GYPSY SMITH
PEOPLE OF THIS NATION DO
 NOT ATTEND SERVICE
on Sunday as They Did-A John the Baptist Needed-The Dear Old Cos pei Needs to be Preached With "Repent Ye. Sound.


 the lessened church attendance and of some encouraging symptoms. The arti- cle follows.
 The prosperity of the nation has given the people the wherewthal to indulge the social side of life, and I am afraid this has been done to such an extent as to injure, if not to kill, the spiritual life of many. On my first visit to America, eighteen years ago, l was impressed with the fact that most church members were expected to go to the week night prayer meet ing, and large numbers went, because they wanted to do so, and seemed to enjoy going, for their spiritual life was fed and helped that way, and it was no uncommon thing to see half, if not two-thirds, of the Church mem- bership present at the week night prayer meeting.
 "A great change has taken place; this is no longer the rule. It is far more difficult to get the people who call themselves Christians to prayer meet ing. The prayer meeting is the life of the church. she stands or falls as she pl oyos 1llV PldJ Cl lllGSllllS 10 IilC spiritual thermometer of every church. Let met see the week night prayer meeting at any church, and feel it's pulse, and I will gauge Its life and tell you what it stands for in the com munity. The church exists for making Christians. "The opening of blind eyes, unstopping deaf ears, turning men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God This can come forth by nothing but by prayer One of the lost arts of the church is the power to pray, and the love of prayer, for this alone can give passion for souls and keep passion alive.
 "Another thing impresses me; the people in America do not go to church on Sunday as they. did. The first time General Booth came to America he told us when he returned "The American were a church-going nation It seems growing in fashion to go once day now Sons and daughters grow up with the idea and feeling deeply rooted in their hearts "There is not so much in religion after all; mother and father think less of it; they have prac- tically given 1t up; they only go to church once on Sunday and not always as much as that
 "Along with these sad facts there is the mad craze for pleasure, and am speaking, of course of tine professed church member. The theater, the dance, and the cards have the right nf to1 :. beings are. eating the life and soul out 5ae Churches, killing all real hunger for God and the salvation of those we love. The people are moral, but not spiritual; refined, but not godly' orna- mental in the church, but not useful. The evangelization of tho world in not their business. The atmosphere of the church is educational and high toned, but not convicting or converting.
 Pastors have told me these things, many of them, with tears. Some of them say they themselves may be partly to blame, Their preaching has been along the lines of the lectures on current topics, what the latest novel teaches an evening with the poets or the higher critics, and they feel that their work has lacked the ringing, certain, evangelistic note, the dear old gospel of the cross, the only appeal to the conscience, the heart, the judgement and the will, I do not say these are the sole causes, but they have tended that way.
 What Is needed is John the Bap- list with his startling, piercing cry, Repeat ye; some Elijah with his com- manding overwhelming, dominating cry. Choose ye this day whom ye will serve! some prophet of the Lord, with his tongue afame, and his heart breaking with the pathos of Calvary to life the danger signal, and with clear, clarion tones, cry. Thus saith the Lord These are some things which have burned their way into my heart during the last months, and yet there are others which give me great hope
 Everywhere pastors have received me as a brother beloved welcomed me and my sessage, glad to have both and seemed hungry and thirsty for the old, old story and they know it when they hear it. I never saw ministers anywhere in the world more desirous to sec the churches revived, and the | people saved and more willing to fol- | low a sane, wise scriptural evangel- | ism, and they have been willing and | glad to learn that there is no incom- ! patibility with the highest culture and | the most aggressive Christianity; for l evangelism is the gospel of Calvary | put into active operation, and I have ! yet to meet the first evangelical pas tor in America to oppose my message | or my my methods. How any have | written or come to me telling that they will henceforth preach the Cross as never before, and many, thank God, are doing this. They have discovered the crowds are not tired of the "old, old story and that nothing attracts like the Cross, and I believe the pas tors I have met are most anxious to adopt any method which will bring Christ and the crowds together in the ordinary work of the church.
 When those who are the members of the churches will give themselves to humble confession of sin-for there is much to confess, backsliding of heart, ukewarmness, unbelief, love of ease want of sympathy, self indul- gene and love of the world-confessio whieh-brings pardon and cleansing, it must be real. No playing at confess sion will do for God. When sin is put away, then we shall find "The Lords hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear When this consecration shall take place tae church may rise from