New-York tribune., 1907-11-11
EVANGELIZING THE RICH
Fifth 1venue Church Begins Cru
sade-J. II. C0nuerSe's VictCs.

The first of a series of evening services for the
evangeization of the wealthy and moderately we'll
to-do who are neglectfu Of the churches took place
last night at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
A feature of the service an address by John
H. Converse, president of the Baldwin Locomotive
Works. Addresses were also delivered by the Rev
J. Ross Stevenson, pastor of the church. and by
the Rev DR.. John +. Carson, pastor or the Cen
tral Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn
Mr. Converse who is chairman Of the evangel-
istic committee of the Presbyterian General As
semhly said that it a mistake to regard the
kingdom of God as confined TO churches and that
the supreme usefulness of the Church must be
found in getting away from church walls ana
carrying the gospel to the masses
The mission 10 do this" he said, lis the churchs
only charter The church that is not evangelistc r.
an anomaly. The prime object of the church
should the salvation of the sinner and the gud-
ance of the masses into Christ's service
After alludng TO the Firth Avenue Presbyterian
Church's stand for things practical in religious
work he said
when great property like this. representing
millions OF dollars is used only two three times
weekly is it not fair criticism that the Master
can make in charging that It is not doing what it
for His glory? Now the question is, What
kind Of a church shall have? What kind Of
services shall have2 1t is noteworthy that our
Lord and Master. in the gospels, left no direct in
structions TO the organization of His church.
The word church is mentioned only twice in the
entire gospel. The Kingdom of God Is mentioned
1l2 times in the same GOSPEL"
Mr. Converse said that in order to find out just
what kind of preaching desired by the public
he had mailed inquiries to a great many persons
He had suggested topics to choose from sermons
doctrnary, expository. critical. current events
evangelical, of guidance to Christian living and
of calling to the unconverted. OF the answers re-
ceived, ninety-three persons favored guidance TO
Christian living, sixty-four favored calls TO the
unconverted, ffty-three expostory sermons. while
the other subjects among them. had few advo
Gates that their numbers hardly worth men
tionng.
I'VE don't go to church to hear literary or scien-
tic dscourses." said Mr.. Converse In conclusion
When attend service we want TO hear the
Word of Life
1T is common belief among persons who do
not attend church." said DR.. Stevenson. that when
4 man is down and out church people don't care
for him We not seeking notoriety. but we do
seek show that this church does care tor the
souls of men"
DIR. Carson said that he believed 1t to be the su-
preme mission of churches to bring men and
women to Christ
There ia a demand to-day never before for
decency and honesty and righteousness OF living"
hG said. In reading over some of Tennyson' =
poems yesterday I thought that II some Of the peo-
pie mmortalized in them had lived to-day they
would be in the penitentary"
Further along IN his address DR.. Carson said
You send your missionaries to distant climes and
you do well in doing so, but practical Christian
living IS just necessary IN the Fifth avenue
palace IS in the slums. There iS but one road
to the Kingdom OF Christ. and THAI road is the
same for the millionaire for the man who hasn't
a dollar in his pocket"
These evening services AT the Fifth Avenue
Church designed for persons not now con-
nected with any church. and will form part OF n
plan 20 carry active evangelzinS campaign
into the apartment house field The execution OF
these plans IS in charge OF the Young PCo-
pies Association of which Henry r. Danner is
chairman Committees hospitality invitations
and programme have been appointed. Large apart
ments have been card catalogued and being
canvassed.
Among the speakers already engaged the
Rev G. Campbell Morgan. Dr. Francis L. Patton.
former president of Princeton. and Professor Hugh
Black. president Of the University OF Virginia
Among those associated with the work Henry
W. Jessup, Edwin J. Gillies, Frederick 4. Wallis
Walter Black. James Tacott. Hugh H. Getty ana
James W. Hawes.
The Rev. Edwin +. Halenbeck, or Binghamton
y. Y. has been engaged as an associate to the
pastor IN the now movement lie Will preach IN
the Fifth Avenue Church for the first time Sunday
evening.