Evening journal., 1907-05-28
WHY MANY DO
NOT WORSHIP
"CuSSedneSS" Is Given As a
Reason by One Writer to
the Rev. DR.. Murray

last Of a series Of special sermons
based on replies to queries he sent to
many laymen, including lawyers, doc
tors and worlingmen, throughout the
city. His text was "They all began 20
make excuse" Luke IA. Is. DR.. Muir
ray said
Christ invited men to the great feast
They made three excuses. The first
had bought land, the second oxen, tho
third had married. In this day men
are giving more reasons for not show
ing interest in the church than
IN that day. The church
is a divine institution q exists for
all men. All men in proportion to
their talents and light are equally re-
sponsible Those who are members
and those who are not One cannot
leave the work Of the church TO
another and escape guiluess The
church IS or would be a blessing TO
all If all would receive IT, All must
give an account to God. Will the fol-
lowing reasons stand?
Inconsistency Of church members.
This is a depict showing human frail-
ty but viii it excuse you who might
show better example. Other mems
failures can never save you.
The church duns people for money
until they become disgusted and stay
away The tenth was required of the
jew by Jehovah. If the Gentle would
measure uD to this the church would
have no reason to make a special call
Unfaithful and incompetent minis
ters repell men. Seventy-hve per cent
NJ 40 af lou hoe
said may be dispensed with and result
In a larger attendance of men. The
sermons lack a saving message, when
they attempt to spray the conscience
with rose water. There is a failure to
face men in their sins and to call them
10 repentance. There is too much in
difference to the multitude and too
little insistance on righteous principles
I'm politics. The preachers are some
times too far ahead Of the would be
followers for them 20 see the beck
oning hand. They too often estimate
men by their means and positions.
Some fail to pay their debts.
Men doubt their sincerity when
"reverend" fails to guarantee a square
deal. Too much poor preaching. Men
do not like hash. For these and many
other reasons.
FOR WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS
Some men think they only need the
minister's for weddings and funerals
These are grave reasons They can all
be sustained against Individual min
listers. They are not lamented half so
much by the laity as by the clergy
It was not Gods plan TO call angels 70
preach. Men have been commissioned
to gospelize men. with all their faults
and failings. and II men will not hear
"Moses and the prophets, neither viii
they be persuaded though one rose
from the dead"
The demands OF modern civilization
keep mon from church.
There are $500 railroad men I'm this
city uncertain as to their Sabbath resi-
There is quite a number Of milk men
so engaged serving their customers
that It IS almost impossible for them
to attend. There are policemen kept
away by exacting duties from civic
authorities. There are physicians who
are needed but not sent for until Sun
day comes. Druggists kept all day
away from worship. Large manufac-
ing plants. use Sunday for repairs,
keeping men away from the house of
God. with these and many other de-
mands, we sometimes wonder that as
many men get to church as do. Take
the pressure of modern civilization
from these men and many Of them
will be regular worshipers Sunday
work. Sunday excursions, Sunday
newspapers. and Sunday visiting arc
an given by men as reasons for not
showing more interest In church.
Again and again we have been told by
men, we wanted to go to church but
Just before the time company came.
we were really disappointed. Do as
some have done either bring them to
church or request them to wait until
YOU return. This would be more pleas
ing to God and more helpful to the
church than to show indifference 70
religion by entertaining friends in
gown and slippers with rag time music,
while the wife IS a slave to the kitchen
and Sunday is made TO her the hard
est day in the week, others are ar
fected by foreign notions concerning
the sabbath, viz: mailing Sunday a
holiday instead of a hoiy day. In pro-
testing against the blue laws Of men
they are violating the good laws Of
God.
CUssEDEsS A REASON.
others have given she following, VIZ:
"Giant Indifference to sin and its hem
iousness." " innate cussedness," "unbe
lief" "carelessness." 'favoritsm,'
"moral cowardice." INTENSITY Of social
engagement" "amusenents." "streiu-
Gus life" "Men are like sheep, empty
houses scare them" "Antagonisms,
real or imaginary. between business
and religion. "commercialism." Some
are trihers in matters of religion
saloons" "clubs." present success
preferred to future blessedness." "too
many substitutes for the gospel.
"Church too conservative. ought TO ad-
vertize." "rhe mighty dollar hides
the Almighty one" TOO much fault
found with preachers" Mad rush for
wealth." Requirements OF business"
lizard work six days want seventh
with family" "Do others or they with
do YOU" "Gave up his church because
he could not make his religion and
business work together" Mistaken
idea of the church's business, yiz., get
ting men ready for another world,
Christianity is primarily for this
world" "Too busy" 1--WE permit the
women and children TO go to church