The Washington herald., 1907-10-30
CONDEMNS MODERN RELIGION
Mr.. Nesbit Says Church Isn't Do
ing It's Duty.
Religion. He Says, Was Good for
People When They
Were Coarse.

Mr.. Charles F. Nesbit. retiring president
Of the Twentieth Century Club Of the
Young Mems Christian Association. and
prominent local business man. in his
parting address last night suggested a
work which he asked the club 10 take up
as a solution Of the question as 10
whether the church could be modernized
to suit conditions OF the twentieth cen
tury.
recording 20 Mr.. Nesbit. Christianity
to-day is in the same position as the
Roman religion at the coming Of the
Saviour. II had apparently outlived its
usefulness and was crumbIng to the
earth for the reason that il was Of no
practical benefit.
Men OF to-day" he said. "are reaching
the point where they believe that religion
is al right for their wives and children.
but Impractical for them. II is Of no
practical benefit To the community or to
the present-day situation. as they look al
H. and like all impractical fabrics. not
builded on the rocks. is doomed 10 fsll-to
decay
rs the church vital to-day? No. I
think il is not, when you look at it from
the viewpoint OF men OF to-day. It is an
Institution that sets aside things 10 prac-
tce ore day in the week that are IN
thought Of on the other six Is il not
necessary 20 have religion observed IN
business as well as IN church,
I heard a sermon last Sunday good
one. II was a literary masterpiece. but
il was adapted to the second century.
There was nothing Of modern practicable
ity In il. Religion was all right many
years ago, in the agricultural communi-
ties. where the people were scattered and
had no social intercourse. They had
nothing OF an educational, literary ma
ture 20 satisfy their desire for progress
in this line, and each Sunday they came
20 church, and II then supplied all these
things. But now the man sits by the
FIRE Sunday morning. and can read sun
day papers and magazines Years ago.
when We were Of brutal nature. coarse.
and beat our wives. religion was prac-
teal. The church must render practical
value.
Il was in Delaware a few days ago,
and. as you know. they have a hot pro-
hIbition fight I asked "A leading clergy
man If they would win. and he expressed
fear. for the reason that the labor unions
and the saloon men combined were a
great force. I asked him why the labor
men were not with the temperance cause.
and he did not know. I asked him II the
church had been brotherly with them
had offered some Of the church rooms as
meeting place once r week and he was
almost Mortified. Then / told him the
saloon men did this. and that the church
was Of little value unless il could ad-
vance the brotherhood Of man.
The fabric Of the church must topple
like the house on the sands. unless some
thing is done
Mr.. Nesbit resigned the presidency OF
the club. although his reelection was
only few weeks ago, owing 10 ill-heaIth.
He will leave the city Monday. on his way
TO England 20 recuperate.
Prof. c. ". A Veditz has been named
to succeed Mr.. Nesbitt. He led the meet
ing last night in a discussion on the
subject: rs Lying Ever Justifable?" He
declared emphatically that it was not