Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-15
LONDON. November II.


IN no country in the world are there so
many magnificent cathedrals as in
l England Going just step farther,
it may also be said that in no city in the
world are the churches for the most part
50 neglected as they are in London Tn
Ill recent years the religious fervor of
the nation has always produced the nee
essary funds with which to combat the
ravages of time and the encroachments
Of progress.
In these later days. however. it has been
different matter. There has been too
much of religious dissent to suggest that
the nation undertake the needed repairs.
There is much talk of religion. but little
depth of feeling. and the natural results
are decay of building and congregation to-
gether.
A remarkable light was thrown on these
conditions by a recent tithe-claim inquiry
held in the veStry room of ST. Olave' s
Church in Tooley street. One witness de-
clared that at one service at which his
wife and himself We're present there were
hut three worShipers besides themselves.
Not long ago it was stated that the ag-
gregate Sunday morning collection of ten
city churches, the rectorS OF which re-
ceive in salary and government aid some
$2S.OOO year. was less than $40. In these
same ten CnuTC les lnS dlteHudHCc WdS
only 213 on the day in question, and 1t
would have been easy to find another
half dozen buildings where the average
congregations were from seven to twenty
five.
This paucity of worshipers is scarcely
a cause for wonder when it is reflected
that ten of these churches minister to an
average OF 147 parishioners each. while
seven others provide 1850 seats for $40
parishioners. all told. Four of these
49,
sible worshiper in the seventeen parishes.
1t was such Indifference as this that
brought Rowland Hills famous chapel to
the level of an ordinary workshop and
after serving that purpose for time 10
have placed on it For Rent sign. A
hundred yards from Black Friars road it
stands derelict and neglected. For half a
century it exercised a wonderful influence
over the religious life of London. 1t was
in Surrey Chapel that Hill Numbered
forth his anathemas and drew fashionable
crowds to listen to his eloquence and wit.
The building never was attractive and it
is less so now. 1t is ugly, octagonal and
dirty. 1t was built in its odd shape to
keep the devil from hiding in any of the
corners. SO 1t was said. and its building
was as odd as the product of the work
ers
Hill had been an itinerant preacher. but,
firing of this. had sought London as his
field. He preached to the workmen and
the faShionables. but it was only after a
tragedy i'm which Hill showed a spirit that
won for him many admirers. His church
had net been popular at the outset and as
time went on ii became less SO. He had
hardly gathered large crowd when a re-
port was spread that the church. being
on marshy ground. was in danger of sink
ing. The new terror took form one night
when the place was crowded and a rush
was started that was only allayed by the
calmness of the preacher. who used 1t as
A text for sermon such as Sheridan de-
scribed when he said that he went to hear
Hill because the preachers ideas come
red no. from the heart" SOuthey also
was regular attendant for the reason
that he liked the singing.
The musical part of the service was not
always orthodox. When the country was
threatened with invasion by Napoleon
Hill held special service, at which were
sung Rule Britannia" and the national
anthem. Then came the introduction of
an organ, which gave great offense. not