Evening journal., 1908-09-23
NOTES ON The TOPIC.

son Of the condition Of sodom is indeed
startling. but there are many cities to-
day in America equal TO Sodom in in
iquity, and II Gods Judgment were to
fall in the same way they would be swept
from the face Of the earth. But we are
now living in the day OF grace and God
seems everywhere TO be waiting and
pleading that men might turn to Him and
live. AS we glance at our cities Of to-day
II would at first seem as If there had
never been such luxury. but let Jane
Adams take us through Chicago, Jacob
Riis through New York or General Booth
through London and it will seem as If
there had never before been such poverty
and sin.
Never before in history has so large a
part OF the worlds population been mass
ed in cities This means tremendous ag-
gregations of wealth and luxury and
power. II also means fearful concentration
of sin and poverty and wretchedness and
peril. The deepest misery, the worst evils,
the greatest national dangers the most
crying need; all these are found in the
city. This is not merely because there
are more people there to be poor and sim
ful and wretched, but because the very
crowding of the city causes these condi-
tions- The prizes are great and alluring in
the city, but work is not as easily found
as in the country nor the average OF COM
fort so high
And the sad part of the picture Is, that
the remedy for these evils. the only rem.
edxr xrbfcb hoo o.-or hoar found ie G.,
seldom applied. II is the brother-love
taught by Jesus Christ For while the evil
in the city is accumulating, the forces OF
good seem TO retreat One by one the
churches go up town, and then out into
the suburbs. A few missions and social
settlements are left behind, poorly sup.
ported and sadly inadequate to cope with
the onrushing tide of wickedness and
misery. Two men were walking one day
through the sums of a great city. and
one, a sceptic, said to the other Here. at
least, you must admit that Christianity
has been a failure" mot at ALL" said the
other. 1T has never been tried"
What we need Is more people OF the
Jacob Riis type. who do not hesitate to
carry the spirit Of Christianity into the
places where it is most needed. OF course,
there are many bright points in the dark
pictures, many heroic souls who are strug-
Cling for the right, many noble Christian
business men, fearless officials and sell
sacrificing workers. but there must be
many, many more if the cry Of the city is
10 be heard and answered. Here is where
every Christian Endeavor Society can helT
TO solve the problem. Because the En-
deavorers cannot do much they are apt to
leave city mission work to the social set
Elements and the Salvation Army. But
every society-yes, every member-can dc
something; and something done, even
though It be very little, Is vastly better
than the longest speeches on the sub
iect. Every manifestation of Christian
love directed towards the city's need
means just so much gain for the forces
OF good over the forces of evil. SAID Canon
Barnett, head Of Toynbee Hall. in London;
IF every one who processes to care about
7 the poor would make himself the friend
Of one poor person, there would soon be nc
insoluble problem of the masses and
London would be within measurable dis
tance Of becoming a city Of happy homes
News From the Society.
Watch, work and pray for our coming
/ State convention, which will be in ses
sion Just one month from now az this
Delaware Avenue Baptist Church. A pro
gram packed with good things is beinl
prepared by the committee having thil
matter in charge Have you seen tn
advance bulletin sent out by the Stat
secretary? II not. do not fail to get a cop,
once.
William II. Stats president of centra
Christian Endeavor Society returned las
Monday from a two weeks stay in Paw
tucket, which he visited his Armenian
friend A. H. Merdinyan DR.. Merdlnyai
has returned with Mr.. Stats for a fey
days visit here, and his many Christia
Endeavor friends will doubtless be gla
to be able to see him again,
The Endeavorers Of Eastlake Presby
terian Society report with sorrow I'll
death OF one Of their best workers, Harr
|, L. Croes, who died last Friday after
brief illness and was buried yesterda
afternoon at Head Of Chrlstiana.
The Rodney Street Christian Endeavc
) Society reports that they are stin increas
tendance. This society will hold a soci,
: at the church on next Friday evening an
, IL is the desire of the president that ever
member come and bring their friends o
, next Tuesday evening their monthly bus
ness meeting will be held and as this
the last before the State Convention
r is especially desired that there be fu
attendance Of the members.
We are glad TO learn that a new juniC
! society was started at Hanover Presbytei
/ ian Church last Friday afternoon. Coo
' for Hanoveri
I The Second Baptist Juniors, who cal
q tured the Union banner last spring. r
$ opened their meetings last Friday afte
noon after their summer vacation with a
n attendance OF fourteen. and received fol
new members into their society. An ausp
\ cious start.
= With their customary promptness, II
s Central Endeavorers posted one Of Il
a State secretary's advance bulletins Of Il
a convention in their church vestibule la
y Sunday, that all who come in may kno
r what is in store for the Endeavorers ne,