The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-11-15
HEARD ON THE ROAD.
Pensacola Journal:

Editor Pensacola Journal:
| 1t Is frequently proclaimed by pull
pit and press that there is manifest
ed a growing tendency 10 disregard
| the fourth article Of the decalogue.
an increasing inclination ID indIner-
ence toward the sacredness of r2liS-
! ion, and the consequent destruction
| of reverence for everything religious.
| Sunday baseball games, p;cnicS eX-
cursions, hunting, fishing, etc. have
each and all been decried 51 those Of
professed piety as contribuLiye TO the
weaving of people from places of wor-
| ship and fostering aversion to the re
straints of Sabbath observance.
Complaint is often made that faith
Din God and true repentance IS not
near so mucl in evidence among he
masses as in the years gon by.
That the young of tOday do not
evince the regard for religion that
they did three decades back but fCT
would attempt to deny: but in seek
ing reasons for the changed condi-
tons. if the diversions to watch lafer-
erence has been made are alone re
garded as responsible therefor, APP
other more potent agency than any or
all of those will have been overlooked
and the real cause remain undi5coV-
cred.
Many readers of The Journal will
irecall an old church SOM, OLD Tine
Religion" The simple words and air
of that old church song has quicken
ed the hearts of hosts who nave gone
to their reward, to a create cOnse-
Grafton to The Masters cause. Do
we hear that and similar songs that
used to be sung and witness mann
ifaStafiOOS Of tho DrpSpncp If th,r HniV
Spirit at revival services now Echo
answers-do We?
Jesus. Lover of My Soul "Amaz
ing Grace. How Sweet the Sound.
Did Christ Der Sinners Wacp?'
How Firm a Foundation, Ye Saints
of the Lord" "On Jordan's Stormy
> Banks l Stand" Shall We Meet Be-
yond the River?"-these soul stirring
hymns have become only a vanish
ing memory and in their sacred stead
we hear only too exclusively airs that
, If rendered outside a sanctuary could
not be detected from the rehearsal OF
minstrel chorus. Nor is this all
for the style of preaching is only too
often made to conform with the clown
ism airs.
, Possibly some reader Indignantly
asks if these remarks relate 10 The
pastor of this church Or7that. No. my
Christian friend, it is not To pastors
of church who are with you always
TO visit and cneer you in sickness, to
unite you in marriage, officiats al
your christening and Offering synpa
thy and Solace in your time % afflic-
ton. They are the real sa"Yants; OF
Him who babe them go and peach
} the gospel to all mankind. Colse.
! Grated ministers of the gospel. pas
; tors of churches wac live among and
love their fiOcks, love thee sOuj-S-ir
ring church songs because they soft
: en- the stoniest heart and draw il
closer to God
: II is the clownish acts. language o:
: levity and minstrel airS imported into
communities by nomadic ecclesiaS
: tics styling themselves evangelist,
/ who contrive TO carry away The "oif
: OF the community and leave in t:
stead a lot of unhollawed expressions
and an assortment OF airs used i
their song service which would make
] minstrel singers turn green with envy
: Pastors of churches and their familie.
2 ere often overlooked or entirely is
nOTed by their fOcks when they be
5 come Stampeded by these portable pie
: ity vendors who often rob the pastor
: by separating his flock from the coli
: which by right should go to the sup
I port of himself and family.
2 1t is astonishing with what celerity
: these foragers can seek and find fer
I tile soil for their seed. but they are
> always gone at the harvest time. wheT
reaction sets in, revulsion is eStab
j lisled. religion diScredited and reYeT
: ence- changed to ridicule.
: Recently we had our mind disabGS
? ed of the impression that q rehearsa
e OF comic. highly comic. songs was ii
y progress, when 10 our ireXpressibl'
Y surprise We learned they wer'
: church songs" left as a mementO D!
e a recently deDaTted evangelist. wa
v carried with him six hundred dollars
[, and but for the panic might have car
C ried more.
f After listening TO the strang'
] sounds which the pious gent mad lef;
/ labeled sacred songs, the though
Q came unbidden, that il those goo
e people were satisfied with their en'
8 Of the bargain the departed professo
lof piety ought to be.
~ I