The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-06
FOR MANLY'SERMONS
SAYS CHURCH CATERS TOO
MUCH TO FEMlNINITY.
Preach a Manly Christ, Says Rev. Lum-
bar, and More Men Will Go
to Church.

Averring that the ministers of the
present day cater too much to the
feminine, which is. he said, the
cause of apathy among the men con-
corning matters religious and account
ing for their non-attendance, the Rev.
w. T. Sherman Lumbar, pastor the
Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. preached
an interesting sermon last night on the
subject of Why More Men Do Not
Attend Church, and Why Some Do9
Not Attend More" His text was take n
from Luke xiv, 10: And they all With
one consent began to make excuse<'
Mr.. Lumbar said in part:
THE question proposed in the fheme IL
by no means a small ore. It rer Shes into
the very heart cf our national fife. Mill
ions of men, we are told, aver attend
church. The church and tn schools are
the very foundation of our rlational life, in
proportion as they are weakened will that
to grow up intelligentN religious their
fathers must be active ~ religious. Men
have a larger practical influence en- the re-
ity than do women. THE contrary notion
is usually held, or ri least taught. but it is
fundamentally wrong, and much of the
religious and chrdch weakness of our day
is the result.
why is It there are SO few men found
In the services of the average church?
church they so generally 5egln to make
excuse? l do not believe In the least tina.
It IS because men are naturally more
wicked 'han women, nor because they
have a weaker religious temperament.
Neithef are all the excuses given reasons.
"OpA excuse is: They have to work so
hard. that when Sunday comes they are
tired. and that day is their only chance Of
recreation or rest. That that is not a real
Reason Is apparent, when we remember
Chat mu1titudes of those who make it have
( Saturday afternoon for a holiday, and al
most all men work fewer hours than their
fathers did. Again, most men do NOT work
any harder, in proportion to their strength,
than millions of women do who attend
church. These very men are not too tired
70 attend a meeting of their labor union
evening". nor do many other things that
are neither rest nor recreation.
Another excuse is: The church doesn't
care for the workingman. The cry is a
widespread one. Many profess to believe
that II a poor man enters a church he will
man does. There Is some occasion for
such a feeling, to the great shame of the
ShqrG nee Thsss i pla is t himself FG IN sane : posI mSn
where he will provoke unkindly criticism.
Still there are thousands Of churches that
MAKE no difference in their treatment of
the rich and poor. Modern luxury has
fitted up many of our churches in so ex-
pensive q manner, and so increased the
pie, men on a small weekly wage, either
feel put of harmony with their surround
ings or unable to contribute any adequate
sum for its support. When to this you
add the costly garments many feel they
must wear to church, the last place in the
world where show and display are in good
taste, you have real reasons why some
women and many men do not attend
church.
.'Others say the minister is not inter-
esting. That may be true. but not be-
cause he might not be, for ministers are
the best educated class of men, as a whole,
you will find anywhere. If a minister Is
not interesting 1t is because he has not
rightly understood his calling and the
nature of his message. Some preach in a
clothing their thoughts with theological
phraseology; others are Forever holding up
their children or wives as s aats ann I'm 3hs
detriment of truth and influence. How
ever much the first may. satisfy woman's
love of mystery and the latter may please
her, neither interest or hold man.
"Some men, / think they are few, do not
attend a church because they are neither
are living nor to listen to reproof for the
same. They will not come unto me-
I'm my Judgment, the great reason many
men do not attend church, or do, not go
more frequently, is because the Christian
religion has been made too feminine. There
is a great truth in the thought of the
mother nature of GOD, but It Is not the
prominent PRO- feature "a OF 1T Il ar me nd nature an Of
the nature of His Son, Jesus, was one OF
great vigor and manliness, but the atti-
/ IH10 u lii CnuECn u Obt lHdL tAdllS Tie
weaker side of mankind and condemns the
stronger. This began centuries ago, and
has grown until il permeates the whole
church. The early paintings of Jesus rep
resent him as a man of almost feminine,
If not eliminate, face. Because He suf-
fered patiently and bore the unjust con- 3
tempt at r%eprisal. and enjoined His dis
ciples to do so also, we have. therefore,
e eHf of ali fhe nTop wlrfoes' SWge we have as f foFgot afs,
that He taught he dignity of a definite,
did the passive virtues; Because we have
found meekness, humility and self-efface-
ment in His teachings, we have foolishly
concluded there was mo place left for the
more aggressive virtues, and the over
whelming weight of preaching has tended
to foster the more doclle, Submissive quail
ties that are supposed to belong more to
the feminine. The result is that many
men of strong personality, finding no place
God had endowed them, in the church.
have quietly remained outside. They will
contribute to its support for the sake of
the wife or the child, but do not go them
we have forgotten, it would seem, the
marvellous virlity of Jesus, His great 49,
gressiveness, 1t was not a weak nature
that drove the money-changers out of tie
temple; that publicly rehnked the selfish
ambition of His disciples for preeminence
In heaven; that defed the combined
wealth and ~religiosity Of Sadduces ard
Pharisees; that blasted the barren fig tree,
and pronounced similar doom against men
" ARS iatuiSB nSlCASI was II u Ieiultli-lS
nature that enabled Him to 'resolutely set
His face for Jerusalem that He might 10
crucifed, and In that very c~rucifixion
triumph over His foes. These God-given
qualities should be cultivated and extolled
as much. as the quieter virtues, for they
exist side by side Ia most, and to sup
press the one ana exalt the other means
great loss. Loss to the one who does 1t,
and loss of the men who cannot compre-
bend such jugglery with nature.
Let men, ministers, preach a manly
Christ and 81 manly pOSNnl I'm q manly uroU
and men will come to listen, for men are
quick to sense and appreciate that which
is Of worth. The church has catered to
women more than men, let 1t be honest,
fair and manly in the ministry it gives