The San Francisco call., 1909-04-26

PASTOR ASKS WHY
MENOODGE CHURCH
DR.. E. r. Ollie Commences Series
of Sermons Before Central
Methodist Congregation
Lack OF Modern Methods and
Fraternal Spirit Deplored
by the Preacher

cribed the nonattendance of men a.
church, DIR. Z. r. Ollie, pastor of The
Central Methodist church, in O'Farreil
street near Franklin, has sent out {.
number of questions to men, mostly
non church goers. and he viii make
the answers the basis for a series of
sermons.
In his sermon last night DR.. Ollie
spoke of social service and of the mis-
takes made by the church. He said in
part:
In the last few years there has been
an increase in the relative number of
men to women in our churches, due to
the Y NJ c. A. movement, the Young
peoples movement and the increased
emphasis now being put upon specific
work for men and upon social service
by the church.
AT the beginning of the last century
the men constituted only about one
sixth of the membership of the church
in this country; now they constitute
about one-third of that membership.
WHY MEN STAY OUTSIDE
But why are so many men outside
of the church? l hold that state of
things to be in part the fault of the
men themselves, part the fault of soci-
ETY. and in part the fault of the church;
and since Judgment must begin at the
house of God 1 propose. first of all, to
discuss what l believe to be the fault
of the church in this matter.
In the later sermons of this series
l shall take UP the answers to my cir
cular letter, only a part of which have
been received as the letter went out
late this week. Those received have
been frank, courteous and illuminat-
ing; they show marked differences of
opinion, but there is not one of these
answers that may not be pondered by
ministers and churchmen with profit
and instruction.
Il hold that there is a radical defect
in that church in (which men are lack
ing so far as numbers and leadership
are concerned. Men are not naturally
less religious than women, nor are they
less interested in the practical side of
the gospel.
The first fault CT the church is out
of date methods The gospel of the
first century in a church OF the TWEEN
tfeth century-that is the victorious
combination.
The second fault of the church is
the lack of the fraternal spirit seen in
many churches.
The Masters grip on the II was not
theological nor ecclesia sticaI but fra
ternal; he was not their preacher or
+ their priest, but their friend; they
loved him because they knew him, and
they knew him because they were close
to him.
PLEA FOR SOCIAL SERVICE
The Christian church has committed
serious blunder when it has failed
TO follow the masters example. We
have scolded vigorously because the
fraternal orders keep men away from
/ the church The church will do well
to take heed lest the lodge take her
crown, for the social feature the fra
/ ternal spirit is emphasized there, and
! the demon OF caste has no place. The
Methodist church began with a mems
! club, a brotherhood of man, the Holy
Club at Oxford.
Then the church that wins and
/ holds men must give itself to social
service. Men drift away from the
church because in their conception of
it it lives for itself and does but little
in the way of serving humanity. But
! if the church teaches the broader con
ception of the Christian social mission
will it not be at the expense of neg
lecting her spiritual mission? On the
contrary, it is only possible to be true
to our spiritual mission by being true
to our social mission. Regeneration is
He that loveth not his brother, whom
he hath seen, how can he love God.
whom he hath not seen?
Let the church lose herself in her
mission; let men see that she is not
! trying to build up an ecclesiasticism,
but to build up Christ's kingdom by
serving humanity"
PLANS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
The Central church always has been
popular with men, especially young
men, The new church to be built on
the southwest corner of O'Farren and
Leavenworth streets will be arranged
with a view to making entertainment
for young folks. There will be hand
ball and tennis courts outside and read
| ing rooms and other amusements in
/ side-a pipe organ and musical instru-
ments, and perhaps stage and
/ stereopticon. There also will be par
sonage
| The ground for the new church-a
/ so vara lot-was purchased few days
| ago and the building will be COM
menced soon. This is the fourth build
ing to be erected by the congregation,
/ which was organized in 1864 The first
! building was small frame affair at
/ the corner of Mission and sixth streets.
/ built on a leased lot, and there were so
members who attended service regu-
1 lrA ~ HIS W DIS ID mission from the
Howard street Methodist Episcopalian
church and Rev John D. Balm was the
preacher.
Since the fire the congregation has
worshiped at the Simpson Memorial
church and at st. Marks on O'FarreIl
street. The congregation and the pas
tor, as we'll as the trustees and Sunday
school superintendent, are working
hard and enthusiastically at the task
of building the new church. their own
home.
PASTOR CALLED THREE TIMES
The Sunday school superintendents
have been: James F. Smith, wesley B.
Holcomb, James N. Nye, John Fault
William II. Coddington, Charles j.
Holmes, William Abbott and Rolla V.
/ Watt. The congregation at present
numbers 700.
DR.. E. r Ollie, the present pa stor.
/ is ministering to the congregation for
the third. time, having been called TO
the church first from Indiana in 1881
and serving until 1884. and second
time in 1892 to 1897 He took charge
again shortly after the fire. succeeding
Rev. G. ". White. He is an able or
ganizer and pulpit orator, man of
genial as well as forceful personality
and he can count his friends by the
| fho41co nde in Califor,;o II