Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-22
Outside Point of VIEW

There is no doubt that the preachers
of today are and the preachers of the
future will be d varied assortment
General Booth, with all of his ability.
fails to reach the religious part of
human nature, if Christian Scientist
is in his audience. Preacher Roosevelt
would make a complete failure, COM
peting with Billy Sunday to save lost
souls. The fact is we want our mental
as well as religious food and sus-
tenance, prepared to suit our taste
And men and women form societies
and hire preachers to hand out re-
ligious food of the kind they enjoy
(mentally) digesting. A preacher comes
to such organizations ION trial" And
this trial means exactly this, said
preacher must preach what we believe
or we have no use for him. It's use
less to claim a pastor teaches his
congregation. He only keeps abreast
The instant a preacher steps out of the
beaten path he ceases to be orthodox.
General Booth has accomplished q
great work. but he is wise enough to
work with the material others have
neglected. Pounding cymbals and big
base drum, together with poke bonnets
and red uniform appeals to GER
tain element. So do the vestments in
cense and candles in another church
organization. But bare walls and I'M
cushioned seats have a hold on the
Quakers and Shakers. Millions need a
General Booth, but more millions need
a pope, while other organizations pre-
fer to and do govern themselves in
all church matters.
There is this much to be said con-
corning the preacher of the future
! There is a great unoccupied field for
him. It's the big wide plain of indif-
ference. that the minister of the future
can successfully work in and produce
great harvests if he is fitted for the
field. The world today composed as it
is of all classes, is Indifferent concern
ing religious matters. SO little interest
is shown, that is speaking generally,
that intdel or believer finds little or no
out spoken opposition. Bob Ingersoll
or Tom Paine, brought back to life to-
day, could not shock the world. This is
not a condition peculiar to religion. Its
just as true of the scientific world.
| Two discoveries of the north pole will
not have as many readers as DR.. Kane
did. Its the age of admitting every
thing and believing nothing. 1t may
be SO. and it may not General Apathy
in our presidential campaigns is fire.
l'quently mentioned as being present.
General Apathy is today every where
attending religious services. Tolerance
has become Indifference. Jew and Cen
tile sit down tremendously at the same
brand. The infidel, ATHEIST and agnostic
no longer feel any social ostracism.
Time was when the free thinker even
found expressed views injured his bust
ness ventures.
Many preachers of the evangelistic
orders have tried to cultivate this big
field Of Indifference. with sensational
method Other preachers of regular
holdings have attempted the same by
other unusual proceedings. The in
stitutional church is along this line
I Christian science and Dowieism in diff
ferent ways turned many burrows in
/ the land of Indifference Both had and
have many followers and earnest work
ars and believers. But the great mass
of humanity is waiting for the minis
ter of the future. Waiting careless
ind