The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-11-22
MORE CHRISTIAN
MEN IS NEWARK'S
GREATEST NEED

"Christ's Challenge to the Men OF
Newark was the subject of the Rev.
John McDowelrs sermon in the Park
Presbyterian Church yesterday. Taking
for his text the words of Judas, "What
will We give me and l will deliver rim
unto you. and they ~covenanted mn nm
for thirty pieces of silver Mr.. NC
Dowell spoke in part as follows:
..cbrist is concerned with everything
that concerns the welfare of man ana
the PROVEN of society. He identl
des Himself with men, with them IN
their sorrows and their joys. their trlais
and their triumphs. He knows their
possibilities and is ever seeking TO give
men the best possible chance to de-
yelop their possibilities, which means
that Jesus Christ is deeply interested
in the life of the city, the life of New
ark. Because of this interest ana tnls
relationship Christ Is challenglhs Tue
men of Newark tonight. This chalielse
is threefold.
TT is the challenge of a crisis. a
crisis. we are told, Is a turning -poiie
from which we may proceed to fortune
or to ruin. That Newark is IN sucn d
crisis is quite evident when we eohsioer
certain outstanding facts n tenoeh-
cies.
.First-The rapid growth of the city
in population, in commercial power anu
In Industrial activity has ushered New
ark out of the village stage into a fui-
fedged city. Such a transition Always
brings a crisis, a turning-polnt IN d
eitv's life. a time when the old customs
are questioned, and when new ways
are demanded. :.
.Second-The nature of TINS rapio
growth in population is another ele-
ment in this crisis. Most of those VINO
have helped to increase our population
come from foreign lands Many OF
them are ignorant of our religious,
moral and political standards. NOT
only are these people ignorant of our
standards, they have been trained ac-
cording to entirely different standards
in religion and morality. Law, not love
has been the dominant power in their
life. The soldier, not sentiment, has
kept them In check. Hence in this
land Of the free and the home of the
brave they very readily think that
liberty is doing what they like rather
than doing what they ought to do.
~..Thfrd-The third factor in ushering
in this crisis is the weakening and the
lowering of Christian standards by
those who call themselves Christians
and Americans. Just at the time wnen
we need every possible support for our
Christian standards and institutions
we are weakening and surrendering TO
lower ideals. Men in the pew, n a
few in the pulpit, are giving up some
of our 'blood-bought privileges for the
sake of personal ease and enjoyment
This ~defaulting is a strong factor IN
the present crisis.
"Fourth-It is the challenge of a
great danger. This danger is none less
than the concentrating of Newark
the selling out of our religious institu-
tons and ideals for the sake of money.
What is back of this plea for an open
Sunday heard today in every saloon,
every gambling den, and now n then
in a church here in Newark? Is the
welfare of man, or the home, or the
school, or the church, or the city the
impelling motive behind this demand?
Not at all. The men who are demand
ing that Newark shall surrender her
time-honored Christian Sabbath are
not seeking either the physical or the
moral health of Newark. Most of those
voicing this demand are citizens for
revenue only, and are not always citi-
zens of Newark, either. Several of those
who are asking for open Sunday show
houses in Newark come TO us from other
cities. They are not seeking Newark's
health. but her wealth. Her honoris moth
ing TO them; they care nothing for her
fair name so long as they can fill their
pockets with her coin. Surely in the
face of such a danger Christ's chal-
lenge is justified.
''Fiftn-It Is the challenge Of a great
need. What is Newark's supreme need
today? Not more laws; not more off,
eials; not more courts; not more insti-
Newark's supreme need is
more Christian men-Christian men
who know. in the first place, what
standards are; second. men
will not compromise Christ's
standards for either personal gain or
personal pleasure; third, men with
blood-red loyalty to all that Jesus
Christ stands for in personal and in
social life