Evening journal., 1909-07-08
QUITS MINISTRY
CENSURES CHURCH
Rich Control Them; No Aid
to Common People, Says
Rev. Mr.. Black, Of Troy
TO DEVOTE HIMSELF
TO SOCIALISTIC WORK

TROY, N. Y, July 8-The Rev.
Loomis o. Black, pastor of the First
Universalist Church, and one of the
most popular clergymen Of Troy, has
surprised his congregation by his an
nouncement that he viii retire from
the ministry on August ] to devote
himself to socialistic work An offer
20 double his salary has failed 70
swerve him from his purpose. lie
says he never again will occupy a
pulpit as pastor.
I have been brought to take this
step by the fact that the Church has
no definite policy" said the Rev Mr.
Black, nor does il desire to have any
on any Of the problems before the
country to-day. Take the peace move
ment. The Church is neither for nor
against peace; Il is neither for nor
against the temperance movement; il
is neither for nor against the enforce
ment Of the law; II has no opinion
whatever on the labor problem. In the
social problems it's policy is concilia-
tory and weak rather than aggressive
The Church has absolutely no desire
TO WELD any influence to help the COM
mon people TO get fair play. IL is not
back Of any organization of men To
get their rights. The moneyed classes
OF to-day control sthe attitude of the
church toward any problem. The
Church has no desire 10 have its min
listers deal with any subject that is
the least bit questionable. For in
stance, minister must not preach
about Socialism; he must not tackle
| the liquor question:; he must not
! speak of the brotheis.
He must withdraw himself from
the active affairs which should claim
he attention Of a clergyman as wei
as any other man. Above an. IL h
has ideas on social problems he mus
not voice them. The Church is mor'
interested in righting mems littl'
faults and Inconsistencies than il Is II
dealing with the great faults that arr
undermining society.
The Church will find fault with ;
vaudeville performance or a baseboi
game on Sunday, but it will say moth
ing against a system which year afte
year degrades and starves millions
Why, to-day I'm this country there ar
four millions of persons starving ant
the Church. while II has sympatheti
spirit and deals out charity. is doini
absolutely nothing 10 remove tn
causes that produce that unfortunat
condition.
"In the days gone by the church ha
welded a tremendous influence, but
has undeniably lost its hold on tn
people because for many years IL ha
had no definite policy on any vita
problem It has been interested in IL
theology, discussing its creeds and at
tempting TO build up its denomina
tions, rather than to minister to tn
real needs of man.
ct believe the teachings Of Jesus ar
put before the Church to-day, it wi
ask first Of all is it polite. instead &
is It right. Jesuss philosophy is base
upon what is right, whether polite o
not
1.-THE great principle of Jesus philos
ophy was that he was friend Of tn
common people. The Church is not
friend Of the common people in that
does not stand back of their efforts
better their conditions. The teaching
Of Jesus will live, If not in the Churcl
then out Of the Church. Man is re
ligious being and viii have religion
institutions that 90 to the very root q
things If he cannot express his idea
and his needs in the Church as it
to-day, he will express them outsid
, of the church in labor socialistic an
other movements"