Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1910-03-07
DECLARES CHURCH
IS NOT OPPOSED
TO WORKINGMEN
Fashions and Some Clergymen
Scored by the Rev. Mr..
Granger in Sermon.

us the Church Opposed to the Work.
ingman?" was the subject of a sermon
delivered last night by the Rev.
Charles Everest Granger in the Central
Presbyterian Church. He took his text
from Ezra ill.,, 9, Let the workingmen
in the house of God,e and spoke as fol-
lows:
1T is commonly supposed that in it's
early days Christianity appealed to the
poor and to those in the humber walks
of life; that it did not appeal to the
| cultured or aristocratic. This is largely
true, and yet we find in the New
Testament writings ample to warrant
the belief that Christianity did appeal
| to some in the more aff1uent and aristo-
cratic circles of society; that they en-
braced Christianity, united with the
| Christian church, found Christianity a
response to their needs, and proved
themselves worthy and eminent Chris
tians The fact remains, however, that
for many years Christianity was the
poor mans religion, and to some extent
it has always been So
There are those who think that the
church of today has gotten far away
from this position, and they may have
some reason for their belief. AS soon
as Christianity became respectable in
the eyes of the world it became popular
with what are called the upper classes,
and, as they have always had control
of about everything in the world that
can be controlled, they soon took con-
troll of the church also.
"The Reformation did much to bring
the common people into their rights
and liberties in Christianity. But now,
after a period of 400 years, we find
many who have weakly surrendered
the very priceless benefits for which
many of their forefathers suffered and
died that we might enojy, We find to-
day from five to seven times as many
workingmen outside of the church as
| in the church.
This to say the least, is a matter
which should give the church some con-
cern, if not alarm, and it behooyes the
church to stir itself for the solution of
this problem and to do all possible to
let the workmen in the house of God,
where they belong.
Presbyterians Take Action.
THANK God, the church is busying
itself in proper, dignified Christian
way with this problem. The Presby-
terian Church is leading in this great
work, not for the sake of leading, but
for the sake of the workingmen and the
church.
I'VE may ask at the outset, What is
the Christian church? The true Chris
tian church is a body of believers in
Jesus Christ banded together for the
worship of God and the PRONUNCIATION
of the teachings of Jesus, according to
the teachings of Jesus 1t does not
recognize caste or class or mass. 1t does
not teach or tolerate coercion or perse-
cution or intolerance. The true Chris
| tan church is not an organization
where the classes are in control
| or the masses in control, but
where there is the true spirit of fellow
ship and brotherhood, where every man
regards the value of every other man.
and where all recognize Christ as the
head and all his servants. If the aris-
tocrats lay claim to the church they
are mistaken. If the common people
| lay claim to the church they are III
error The only invitation Jesus ever
gave was all embracing in its scope. II
was whosoever' and that great
blessed, sweeping invitation laid the
foundation for a great cosmopolitan
movement
Il think there are some very good
reasons why workingmen are not found
in the church in larger numbers.
"In the first place, 1 will blame the
clergy | have known preachers for
many years. 1 have associated with
them intimately.
BIames Clergymen.
"Though there are exceptions, yet
| believe the average minister of the
gospel to be as conscientious, hard
working earnest, self-sacrificing citi-
zen as can be found in society. The eX-
ceptional case may be brought to our
own conspicuous attention at times
the great army of true men are Tor
gotten. But while l have this tribute
for my brethren l have also this criti-
cism: Many preachers have been Sc
uncertain in their gospel message, and
have thrown such a meshwork OF IFS
and butts and 'peradventures' over
christian congregations that the minds
of many honest men have been pois-
oned with grave religious doubts.
Now, the average workingman is, il
he is anything, both honest and practi-
cal and such q man.. listening from
Sunday to Sunday to the uncertainties
of the so-called gospel message, would
be likely to ask the question, What's
the use? and seek a more assuring
definite, substantial berth.
I'm the second place l will say the
laity has been at fault The employer
exalted to a position of prominence In
the church, has not always been care
full to exalt Christ in the shop, factory
store, office. And so without charity
but by the reasonable deductions of
worldly wisdom and reasoning, the
workingman has frequently been heard
to say, Well, if that is Christianity,
meaning churchanity, L don't want it..
The Inconsistencies of protesting Chris
tians have always been great STUN