Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-01
ROCKEFELLER HOLDS BACH
Believes Others Should Help the Fine
New Church.
CONGREGATION TO GET A CHANCE
~ the Fifth Avenue Bnptists Build a
Half MfRiOn-DOlInr Edifice a.
VIII be when All Come
Through.

NEW YORK. April ls.-Cspecisl Dispatch
TO The Bee John n. Rockefeller can
hardly be called close man in matters
which attract his interest and there is no
denying his interest in the Baptist church
generally and IN the Fifth Avenue Baptist
church, in which he is a communicant
particularly. This congregation is arranE-
Ing TO build one Of the finest houses OF
worship in this city and the idea has pre-
vailed in some quarters that M. Rookie
feller intended TO stand the greater part. Il
not all the cost Of the new structure.
This idea however received a severe jar
recently when Rev. Charles r. Aked pastor
Of the church made this announcement:
The building Of this S5OOO0O church for
us is not 10 be by a certain distinguished
man of wealth in this parish, nor by his
son. il is % be built by the whole conErega-
ton. each giving according 10 his or her
means Every one must contribute and
when the structure shall have arisen TO
testify that this parish is not content with
mediocrity. ] will unfold many other great
plans / have in view"
Be Il understood that the reason Mr.
Rockefeller will build the church is not be-
cause Of unwillinEness to give the money,
but he believes that the spiritual power Of
the congregation will be greatly increased
n It's entire membership shall share in the
building And am inclined TO believe he is
right in so thinking.
Church GOtnE ny Proxy.
Apparently conditions in England are
not so different from those We are familiar
with in the matter Of church-EolnE. A great
deal Of business is done by proxy and II is
Av.s -Nl-va
Ct comes TO fullfiument Of obligation 70 the
church Of God it does strike one ss little
inconEruous for man 10 expect his wife
and children 10 attend 10 a duty that de-
wolves upon the head Of the family. When
Bishop Ingram visited this country couple
Of years ago. his vigorous manner and ring
Ing e1ouuence when he addressed the
thronEs that were ever ready 10 listen
when he was ready 70 speak, made great
impression We fancy that the following
recent utteranceg will find responsive
echo in many an American breast. In the
subjects introduced by the bishop in his
Lenten mission addresses in certain subur-
ban districts OF London one was, Home
training IN religion
How many men were content to say 10
the children. Now dears, run off to Sun
] o
every Sunday evening and never attempt to
20 themselves? If the father was goddess
/ or q non-church goer, sooner or later the
/ boys would follow in the same footsteps;
and il for no other reason, but for the
chudren's sake the men should sanctlfy
! themselves. and by prayer, Bible reading,
church attendance and the teaching Of the
children. bring religion into the home. The
] CzoI - he "a prf1sly 3 n
he was responsible for the teaching Of the
love and fear Of God, and II the fathers Of
/ the present day took more interest in the
children. It would make a great difference
in the religion OF the home life, both now
and in the years to come"
Free PresbyteriRn PewG.
There is a strong movement in the Pres
byterian church in this city TO do away
with pew rents entirely The argument is
THAT the renting Of pews tends to create
a class distinction in the church which
keeps many people away because they
cannot afford to pay as much as the pew
holders and believe they are therefore
looked down upon. Several q the churches
have recently done away with pew rentals
and others are considering taking the step
Church Activity in France.
Though the French church seems chiefly
occupied in conducting an aggressive cam
paign against the state in behalf Of the
curisl maxim that Christianity stands or
falls with state recognition and the own
ership Of property. il is clear that this
kind Of activity does not appeal to the
whole body Of French churchmen A large
number Of young men, mostly belonging
70 the church, started a movement eight
wears ago which, under the name Of Sill
Ion, has become widely known because Of
its intensely real and earnest propaganda
Its object is 10 gather together those who
/ believe in the brotherhood Of men and
who see in religious faith an indispensab BILE
moral basis for the public good.
/ one Of the best known leaders Of the
movement is Marc Sangnier. a man Of
great orstorical power, who has used II to
/ Pruning season does not last long IL
| the garden Is TO have its best results.
For once the sap runs freely in plants OF