The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-01-21
TIE MATTER WITH TIE
CHURCHES.

Tners is msch Of comfort to the
Ch-istiaa, and of satisfaction to him
who does not profess to be a
Christian, but who yet believes that
Chrialiaaity is the basis OF the finest
civilization of the ages, in the
article by Mr.. z. M. Camp, in
answer to the question, "What Is
the Matter With the Churches?"
printed 10 the magazine section of
The Globe Democrat. Humanity in
he mass, as in its Individual ele-
ments, has its periods Of exaltalioa
and depression, its Eysan fields
and its Sloughs of Despond. There
are timss when the world moves
forward as ship under full sail
with favorable winds. There are
times when it seems to have broken
its rudder and with naked masts
is drifting backward. But it is only
seeming, The world turns always
in one diseCtion.
For several years a considerable
proportion of the Christian world
has been nsnifesting symptoms of
acute melancholia. 1t has looked
atreligious conditions withjaundiced
eyes and has seen nothing but
broken rudders and shredded sails.
Many Christian leaders have be-
walled, and are still bewailinng, the
loss of Christian faith, the decline
of Christian power, the lessening of
Christian influences. Is there any
real basis for this pessimistie atli
tudt? for this widespread discourage
men? Mr.. Camp proves con
clusively that there is aone. The
Christian church is not retrograding.
On the contrary, it is moving for
ward With greater speed and with
broader sweep than ever before. In
the United States church member
snip is increasing more rapidly than
the population. L. 1899 go Of
eve Zoo Inhabitants were church
members; in 1896 80 of every 100
inhabitants were affiliated with
Christian church. Is this retrogles
sion or is it GROWTH There is bul
one answer. Mere numbers, how
ever, mean little unless they are
active. Are the 80 members of
1906, or the possible 40 of today,
doing as much for the cause as the
3a of 1892 Mr.. Camp shows tha
they are, and more, They are, in
the first place, giving more money.
The disposition to open the pocket
book and pay may not be the finest
test of Christian sincerity, but it is
unquestionably the surest, and
by that test the Christians
Of today are in advance of those of
yesterday, for they are contributing
larger sums to church support, to
and to- charity. But they
are not only giving more; they are
doing more. Never since the be-
ginning of Christianity has there
been so many lsymen at work for
the cause of Christ as ROW, work
ing without recompence and without
earthly reward, working as He did
to carry light and comfort and
happiness into the byways, to make
the world better place in which 10
live and heaven easier to reach.
The Christian church il not per-
feet. 1t is an organization OF
haIan beings, and the point where
humanity and perfection meet is
far, far in the future. But the
church is progressing wonderfully.
There can be ne doubt about that.
No matter what the pessimists may
say, ths facts prove that lis power
is greater and its influence broader
and meTe beneficial than ever before
1t is not only spreading farther and
across the heather lands,
bui Is sinking deeper into the hearts
OF cur ewn. 1t is doing things
undrcaned of in the days of cur
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