Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1910-06-24
RELIGION FOR MEN
The Present Demand tor a
Replenishment Of the
Churches with Masculine
Virtues.


dering the best ways OF adapting
church machinery to new problems.
One of the features OF the present
awakening OF religious interest Is the
demand for a replenishment OF the
churches with the masculine virtues.
The demand is not premature. The
census shows that in most OF the &C
nominations the women outnumbcr
the men nearly two to one. The
Christian Scientists, naturally enough,
lead of with the largest percentage
of women; in that communion the
mother" element might be expected
to prevail. The highest percentage OF
men is found in some Of the Lutheran
divisions, which may lie explained in
part by the fact that all the children,
male and female, are required to learn
the catcchism ard be confirmed; but
/. Is doubtful whether the proportion
of adult males in actual service OF the
church Is larger among the Lutherans
than among the ether scots.
Various explanations OF this dicrro-
portion CT sex are offered. II Is some
times intimated that the types OF re-
Jigion presented by the churches arc
more adapted to the feminine than to
the masculine mind; but If that were
true 1t. would still be questionable
whether it was cause or conse-
auence. Some light is thrown upon
the question by the fact that the
church Is not the only field of activity
in which we>fnd large prepondcr-
ance of women. Public education Is
largely In the hands of women; they
are giving to the fine arts far more at
tention than men, and among our phil
anthropic workers they are In q heavy
majority. The spiritual side OF civil
zation seems to be committed quite
largely to their care. The reason /;
that the men are so much engrosscd
in the development Of the material
eide of civilization that they find little
time for these higher pursuits. Int
consequences of this neglect by mel
of the superior interests OF theil
lives we have been reaping In the
appalling infidelities and dishonestie'
which have recently been uncovered
Il Is true that the men have beef
dropping out of the churches and los
ing interest in religious matters, ant
it does not look as though this were
working well. In the quarters where
this tendency has been most showl
there has clearly been a marked dc
crease in masculine morality. 1t be
gins to be questionable whether soun'
character is likely to be sustaine'
apart from the spiritual ideals.
II It be evident that the men nee
religion, it is not less evident tina
; religion needs the men. God mad
mankind in His image, male and fe
male; the feminine qualities represen
one side of the divinity that is In u
! and the masculine qualities another
and the complete revelation require
both. A church which is two-third
women cannot fully represent this d
, vine life; it cannot make a true In
preston of the great realities Of RI
! ligion upon the community in whic
: 1t stands. There can be no doubt tha
, the church has been greatly enfeeble
! by this withdrawal of large numbf
, OF men from active participation in II
life.
It is the discovery OF this fact tn:
} awakened the widespread intere:
now finding expression in the brothe
) hoods springing into vigorous life
, all the Christian denominations. I'll
: Brotherhood of st. Andrew in til
D Episcopal church has long been 9
, efficient organization, and the health
I growth of that communion Is due
: large part to this agency. But all Il
other denominations are now rallyir
their men for similar service; in gre
conventions, East and West, the me
Of the churches are coming togeth
to envisage their tasks and should
I their responsibilities. Some Of Il
most enthusiastic gatherings viii
have recently taken place in tn
country are these assemblies Of me
:. stirred by the religious motive, al
,. eager to find ways in which they m
"a promote the work of the churches. F
:. the most part their action has be-
"a entirely rational; they have not pl
n posed much new machinery; tn
!. have usually sought to know how tn
v might apply their own power mo
n efficiently to the machinery already