The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-03-08
A MISSIONARY GELD

A New York pastor recently said
that Manhattan island will become
the next great field for the foreign
missionary" meaning thereby pre-
sumably that the people of New York
city and its environments were getting
so far away from the churches that
especial efforts would have to be made
to re-evangelize the entire island. 1t
was timely remark, but what is
true of New York is true, to lesser
extent, of all cities.
The churches of city face an en-
tirely different proposition from that
faced by the churches in the rural
communities or small towns. The
pastor means less in a city than liz
the Countrywide church does not stand
for the same thing with the two peo-
pies.
In the first place, the personnel OF
the congregations in the city Is not so
stable as II is in the country. Peo-
pie come and go with greater fire.
auency in the city, and their religions
interests are not centered in the
church to the extent that they are in
The rural communities. Then. there
are more things to divert the attention
from the church in the city.
Iu the country the church is some
thing more than meeting place, where
one goes periodically to hear the Cos
pel preached There is "a sentiment
attached 10 il that does not attach to
the city church, as a rule. The coun-
try church is not only the place where
one worships, but the shrine about
which is centered all of the tenderesi
memories II the family. 1t was there
the mother and father were married
perhaps member or two OF the
family, II may be, have been carried
into that church. and about the coffin
have gathered the loved ones. In the
little cemetery about the church often
sleep the beloved dead Of the members
of the congregation In ract, all of the
sentiment which is sacred is clustered
about the little building 1t Is verify
the church of the congregation. That
Is, the individual members of the COM
gregation feel that 1t is his or her
church not the church of an unknown
mob of strangers, who gather occasion
ally TO display their finery. None
would no more think Of deserting his
or her church in the country than ne
or she would think of dlscarding the
family name.
But in the city 1t is different In the
first place the members of the church
are not acquainted with each other.
They have no community of interest
They worship the same God, OF course.
but after the services each goes about
his respective way, with never
thought of any other member OF the
flock. Most of the members nave
Joined by letter" Many of them
know they will sooner or later with
draw their letters. The church was
built without their help; 1t Is not their
church, in a sense. It Is in no way
connected with the memories OF the
family, except in rare Instances. Thus
the city church can never hope to get
such a hold upon the congregation as
does the country church.
So that 1t Is much easier for city
resident to drift away from the church
than II Is for the dweller of the small
town. Church going as largely mat
ter of habit, anyway, with many per-
sons, and it is a habit which one dis
cards readily. If one is curious to ar
rive at better understanding Of these
things, let him recall the many fami-
lies of his acquaintance who were reg
ular church members when they liv-
ed in the small town or in the coun-
try, but who do not now attend church
regularly since they have moved TO
the city. Perhaps, one can learn some
thing about the tendency from an in
vestigation of his own case.
New York is therefore getting away
from the churches. Not because the
at heart than the other people, but be
the people are very different
cause OF the difference between the
sentiments attaching to the city
church and the country church-be-
cause of the REASONS just given. How