The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-09-15
Reasons FIR Church doiaS

rr them with ltasou5 good or bad
out the church Ger IS rarely asked
to accout foln his action. Reasons
inspired m IRE or les, by malice are
often mouted 10 him: but this >ur-
nal h i instituted an inquiry, with
results that are interesting religious
and psychologically as well. The
ques ton why is answered by one in
saying:" Because it seems to me that
the Church bears the same relation
to right living that the flag docs to
patriotism-it upholds an ideal. +" A
lawyer. who says that perhaps he
"should not be expected to 60 to
church at ALL replies that he also
in church observance follows an
"ideal.'' He writes:
BRIEFLY, l go to church to wor-
ship God and because | know that l
can live a higher. a broader. AID a
better life as the result. I am in
action busy man and my religion
is rational rather than emotional.
But | know that ideals are the lev
err which moves the world that be-
hind every ideal lies religious inspira-
ton, and that church going is the
practical support of all religion. "
Another has three resons;
II. Because of what it stands for.
With all of it's human imperfections
the Christian Church stands for the
best elements of life and the highest
conception OF God known to man
kind.
2.Because of it's offspring. Nearly
all the institutions and agencies in
terested in the uplifting of humanity
are the product, directly or Indirect
ly, of the christian church. And
most of the people who give their
time, talents and money to the sup
port of these benefcent institutions
are members of, or results of, the
life and work of the church. [ want
to have part in this general uplift.
SO. Because of It's enemies. If
man is to be judged by his enemies
why not the church? The foes of
the home marriage and righteous
ness are foes of the church. All
forces which seek mankind's de-
struction seek the Church s vllifca-
ton.
A farmers wife gives mingling of
religious and worldly resons that
bear a very hnman stamp;
I am the wife of farmer living
in thinly settled section of the
country. I 60 to church services he'd
in a log shack, to hear sincere, if not
always brillent, sermons: to sing; to
wear my best clothes, and to see
other people. .
( One who ans wers the question adj
mits that his or her ''reasons for 90
Ing to church are un-chrjstianlike as,
can well be imagined. Thus;
81 have been reared to think that
all well bred people go to some
church. 1t doesn't take very much
time out of your Sunday two hours
or So and you leave an impression
that you are distintly high toned
and perfectly proper.
mo cold cream on hot flesh ever
produced such soothing sensation as
this churchly application will to
your soul.
Nov, Mr.. Editor, that is the
sqnare, honest reason why thou
sands of people go to church. But
if you are hunting for a true religi-
Gus upllft. you'll squirm and be
afraid to publish this.
Fifteen letters were sent to fiji
teen young men, known to be
churchgoers. These were the ques-
tions asked;
"Nane? Age? Married or single?
Occp patton? About how many Sun
days of the year do you attend
church? why do you go to church?
Please confne your answer within
hundred words. Fourteen out of
the fifteen replied. Seven expressed
a desiIe to exert good influence
over others by the rightful obser-
vance of the Sabbath. Ten believe
that church attendance is duty.
and eleven speak of church attend
dance as a privilege. Only four
speak of the sermon, and one touches
the keynote whom he says; | never
go away without blessing.
1t matters not who the preacher is.
wheter he be an eloquent or scholar
ly orator or not. If he be a chris
tian at heart. he will bring US the
blessing that we need.
"The Literary Digest"