The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-30
CLAP-TRAP CHURCH METHODS.

CLAP-TRAP CHURCH METHODS.
spontaneously with the heated season the aver
age pastor discovers that church attendances fall
in inverse ratio to the rise OF the mercury in
the tube If he is wise, he views this manifesto
ton with more or less good humoured philoso-
ply, mingled if he be very wise, by judicious
variation in service and sermon calculated to
combat the enervating effects of the temperature.
If he be himself man to be made choleric with
the heat, he makes the mistake of Tuning with
himself and his congregation, SO that the one be-
comes still hotter and the other disappears III
search of a less heating exercie. But, if he be
really silly, there will be generally found In him
the type of minister who with cherubic faith
and wasted optimism seeks to apply the show
mans proverb to the church. and declaring The
people must be amused attempts to do so with
out the aid either of training or temperament.
The inevitable result is q transient rush to see
the new show, and corresponding slump into
AN more profound lethargy.
We do not know why this tradition prevails.
II it has succeeded, we have not heard of it,
even SO far as attaining the particular end de-
sired. So far as accomplishing anything that
is really worth while, it cannot succeed The
world may sometimes seen to take its, religion
lightly, but it is revelation TO how far this
lightness is merely apparent to note with what
quick disgust it turns from anything and any
body who, in official capacity, seeks to cheaper
its form. In all the list of church attractions,
ranging as they have from temperance" saloons
to what can only be adequately described as
sacred" vaudeville, there is not one that has
survived the brefest sort of novelty.
The latest departure of this sort that we have
noted is the leap toward notoriety of Rev. II. y.
Jump, pastor of the South Congregational
Church. New Britain, Connecticut "Churches
to maintain membership must offer inducements
that will get people to attend services" he de-
clares in the evident hallucination of orig lnal-
ity, land | propose to make South Church a
popular place this summer" AS a consequence
he proposes to have his sermons illutrated with
motion pictures, and to provide other popular
features. As a result the motion picture men,
who have been making losing fight for Sum
day performances, are moving for an injunction,
and merry advertising war may be expected
between the vaudeville houses on the one hand
and the church ON the other. And in such q
contest it cannot be doubted where the victory
will rest.
The trouble in these efforts that, in one form
or another continue to be making, is two-fold,
Specifically, it is the difference that has and
ALWAYS will exist between the real and the spurl-
Gus, the professional and the amateur. Every,
one does that thing best about which he knows
most and everyone worth while knows most
about that which he wishes to do best. When a
pastor undertakes to run moving picture show,
he displays ''side-line' in competition with
men who are doing the same thing as central
AIM He not only fails in his departure, but
weakens the effectiveness of his real calling by
reason if not by the measure of his failure. he
is handling weapons that he does not know how
to use. But beyond this, is the broader truth
1that the people hold the church sacred. They
will support it only so long it holds to its faith
and the dignity of it's aims. A congregation that
is lured to the church does it no manner of good.
Indeed, it reflects upon the church and makes
impotent its effort. To inject claptrap into
religion is to confess its failure and prostitute its
aim.
Nor do we consider as seriously as some the
alleged falling off in church attendance and
church membership. The heart of the people
is still right. The hold of the church is still
strong. Perhaps in it's service there is not alto
gether the passion animating those who were
ready to die for it in the days when its exist
ence was threatened Perhaps irpa measure
the want of necessity for sacrifice has super
fcially cooled the people who ought to support
it most ardently But that tits superficial, that
there is the great reserve force still behind the
church, still deepening and broadening
ea Il +