The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-05-26


So long as hearts may beat
And all the years are bringing
The tread of dancing feet.
-WIibar D. Nesbit
-o+:.O-
The Shepherd and His Flock.
Although the masculine non-church
goer has for a long time attracted the
disappearing attention of church writers
as well as Of a large number OF the
clergy, who have sternly rebuked him
from the pulpit. he Stubbornly continues
to pursue the even tenor of his way.
And worse than this, whereas III days
gone by he alone was to any great eX-
tent open to the charge of bacKSiIdlng
in such respect, of late years his wife
and daughters i'll increasing numbers
have taken to emitting regular church
attendance, and that without the least
loss of caste, except, perhaps, IN small,
conservative communities.
Why is it that men and women who
not only lead respectable lives, but who
devote much of the time they can spare
from the most pressing personal claims
to what are incOntestably good works,
are today so frequently to be counted
among those who habitually absent
themselves from divine service! This Is
the question over which many good per-
sons are in despair, and it is but natural
that they should be, for what between
their concern for the souls of their COM
munities, and the prospect of being left
without employment, they have much to
worry them. 1t is also the question that
is perpleXing church councils, which are
at their wits end to devise methods of
persuading Coercion being no longer per-
missible in the Protestant communion, at
least), people to come back into the fold.
luf in of oil fho hot nd
efforts at reform on the part of the re-
ligious agencies of the age, the number
of the non-church goers keeps on increas-
ing at a rate alarming to those who re-
gard Sunday observation, according to
ecclesiastical formula, as the only test of
character, and the only hope of saliva
ton.
Perceiving the trouble churches are in
over the drifting away of their congre-
cations, eX-PreSident Eliot of Harvard
not long ago submitted to an interested
world his plan of a new religion, but
although it was cordially received by
the public, the ecclesiastics would have
none Of it. The projected system failed
to provide for any phase of current &C.
clesiasticism. including the ministerial of
flee, mysticism and the like, and, there
fore it is not surprising that they
frowned upon it, and refused to permit it
Christian sanction. But whether the
IfOIeSIdHI ledOerS ike IL or not, the
only hope of winning the majority of
those who have forsaken the church
back to utilization with religious groups
is the reduction of church system, as
nearly as practicable, to the two princi-
ples-Love thy God with ali thy heart
and thy neighbor as myself. In spite
of ecclesiasticism the more enlightened
out in myriad practical ways the com
mand of neighborly love, and it is only
by convincing presentation of the
claim of God upon the loyalty of the
race. that the majority of the unchurched
can be made to include that also in
their creed of life.
The right of private judgment-fought
for and won centuries ago-is what is
now being exercised by the non-church
goer, and what he asks of the ethical
leader is not high-priced choirs to dis
course glorious harmOnieS, or sacerdotal
vaudeville of any kind-which aids to
crOwd-drawing do not touch the core of
the matter. His demands are more seri-
GUS and fundamental, for he believes
that the hour has come when the church
must go back to the Master, and seek
from Him a new Interpretation that
shall fit the requirements of this age
Vogue.
-o.o-
Woman's Ways With Woman,
If you are clubwOman, and you find
diScOrd and narroWneSS of mind pre-
vailing in your club, put a watch upon
yourself to see that you are not guilty of
the same faults you deplore in others.
Women are growing with amazing rap
ldity out of the old errors and follies
which characterized them in early times.
Petty jealousies, and fussy ideas, and
narrow judgments are to be found among
men as well as among women today
but that men are, taken as a class, broad
er and less given to raising tempests in
teacups is incontrovertible.
The reason is that man mas lived a
large life for longer period of time
than woman has been allowed to enjoy.
Man built a wall around women, and
told her that only men and angels ever
went beyond its confines.
For a long period of time women be-
Iieved him, but after a while she began
to climb up and peep over the top of the
wall: and when she saw how large and
wonderful the world beyond it was she
decided to take her chances of larger ex-
istence there.
1t was natural that she should carry
with her the small and oftimes petty
ideas which her narrow life had engen-
dered. Little by little she is growing out
of these ideas, and setting things in a
broader light, and obtaining greater
perspective.
1t is a well-known fact that people
brought up in large cities and accustom-
ed to the narrowing limits of walls, have
shorter vision than men reared on vast
plains. But after the city-bred man has
lived for a length of time on the plains.
he, too, begins to see farther.
So woman's mental vision is beginning
to grow and enlarge.
Man, who built the wall about her, for
gets how brief has been her opportunity
for growth, and INDUCES in much merri-
ment at her expense on the least provo
cation.
Not long ago a man of more brain
than perception, said:
1T is only by the courtesy of man that
the adjective 'Womanly' means anything
but petty jealousy and persecution
He proceeded to explain his statement
by declaring that it was woman's nature
to be narrow, spiteful and retaliating in
her treatment of her own sex, and that
only by mans large and indulgent char
ity has she obtained any other reputa-
ton.
But this only proves how little assist
ance woman receives from man in her
evolution toward a broader life. She has
struggled along alone so far, and can
continue the struggle. She has made
amazing progress and the worst of the
road is behind her.
Let each woman who finds petty quail
ties in her sex a bar to her enjoyment of
their society put a watch upon herself
and eliminate similar flaws from her own
disposition. In that way she will be
doing a practical work toward broaden
ing womankind Let her be brave and
courageous in her treatment of other
women, and prove by her actions that
she has the courage of her convictions,
Gcr that is the quality most needed by