Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-29
| By Bishop
Warren A
Gambler
BLEMISH UPON OUR
NATIONAL CAPITAL

justly in our defense, it remains true
that we have not done as well as We
ought by religion in the capital.
religion is not established by law in
tne United States, n are the churches
suDtained by funds from the state; but
no nation was ever more dependent for
the security of it's institutions upon the
vitality of the piety of its people, and
no nation was ever so rich. Our politi-
cal institutions will wither ii our relig-
ion decays, and our great wealth can not
be better bestowed than upon the main
tenance Of the faith which has made the,
republic great and by which IL must al
ways be saved. Despotism may rule
people out of who se hearts religion has
taken it's departure but republic is no
stronger than the moral life of its peo-
pie and is no more permanent than the
faith which lives in the souls OF Its
citizens.
Yet at the capital, the very heart of
the nations life, we are suffering our
holy religion to make a poor appear
ance alongside the political institutions
with which it is associated. Nor can
we lay the blame for this fact upon the
local community. IT is a failure for
which the whole nation is responsible
in measure Washington is not COM
mercial center. In this feature Of its
life it is wholly unlike such cities as
London and Paris, which are emporiums
where commerce flourishes and wealth
gathers as well as capitals where legis-
lators assemble and political policies are
wrought out Our capital is Inhabited
by people who serve in the departments
upon small salaries, and in 1t there are
few permanent residents who own great
wealth. 1t is poor city. When con-
gress is not in session 1t is without
much That contributes to it's commercial
prosperity. The people who live in Wash
ington and upon whom the local church
es depend, are as generous as the most
liberal in our land. They have built
with little help such churches as are
found there, and their gifts have been
more nearly in proportion to their in
comes than have been the offerings of
any community with which 1 am &C
quainted. They have provided places of
worship for our representatives and
their families and for the thousands of
visitors who annually flock to the ma
tional capital for one cause or another.
They have undertaken to carry ma
tional burden with no more than local
resources for the most part. In this
matter the rest of the nation has not
dealt fairly or wisely with the people
The country is to be congratulated upon
Washington.
Every one of the great denominations
of the country owes IT to itself and to
the nation TO erect at least one represen-
tative church at the national capital.
The country is to be congratulated upon
the fact that several of the denomina-
lions have taken up this matter. Under
the leadership of Justices Harlan and
Brewer of the Supreme Court the Pres
byterians have undertaken such work,
and the late Bishop Satterlee of the
Protestant Episcopal Church set in mo-
ton a similar enterprise for his church
before he died. The Roman Catholics,
with their usual far-sightedness, have
gone far in advance of all the rest in
their buildings at the capital. More re-
Gently the Southern Methodists have be-
gun a movement for representative
church, as their Northern brethren did
forty years ago.
These enterprises cannot be pushed
too vigorously nor carried to success too
soon. OF course they will appeal to only
the broad-minded men and women of the
country. Persons of narrow vision and
restricted sympathies will only care for
the local interests Immediately under
their eyes; they cannot compass mat
ter of national Importance. But surely
there are in all the denominations
enough people of sufficient intelligence.
liberality and wealth, with the help of
the christian people who reside at the
capital permanently, to erect the great
churches which ought to be there. Many
of the beautiful and imposing churches
which adorn the City of Mexico were
erected by individuals who did not live
in Mexico, but who were Jealous for
their faith The beautiful church known
as "Belen de los Padres" was built in
the main by the gifts of Dona Ysabel
de Picazo and Don Domingo del Campo y |
Murga. The church called La Carload"
was built at a cost of $4,000 given by
Dona Maria Ana Gomez de la CortIna, !
of Spain. santa Brigida" was
erected by the gifts of Don Jose
Francisco Aguirre and his wife.
Many other instances of like munifi- |