Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-07-02
Democracy in Religion
of the Peoples Church In Schenectady,
New York

I ectady and make Il speech, The pres
| ident ~ the Ministerial association was
| absent from the city. hence DR. Lunn
! went ahead on his own responsibility,
| hired "A theater. secured the governor
| promise to appear: by three hours tclc-
| phoning organized a reception commit
| toe. and had the meeting all arranged
| before the Republican leaders knew
! about. H. When they woke up they
were especially solicitous that Senator
Wemple should be- on the platform. but
Or. Lunn would not have IL that way.
The governor came, addressed
crowded and responsive audience, and.
I'm the following election, Senator
Wemple was elected 10 stay at home.
CHURCH AND PEOPLE.
Dr. Lunn's purpose IN attacking
political graft, ldwbreaking and injus-
ticcs was not primarily economic but
spiritual; 70 make religion vital among
people alleuatcd from the conventional
church. As ne said
THE church has failed TO recognize
In tho great cry for better conditions
and % fuller and more complete life
generally, coming from the laboring
classes, a real word Of God for this
age. ycritahlc voice ~ the eternal
calling AN men Of good will into active
service"
What followed was what could have
been expected In spite Of the con
tInued support Of "A few broad minded
men the run OF Pensioners having in
torests to defend took umbrage at this
vitalizng ~ gospel precepts; fric-
ton arose, tongues wagged and final
49, though the congregation by vote Of
26g TO i0l urged him 20 stay, Or. Lunn
resigned and the consistOry, with half
It's membership Of eight about 10 re-
tire voted seven to one to accept the
resignation,
50 DR.. Lunn left the aristocratic
pulpit I'm Schenectady and went 90 a
theater to prcach-to a meeting place
I'm which has been born strictly
democratic church. This meets twice
each Sunday. The evening | attended,
1 500 substantial looking. interested
men and women crowded pit and bal
comics, sang with gusto songs Of de-
mocracy to familiar hymn tunes. bow
ed reverently In prayer, repeating in
union the Lords prayer, and listened
intently TO a practical and pointed talk
on everyday religion. The Peoples
church has no creed and its govern
ment Is exceeding simple. There Is only
the congregation, the pastor and an
advisory council the latter consisting
OF one of the principal surgeons of the
city two business men, an electrical
engineer three wage-earnlng working
men, one leader In the labor movement,
and two places left open for women.
The initiative and referendum are APP
piled in that 20 persons may unite TO
bring any subject to the pastors or
congregations attention. once n month |
there is an open forum discussion. EN- |
penscs are met by plate offerings and |
pledge cards.
When Or. Lunn left the First Re- |
formed pastorate ] 500 working people |
in writing wanted him Immediately to (
organize a Peoples church, but he in |
sisted upon first testing the attendance |
and spirit That test he thinks Is |
now complete-certainly the Peoples |
church appears TO be on a sound |
financial as well as upon a vital human
interests basis Five months have
yielded steady increase Of interest with
enlarging usefulness and growing sup
port IL this pace shall be maintained, |
the life and outlook OF Schenectady |
must In time be profoundly influenced