Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-17
Why ARE THE PEWS EMPTY?
Rev. ]. W. Conley 1ncisively Analyses
Various Reasons Given.
SUNDAY DIVERSIONS BIG CAUSE
Not Room Enough In Omaha Churches
for Two-Tbirds Of the PrOfsssinE
Christians - Dr. Mcbride
ON sin Atonement.

Empty Pews, Causes and Remedies
was the subject Of the discourse Of Rev.
J. w. Coniey at the First Baptist church
Sunday morning.
Il had intended said DR.. Conley, to
talk upon the subject OF Safe Investments
this morning. but recognizing the proba-
bility Of empty pews at the evening service,
decided TO transpose the theme rather than
to talk on Empty Pews' to empty pews."
His text was from Hebrews x:G5, Not
forsaking the assembling Of ourselves to-
gether. as the manner Of some Isl but
exhorting one another; and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching"
Discussing the seriousness of the uues-
ton as to why so many people remain
away from church, and why so many empty
pews, particularly at the evening services,
Or. Conley said in part;
Many causes are given. We are told
that there are too many churches, hence
too many pews to fill. Let us see about
this In Omaha, with Its 10000 population.
The seating capacity of the Protestant
churches Of Omaha is about 10000. and the
Baptist churches have capacity for about
1900. There are possibly $1,000 processing
Christians in the city, and should $4,000 of
these attend the churches, possibly 2O,0cO
would not be able to get in. There are not
too many churches.
Then again we are told that in holding
two services in the week. Sunday and mid
week, 1t is asking too much in thus giving
approximately five hours to church services.
There are not too many services. Men
are not less religious today than they were
In times Of old, but religion is more of a
personal element In this modern day than
in the external elements of the religion Of
the oiden times. 1 believe that there is an
.aAl,ak..aI f.aIt,r taaaxy r,oro than
formerly, and that the lack of church at
tendance is not Indicative Of a lack Of
religious feeling.
I'm our church services, the minds Of
most men turn toward the pulpit. For this
reason we should have a better pulpit
service, and one less given, as is held, to
the discussion Of worn-out doctrines.
Agreed, that there should be a better inter-
probation OF the more practical energies Of
life. The pilpit is not a scholastic institu-
ton. 1t is a wonder tome when a preacher
has to stand twice each Sunday and speak
to the same people that we do as well as
we do. 1t is a difficult thing to fire at
long range over empty pews.
one great fault OF Professionalism is the
magnifyinE of the pulpit. We ought to
come to church to worship; to feel the in
s~piration Of God in our songs Of praise
/ oA0 v
great tasks upon men,
I'VE are told in some of the magazines
thai the church is not what it ought to
be; that there is too. much hypocrisy in it.
l want to say that this Is a dishonest de-
duction. The dishonest or hypocritical
elder or deacon is largely a fiction of the
brain that is not borne out by the facts.
Rarely in my ministry have l met such an
one.
There is far more hypocrisy outside
than In the church. We are again told
that there is q laek~of sociability, not only
Sunday, but during the week days. An.
ether cause is given that church members
are indifferent themselves. Another cause
given for empty peNSs Is that the church ia
everlastingiy appealing for money. and
that unless a man Is a liberal giver he is
/, not recognized. Yet after all the money
belongs to God. In the lodge or club If VIC
, pay our dues regularly and promptly we
y are all right, II not we quit. Persons oan
1 be members in good standing In the church
\ If they are unable TO pay their mite. 1t
n nay be true hat sometimes we unduly
pledge means beyond. the ability to pay
: and / do know that many pledges are made
r and paid at a great sacrifice.
1--WE are again told that It is because
we are behind the times that there are so
may empty pews in our churches. The
: church has been always potent in stimu-
1 latirg tho. vital forces of our social and
I civic life. Men whose souls are fired by
I civic reform are Invariably men who are
e 'ccnsecrated 70 the service Of the living
n God. The ne nand essayists who contro.
vert this are the ones that are behind the
times.
q 9TH highest work Of the Christian mis-
d sions has been in bringing the heather
into the lien and practice Of human prog.
n ress.
Never has there been a time in the
history OF the church when the pulpits OF
the land are ranging higher with all the
elements Of human progress than now.
n Another cause for empty pews is that
men are so absorbed with business thai
they can find no place. nor time for the
IN work OF the living God. The world has
I. toe great a grip upon them. Temptation
and immorlity has crowded out the better
instincts. Men know that they are wrong
lie but do not want TO eb troubled by theil
II cor sciences.
"A most potent factor in contributing t.
~ en- pity pews is the craving for Sunday
lie amusements. for sport and recreation, thu
Sc abomination Of the Sunday theators. We
l venture to say that the great body o
,s actors want Sunday for rest. but they ar,
rs driven like slaves to their work to anus,
81 and entertain for the .mercenary advantage
pa Of their employers. Taking the Sabbat
al for amusements is not for recreation an,
r, rest, but for the mercenary advantage o
he those who profit from it,
he -
$500