Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-15
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/ HA0p nv AhARhN Nheekhhks
! OMAHA, Aug. 14-To the Editor OF The
Bee: In the Monday Bee Rev. J. Scott
Ebersole is quoted as saying Omaha needs
! the presence Of the ark u God" and
Omaha needs II worse than any city in
which have ever lived. and that is one
reason l am here"
II the gentleman is correctly quoted,
think those who know the real facts
ought to protest, and ought TO protest
every time any man gives voice to such
uttersnces. They are not true, and there
| Is no substantial foundation on which 10
base them. l cannot see where any good
purpose can possibly be served by such
talk; but IL does get scattered abroad
when once uttered, and Omaha suffers UNI
Justly in the estimation Of people who
are liable to take words OF q minister Of
Christ as gospel truth,
| say from actual knowledge that Omaha
will bear the most critical inspection as
to its morals and its Christian spirit in
comparison with any city in this land.
In June a vacation trip took me through
score or more of large and small cities
in three states, and because of my connec-
ton with certain humanitarian organiza-
tons OF Nebraska l took special pains
to ascertain as far as possible the condi-
| AioiS NAlatluH. II - no eAdBbeIdllOn 10 say
the conditions l saw along certain lines
could not possibly exist in Omaha today,
even for week. ] was pleased In my soul
when making certain mental comparisons,
and It grlevss me, as it must every citizen
Of this town who knows the immense inn
Lrovement in recent years from personal
observation-granting the length Of resi-.
dence necessary to get a fair perspective
for eomparison-to see statements like that
of Rev. Mr.. Ebersole go uncontradicted.
These sacrosanct bluffs ought to be called
every time they are made
1t Is about time for informed citizens OF
omaha 10 protest persistently and insist
emily against this gro wing fashion of fling
Ing mud on the civic reputation OF this city
when normal, plain gospel preaching begins
TO pail. Men in high places have led the
effort to make this thing fashionable and
too many pulpit orators fall into the same
bad habit. 1t does not get them any con-
verts; 1t does not advance the cause of
Christ. on the contrary, II the men com
United to this course, especially over
enthusiastic evang alists, could mix with
the workers, the home owners, the family
raisers, who do not attend church and to
whom the church makes no vital call, they
would find that 1t Is this kind Of unjus-
tilted criticism which makes It impossible
for the churches to get or hold the allie
glance of the great mass sweating In the
brave struggle of life.
In common with every man who keeps
his eyes open, ! know the effect of the AL
bert law, and the deplo-abls conditions re-.
sulting therefrom. But who has a remedy?
The law cannot provide one, the police
df there were an officer on every side of
every blocs) cannot prevent the spread OF
the keen-witted outcssts who must live
somehow; and the preachers cannot change
human nature. The Savior of mankind did
not attempt that task, being all-wise and
intensely practical.
Omaha Is a good city to live in, safe"
city in the best sense; and its general life
IL lived on high plane. Every compu-
ment that is paid 1t by observant, intel
igent observers Is well deserved 1 believe
the explanation Of the steady and continual
drift of the common" man and his sons
away from the church, and their absolute
Indifference to religions appeal, in every
city, is largely Accounted for uy the kind
Of preaching with which MIR. Ebelsole Is
credited. JOHN J. RYDER
1923 Meredith avenue.