The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-04-04
Too Many Churches.

Sioux City Journal: Are there too
many churches Granted that there is
NOT too much church; are there not
too many church organizations? The
presumption is that there is too much
UNCONVENTIONAL pride, which is finan
cially burdensome or which supplies
excuse for separation from response
bility in church life.
Take the case in hardwood. Lyon
county, this state. The census gives
the town a population of 454 against
$50 in the census of ten years before.
The pulpit of the Congregational
church there has recently been vaca.-
ed by Rev. Thomas Thompson, after
three years of ambitious work. He
made the church self-supporting
that is, he took it out of the mission
AIRY class. Two years ago the church
building. which had stood since 1886.
was destroyed by fire. It was hard
task to raise money TO rebuild. but
that was accomplished; but with the
bership was less than before the FIRE.
There was struggle TO get back 10
the former membership with some
show of success. but the financial
grind continued hard and burdensome.
With the incoming of this year the
church received another setback It
seemed that about every family re-
moving from the town was affiliated
with the gregational church. 1t alp.
peared to the remaining members
that they could not keep up the pas
tors salary: the salary was such ie
could not we'll be reduced, and Mr..
Thompson accepted charge else
where, bearing with him the affection
of his people, as the resolutions stand
in evidence.
There are many vacant pulpits for
the same reason Too many churches
do not add to the stock of religion.
but serve 10 detract from it. The COM
petition results In weaklings and sub
tracts from good neighborship. There
are not enough people in the small
towns to be divided into so many
classes, religiousiy or socially. In
many places there is. SO far as the
world knows. but one society. as the
social events of the community dem
onstrate. II is not easy TO maintain Il
church in little world in radical op-
position to what the world knows. The
church, organized to dispense the
bread of life, is at distinct disad
vantage as starving.
There is a movement just now,
which many regard with the greatest
hopefulness, to attract men TO active
relationship with the church. It's pro-
motors are disposed to cut out de-
nominational lines. Those who take
part In il may be Presbyterians, Ban
tistg, Methodists, Congregationalists
one thing or another or nothing in
particular That is one element Of
promise II must be true in religion
as in politics that ein union there is
strength" What the churches call
worldiiness is associated with money
getting and money keeping, and it viii
help the churches TO get away from
woridliness If they can succeed in re-
moving themselves somewhat from
the eternal grind for money.
In commercial life the principles Of
economy are being worked out
through combination. The demand Of
the times Is for business on a large
scale. There is tendency among the
churches to follow the drift. due TO
the fact, no doubt. of their relation to
business and the standards of pro-
gress recognized by business men.
Vacant pulpits are as bad for the
religious reputation OF town as va.
cant stores and factories are for it's
business reputation.