The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-25
August Empties Churches

The Oldest inhabitant possessed OF
written records or long memories can
not recall a summer when New York's
religious life was at so low ebb More
than the usual number of churches are
closed. some of them for repairs but
some simply closed, and the number
of union services Is reduced to one.
Even that one. formerly four congre-
cations joining, this season unites
seven and has no more people at serv-
ices than In previous years. Some sum-
mers see general movements on or I'M
der preparations. but this summer moth
ing of either kind obtains.
A few churches have for years made
special arrangements for summer Wis
itors. They have declared their pews
free; have engaged choirs on winter
rates Of pay, and have secured the most
famous preachers from America and
England They have done this year in
and year out. their own members abb
sent yet paying the bills. for IL is mat
ter of record that summer visitors to
New York, attending these services,
very rarely indulge themselves TO any
thing more valuable than silver when
offertory plates are passed. When city
people go to the country they often
make considerable gifts by check.
Country people going to New York
have not yet been known TO return the
compliment.
This August st. Bartholomew Epis-
copa1 church. whose summer services
are famous for years. gets 200 to $50
at Sunday morning services where in
former years 1t has had 500 to 1000
with the same preacher. The Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian church. another
famous summer service In New York.
has not opened its gallery save once
during this whole summer and then 1T
had few in It, It's congregations are
averaging 700 as against twice and Of
ten three times that number in former
years with the same grade of preach
ers. men chiefly from England and
Scotland. secured by arrangement with
the Northfield conferences Other New
York churches are faring little bet
ter, but they are In the suburbs. Great
churches in Madison and Fifth avenues.
making no preparations for summer
visitors. but merely keeping open on
Sunday mornings, are having worship
ers 10 the number of 25 to 40, actual
count.
Street, shop and tent services are car
RED on in New York this season by two
organizations aside from the Salvation
Army Two or three of the people who
attend these services are not members
Of churches, and even larger propor-
lion are men. The evengelistic committee.
supported by the churches. reports at
tendance " uatc VI loosVoof WIN tho iihSii-
hood that its total will reach $4,000 to
400 000 This is an increase OF G0.0e0 over
last year The other series of services
supported by individuals. is the. National
Rible institute. II Is smaller but reports
a relative gain. Its rescue work, more
aid more conserved in halls, has grown
rapidly.
Reasons for the unusual conditions in
the churches are about as many as the
number of experts who give them. August
buyers who with their wives had come to
be the chief class for which, absent con-
grega lions made provision, have failed
New York churches this summer. Either
they didn't take their wives to New York
with them. or they and their wives didn't
care Tor religious worship on Sundays as
formerly. The falling off has in some
degree affected Roman Catholics. st. Pat
ricks CO thedral in Fifth avenue has had
at it's II O'Clock high mass ON Sundays
many untitled pews. One Fifth avenue
sexton. a veteran. puts his explanation
tcrsey in three words. They are:
Politics and prosperity.