Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-12-15
Deny That the Church Of
Today is The Tool Of
The Rich Man.
GROUND FOR CHARGE.
Allegations. However. Are of Men
Who Seldom Attend Churches and
Not Competent to Judge.

! Richmond. Va, Dec l5.-The chal-
lenge to the church thrown down By
President E. c. Davidson, of the State
Federation of Labor, at the federation
convention in Newport News last
week, in which he declared that the
church is not the friend of the poor
man. but the tool Of the rich, was
, taken up by three ministers in Rich
mon5 last night and from the pulpit
came denial. pointed and emphatic.
| Ore of the ministers, Rev. W. J.
Young, b. D., Of Centenary Methodist,
di- not spare the church, declaring
that -, nsent day churches too often
forget th>.; mission is TO go out from
the midst of their luxury 20 minister
to the needy and to the poverty
stricken" and did not hesitate to de-
clare that incidents have been known
of preachers siIenced because Of
rich mans service. but on the other
hand he declared that many Of those
who made exaggerated statements
such as those nae in Newport News
attended church services too infre-
quently to be competent judges Of
conditions.
. Dr.. Asbury Christian, of Union
Station Methodist church, did not so
broaden his subject, but leaving what
ever criticism he might have to make
of the church to another time and oc
casion, devoted hmsef solely to 4
passionate defense ccnsuring its &C
cuSerS numerically and making fiat
I denial Of the arrogant, demagogic
and false assertion that the church is
the tool of the rich
DR.. H. ID. G.. AIaclachlan, ot the
Seventh Street Christian Church also
took mp the eaugc Of battle an. mace
answer to tIa crargeS.
Dr.. Youn., 5r.ar by saying ;hat
/ there must y2 Sniae aIp2rcn: iu,Lc,-
in the crit.. :! that the chy.' !! has
grown away from tx working mar,
since declarations 70 that effect have
come pcrsistcnly fro!a maHy sources -
: from individuals, the press and books
but he did not admit for an in
slant that there Is alt truth III 'hc
sweeping charges 81 rraWrnty niadH
against the sincerity Of the chu"'n :
purpose or that there can be line
drawn betwcens church-goir% people
and working-men.
To-day is one of luxury" he sid,
land too many of the churches ar" de-
pendent aprn the wealthy 20. their
maintenan e il the style to wh' fncI
are accu,,nG.ed. Incidena" h"N" tc"h
known W. n he pulpit nd: peer -
!encc %" a!.ie of a rich n.anS ser
vice to t!.e .nurch and the preacher
kent from .oclaiming Ike f3ii meg
sage Of -. because surn c"urSe
might dap,i." it Of the mars patr'''.'
arc 20 luxury of tac noGc"n
church 4 nu>;t, furnishings ana o.. =
fort is conducive to cas- which nave
ben advanced leading to the belief
that it is primary for the rich maA.
DR.. Chr. ;t'a1 'ook h, t1Xt 'r"m
Proverbs 22-3: The rich and the poo
meet tor: -: The Lord IS 'Maker a
them all. The sermon was an emphat-
ic denial Of the truth of the charges
made. end strong arraI;'mrent U!
l those who maiciously make them
This iis ne day o! fa1s ana fad-
| ,.Gigm." said II p"'to". ".ut the '"o't
contc.l ptibie 'faddism is that OF the
blatant ,inh'i-', who, for selfish no,
: tives seeks to array class agairst
class. and. goes to The depth Of al
raying phe e:ork:r"man a.'ainst tn'
church oi'th-. !i,ing Cod
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