The chronicle=news., 1913-01-13
MINISTERS Of TRINIDAD
ADDRESS JOINT OPEN LETTER
To CITIZENS Of COMMUNITY

The ministers OF tn. affiliate,
; churches OF Trinidad at their meet
ling this morning were unanimous In
their vote to address the following
Joint PASTORAL letter to the members
ana friends Of the churches OF Christ
in Trinidad. the letter follows:
The religious condition OF Trini'
dad Is not wholly milk. other cities
IN" difference" Is matter OF degree
People take the existence or tho
ichurchcs as II matter Of course. as n
part OF IN. community III" and main
tain them financially. 4 practical
Good Snmari'n sort OF Christianity
lprCvails, All OF which is very good,
i First Impressions.
! Tn. newcomer Is told by the old
timer that this is Trinidad thar
conditions are most unfavorable to
Christian living. that this is wide
boy. and other like dispararing
things.
Th" newcomer Is impressed with
thrt ruth OF thcs" statements. and
there is undoubtedly certain value
IN early Impressions. Indeed be they
ltru" or false. Instances can he sight
ed where prospective citizens have re-
fused To invest or locat" here because
of them. However. the question
that most vitality concerns us IL
whether or not these impressions are
really justifiablc. Let us take n strol!
down some of our principal thorough
fares. II is sabbath morning. First.
We are impressed with the utter dis.
regard Of Gods law OF the sabbath
/ by the transaction OF legitimate bus
incss with open doors and Legitimate
business bchinu drawn curtains. The
fascinating traps OF the social OWL
are to be found not only In restrict
ed sections but in places where least
lcNpect.d and whose normal us. Is u
necessity To our city life. Vice ilgunts
Ia banner In the face oi good ci'i'
ZcLship. The cause OF this condition.
We believe to he AN IMPROPER
ESTIMATE OF VALUES. Standards
Of .hlrJrtr- are by no mean. ideal
aud mor.i discrepancies are w!nkcd
u, by those who should hold them
s.iyrs ."sponsibic for tho observance
of the sg-i,tcst rules OF life and con
duct. au'. for that purity OF life
wnicn q. ould ever be maintained In
the Eomc and the social circle. An
othcr CaIsc Of this unsatisfactory
condition Ii the strenuous business
AMI soci,' life OF the people. This
stu:c OF affairs In one for which the
..,., La st..
blame. out the remedy for which de-
p.nGs upon the men and women OF
this day. To give ones strength
unduiy To these affairs Is TO spend
ones money for that which is not
bread and labor for that which sats-
lies not. The Unsuitable and abnor-
nal desire for entertainment and
pleasure is binding tn" people to
tn" more essential and important
things Of life. THE MOST DISTRES-
SING SIGN OF all is the prevailing
Opinion that while these things ough,
not 50 to be. they cannot be rcmc-
died. This. We regret 10 believe. IL
the more or less serious conviction
of the very class of citizens OF whom
"" should expect better things. and
on whom We must depend II these
conditions are ever remcdicd. There
is n lamcntablc lack OF appreciation
0f the function pnd value of the
church and the importance Of keep
ing its life at flood tide. by u large
percent of the people whose names
are found on church rolls. II Is this
nominal type characterized by "a
name TO live aud art dead that fur
nishes the basis of criticism made by
those who are uniricndly to her life
aud institutions. We believe the
REMEDY TO re FOUND. now ms
ever. in the latent energy and power
Iof the church OF Jesus Christ. The
church OF Jesus Christ. If it be any
thing as to its vital life. is an ins,i-
tuition to save men from sin and the
awful effects of sin. The church
idocs not require an environment OF
goodness in which to work. hut has
made her greatest conpuosts in an
unfruendly atmosphere. Her source
of strength is the fountain OF Life
and she is the oasis in this desert.
a full church OF true worshippers
a full prapey rmectins. will solve our
Iproblem. If Christ may but occupy
His own throne in the hearts of His
people. He can easily and quickly pu,
satan to flight, and the councils OF
ungCdly men to nought. The dcvils
that trouble Trinidad .will only b.
cast out by. y."praycr and fasting" Now
shall both pastors and people "un.
YOU
Hopeful Signs.
Shakespeare well said: There Is
a tide in the affairs of men which
taken at the flood, leads on to for.
ltune. Neglected, all the voyage oi
L IL