The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-05
Rev w. J. Young at Centenary
Church Admits Author Of
"The Inside Of the Cup" JUS
titled in Some Criticism
Other Statements Of Novelists
Not Based on Fact or Exag-
gerated---Persecution Today
Not By Stake but By Refus'
ing To Attend Service

DIR. w. J. Young. pastor of the
Centenary Methodist church, in his
sermon last night on THE Inside Of
the Cup which was suggested by
Winston Churchills novel of the
same name, said that many OF the
criticisms of the church made by the
novelist were justified; that a num-
Der were not based on facts according
to his idea, while still others exao-
gerated the real conditions.
| DR.. Young said that while he could
| not accept many of the statements
made by the writer, and did not mean
to enter into discussion OF the mer It's
of the work, he did consider that
The Inside of the Cup brought
vividly to light many of the present
day church problems and that they
/ were worthy of serious consideration.
Objections Often Raised.
| That men OF wealth frequently
dominate the church, dictate its
policies and control the pulpit. DIR.
Young tntimated was true. In this
connection he said, How often, OH.
how often have l wished l was a
tent maker that I might 60 out and
declare what was In my mind. might
state the truths which am commits
stoned by God to say. Not that I
have not done so, but difficulties have
often been brought forward and OBJ
jectfons raised. What a comfort 1t
ts to say the things which you know
should be said! What a comfort!
The church must be sustained to a
VT "a Nnntrihu-
tons OF the rich, 1t requires q great
amount OF money TO maintain 1t, to
carry on ia work and .thA Efforts 10
Fsecurs finan.ts1 support have more
than once sfiorn the church Of its
power. Many times have I wished
the money sought after for educa.
tional purposes at the bottom OF the
sea rather than zee the church--and
my church has been implicated as
we'll as others" interjected the mdn-
ister-''lose its dignity and effective
j ness for money
Persecutic of Today.
Persecution as administered to-
day is not by the stake, 1t Is by
the refusal Of persons. at whom truths
are directed. to attend services. and
W 40 UCNAuSC LAE PtF1 1eAt3 WIZ dA tti0
the things which strike home are
often wealthy pillars Of the church
that the pressure 81 brought to bear
on the pastor.
There are difficulties which cannot
be known, which cannot be realized
unless one has been a preacher IN a
city church. And yet. although the
wealthy frequently bring pressure to
bear on a pastor. so often do those
who have considerably less OF the
worlds goods. and 1t has been my
experience to find 1t more difficult to
declare the whole gospel to the lat
! ter than to the more wealthy OF a
congregation"
| DR.. Young said that he welcomed
any fair criticism Of the church or OF
| himself. for It brought to light the
opinions OF outsiders regarding the
church and its work: it showed the
weak points Of the church and could
do no harm: II gave a chance for cor
rect1ng the faults OF the church which
he knew to be far from the ideal In
stitution which Jesus Christ saw al
in a vision.
Many of the criticisms, the pastor
stated, showed real needs, and al
though they might appear unjust al
first they were often. In the light OF
Investigation. shown to be not 50 un.
fair after all.
| An Eneouraxing Sign.
The fact that criticism 10 being made
against the church II an encouraging
| symptom Of the age. according to DIR.
Young and ahoWg that men ara TAX