The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1914-11-21
DO YOU NOT
GO TO CHURCH
Facts and Figures Show That Two
Thirds of Pleasan viIle's Pop
ulace Seldom Hear Sermon

There is no man who has read his
tory or studied his own heart to any
purpose who does not know that relig-
ion is the soul of culture and happi-
ness. To believe is necessity both
of the nation and of the individual.
I Nothing but conceit could lead man
to deny the necessity of religion to
every man, and to every one of his in
terests, both personal and social. Re-
ligion is life itself-the best there is.
A community, for this reason, cannot
be Indifferent to the manner in which
religion fares. 1t is society's supreme
business to express its deepest faith
and hope through its own self-chosen
channels, to support its own religious
institutions; for only thus can it save
it's soul
These self f-evident propositions war
rant the question with which this arti-
Gle deals. If they are true, it is per-
tinent question for every one to ask
himself and others: Why don't you go
to church? For, statistics prove that
the negative form of this inquiry is
the one that presses upon the atten-
ton, as soon as we compare our faith
with our works.
Here in Pleasantville, for example
we have a mixed population of about
5000 persons, of whom but 1000 are
regular or occasional attendants at our
Christian temples, leaving 1000 who
never go to church, or go so rarely as
not to be noticed; l. e., about 33 per
cent. go to church.
1t happens occasionally (but very
rarely) that the churches have not
seats enough to accommodate all the
people. How is it with Pleasantville?
The exact figures are not at hand, but
the following may be taken as near
enough. The seating capacity of our
churches is approximately 4000
But only 1000 of the 1000 seats are
occupied as a rule, leaving 1000 va
cant seats in these churches from
week to week and year to year.
Why don't you go to church? 1t is
not because there is no room. Why is
it then? In careful canvass of the
reasons (or excuses?) l have discern
ed some twenty-five, which are given
more or less regularly by those who
have courteously consented to answer
a frank inquiry, or may be inferred
from the facts brought out by more or
less candid conversation about the
natter:
l. feel too tired on Sunday morn
ing to go.
2. Late Saturday night shopping.
3. The Sunday newspaper and mag
azine are more interesting and anus
ing.
A. Too much of job to get ready.
5. Got out of the habit.
g. Too much hilarity the night be-
fore.
Z. Don't like the ministers, or the
form of service.
| 8. The preaching is stale or out Of
date or too long.
9. Il can worship as we'll at home"
10. Too much begginp for money.
| ii. Too many humbugs in the chur-
ches.
II. Can't swallow the creed.
Is. When nature smiles on Sunday
she proves a more powerful attraction.
IA. The "hell-fire" dodoe doesn't ap-
peal to me.
Is. have married a wife and can
not come.
16. The baby.
IT, The cook
1S. The visitor.
49, That unfinished business at the
office
90 My farm.
21 The world.
%. The flesh
%. The ID.
"a. Rank indifference (rarely con-
fessed).
25. Selfshness.
What is to be done with such an ar
ray of reasons or excuses for not go
ing to Church? They cannot be an
swered in order here. They afford a
splendid rampant behind which to shell
ter They show, at least. that 1000 of
our townspeople are capable of a great
variety of more or less Ito them) sat
isfying reflection. Such as they are,
they must be allowed to stand as ade-
quate explanations for the vacant
seats in our temples erected to the
worship of the Supreme Being
Whether the Supreme Being is salts
fed with them is another question.
One thing redeems the situation