The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-18

counting FOR Indifference. inertia ard neg
lect without disrespect. These are. pre-
occupation. absorption in 'weightier mat
;ers. fatigue. reaction from the pressure
and the pace OF life. our falsc. inhuman
!lboring and living, with their unjust ap-
pcrtonment OF profit and reward: the
reckless and the almost forced escape into
The facilities for recreation. and not of
Gods creation but thu deyl's. 50 amply
md 20 promptly provided In these days
for anybody who can loan or mortgage
the poison OF new toys and opportunities.
rom golf and auto and week end To
Dancing and the movies. There il greed
for pleasurable relief from the hard strug
ale to live: profusion Of unassimilated
luxury the sheer dissipation OF the rest
~ the reckless. the ignorant IMPROVE
cent and the enjoyment OF excitement in
ale RENTER and busy parvenu.
"but the causes are more numerous
and more serious than those mentioned !;
Immigration and the introduction OF n
foreign element, later demoralzing and
demoralized: with the consequent rela-
tive decline in the Protestant population
o. the city. recently chronicled. and the
extraordinarily rapid and extensive shift
Ing OF centres and sections and redistri-
button OF settlement as every real estate
man knows
Moreover. with these sociological
changes cbine economic causes, in the
expense OF city rents and the superior
healthfulness Of the country for the chill
uren. removal of families being facili-
ta'ed by the improvements in transpor-
ta'ion Then there are the powerful rival,
quasi.relgious interests OF labor and so
cialism Of clubs and suffrage: lectures,
concerts and the press; to make mention
OF no more
by these fltratioas and sibstitutions.
attractions and distractions the habit and
temper OF the American uinJ and life
are altered or annulled, until the ques-
ton 10 In orA.r: Is there an American
'!pe and standard any more? And. fur
'her Il may be pertinent TO suggest that.
perhaps In the secular evolution of 30
cle,y, the church Is losing it's excess place
and exaggerated prestige In the commu-
A!iy becoming one among many prefer
'Hces o. feeling and tendencies and agen-
cies OF action,
Nothing Is ever 30 strong as men
MINK IL. officially and institutionaily; the
pride OF possession and OF possessions
leads to instructive overestimation and
misuse. zee causes are always stronger,
spiritually and Ideally. than IL believed
mere are too many poor churches ana
poor ministers. In every sense but who
hall be the judges to choose and to con-
firm amid this rabble of applicants?
There must be waste, as we'll az cost, Of
progress; particularly In a land Of lib
erty
Lack Humility SD Courage.
Much method Is mechanical and mean.
much aim material and low. much prac-
Neal conduct and emotional tone tradi-
'londl and unimproved ideals unreno-
fu'ed, ideas unrevised. There are super
1cIhl estimates of success, shallow con-
'estnents, official complacencies. the
rsI We can do; as we'll as anybody
not much efficiency Of spirit. agony OF
mind or mood. originality OF life. or first
nand Independence OF thought or practice
The churches. In "a word, lack brains and
labor, humility and courage: lack mod
ernn.ss and humanity. temperament and
hcr'iresqueness are cold. slow. gloomy
empty, formal and unreal. Exceptions
prove tho rule; they thrive and make
alive
The chief confronting conditions. one
o. two. for good or evil to church and
country are the labor revolution. the im-
Sration peril, the sex war In life and
literature, the business and political graft
me excess pace and speed rate OF Amer
lca to Nothing and Nowhere. with the
reaction from the labor fever to the fury
OF play. symptoms OF the country and
ne century. but with their DISAPPEARANCE
0: abatsmeht sntraining many evils into
oblivion
Why mention more, This II the line
81 advance, the position OF the enemy II