The Alaska daily empire., 1914-02-28
WHY "eo TO CHURCH"
 CAMPAIGN SUCCEEDED

There was quite a crusade made this month in many of the cities of the country to get the habitual "stay-at- home" people to attend church, the church in which they were accustomed to worship. All the churches joined in the movement and the zeal of the cru saders produced a mighty awakening. A house to house canvass was made and every one met on the streets was urged to attend. Disiuterestedness marked the inquiries; the sole aim of the workers was to make every one go to his own church.
 The movement proved a marvellous success due to the cooperation of all so deeply interested in this worthy campaign. The newspapers were a wonderful factor in the happy result; the largest type obtainable was used to bring the invitation conspicuously before every man, woman and child who glanced at a newspaper
 In Chicago over 100000 responded and the crowds who left the churches were not seen departing with long faces as though dlsagreeable duty had been got through with but their smiles and happy countenances show ed their interior peace. the reward of a sacred duty gladly performed. Kan sas City in percentage exceeded that of Chicago.
 Archbishop Messmer, of Milwaukee who was interviewed on the subject, gave quite a critical analysis of the cause of staying at home. Every Chris tian deserving of the name ought to go to church on Sunday. Such is the old and universal Christian law and GUS tom The Archbishop says: "The fact is too evident that thousands of Christians, among them not a few professed Catholics, do not observe Sunday as they should. Many believe in the religious characters of the Lords day and admit of a personal and individual sanction of Sunday, yet see no reason or necessity of public divine worship on that day. Where strong Christian faith with it's great religious beauties has lost hold of the human heart, you will look in vain for a Christian Sunday observance, which is the public expression of Christian faith. Many agencies hostile to re- ligion and morality have greatly blunt ed in the minds of thousands profess. ing Christianity the true understanding and proper appreciation of the relig- ious, moral and social significance of the Lords day.
 But there Is another side to this question. If the people are to come to church. Christian ministry must give them a Christian Sunday service that will satisfy the minds and hearts of the faithful. Years ago Pope Leo XII admonished bishops and Priests not to bring into the pulpit new fangled doctrines or deeply theological dis cussions or mere worldly subjects or a vain display of oratory; but toI preach the old, simple, unchanging and pure Christian truths and command. ments. This alone will satisfy the Christian mind. The Christian heart demands Christian piety and worship; in fact, divine worship, not preaching, is the true and dominant character of the Christian Sunday. To pay to God his tribute of divine faith, hope and love. publicly and before all the peo- ple. in union with his brethren in faith as by one great and holy family of the Lord, is the reason why the truly Christian man goes to Church on Sun. day. Prayer and sacrifice are the high. est expression of divine worship. A Christian soul filled with strong faith, and consequently with a right reali- zation of it's relations with God the Creator and Savior of mankind, will bring forth in simple words or melo- dious songs it's sentiments of adora- tion, praise and thanksgiving, of peti- tion and supplication, repentance and confidence, and will, moreover, what is more, make a willing and cheerful sacrifice of itself through it's desires and will to the Lord.God, to whom 1t ab- solutely and entirely belongs"
 Rev. A. R. Drathman, S.J.