Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-10
PROFESSOR WALTER
RAUCHENBUSCH

Prof. Walter Rauohenbusch, OF the
Rochester Theological Seminary, author
Of "Christianizing the Social Order and
many other books widely known to the
clergy OF the country. has written a
strong defense of the Church at the
request of a group of men interested In
making manifest the social implication of
the Gospel in Baltimore.
And this group of men, who are con-
ducting an advertising campaign to ad-
vance the interests Of the Church, gave
Doctor RauChenbusch's statement pub
licitv in half-page advertisements in daily
newspapers Of the Monumental City
The defense of the Church was writ
ten in answer to the question, will the
Church Disappear" and was in part as
follows:
In 1918 the Church in the United States
had 81. .2SOSTO members. Have You ever
tried to heft the weight of those figures?
All other voluntary organizations look
puny compared with that
"The churches lament that they have
not got more. We ought 10 wonder that
they have so many. To win. to hold, 10
organize such vast numbers IS an
enormous social achievement and proof
positive Of social efficiency.
"It is more astonishing because the
Church is an ideallstic organization and
makes its appeals chiefly TO the highest
instincts in US. But the higher your ap-
peal. the IeWer Will TtSpolIa' ANY tHVlt-
zionist will tell you that.
'Tf there we're no such organizations as
the churches, the finest minds would
dream OF creating something like them.
Would our people maintain and EQUIP
about 15,ooO church organizations unless
those who pay the money and do the
volunteer work felt that they vera get
ting something out of them?
THE CHURCH CAN FIGHT
'rTJnleas our experience has been espe-
aiaIly unfortunate. we all know that the
Church does steady and re-enrorce our
atTaEglIng moral nature It quietly irri-
satss the soil OF our life with spiritual
aspirations.
%The Church can fight. though. when
aroused Il has fought 10 a stsndstill one
of the biggest financial interests and one
of the most seductive social institutions
in tho country. And IL has done II almost
sinEle-handed.
'it ever this Church lines up against
war and Industrial exploitation as Il has
lined up against the liquor traffic, We
shall date a new era The Church IS
slow. II surely Is. But remember IN fair
ness that the Church Ia not a picked club
OF 4 few radicals, but a cross section Of
the whole nation. II Is slow because Il
includes Ehe conservative masses, The
man IN = hurry does not realize how slow
" ths mass OF humanity moves and
ehEngeA
1T toosU. a century 20 create the present
snSsrezt In foreign missions in the
churches Ie has taken about On years
TO sducAts the churches bp 70 their pres
end convictions on the liquor question and
even now come denominations are luke
warm. Only In recent years have We
learned how 70 meet tho liquor trade in
politics.
.Tt has taken all thu time since the
civil War to make the leaders OF the
Church realize that our cspitalistic sys-
tsm WILL eat up the nation IL II Is allowed
TO obey It's own greed. The churches
have always been for peace In theory
Perhaps this great war VIII consolidate
their sentiment 20 the point OF action.
You think this is slow progress II Isl
Can you show any equal body OF people
that has moved faster; Elevating the
morality OF a nation is Ike lifting sky
FuRpsr with 1ackscrsWs.
- II were a matter or free beer now
or new sex dance, tho people would
run after you. But II you urge purer
ruth or a higher Justice on men YOU
LRvs your Job cut out for you, Be pa
tieut with those who are trying 10 edl-
cate the Church.
Some think the Church Win melt away
and disappear. All history tE against the
assumption. All history Is in favor Of
the proposition that the Church can b'
made much better or much worse than II
Is now The question Is not betwesT
having a Church or having none but be
tween having a wise Church or a blind
one: between having progressive Churci
or standpat Church,
WHAT THE CHURCH NEEDS.
''The Church needs four things sspe
Gislly today:
First Friendship for those who ear
their living and Independence from thos
who do not.
second Cooperation among The de
nominations on a basis OF ChristIa
equality and mutual respect
Third A sincere and scientific com
ANshsusion of the social causes OF SIN an
misFry.
FOURTH An undyinE determination I
Eet the will Of God realized IN the organ
lied life OF every community and 20 Sc
the life % Christ reappsar In every ma
and woman
"Dout 20 out OF the Church unless the
put you out. Jesus did not. II you nav
Il m you TO help the Church forward. b
patient and push Id moves slowly Bu
ii stays put And when the Church moys
1he nation moves