Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-01-23
Go to Church Sunday. /"


All over the country empty church
pews are becoming problem. The fall
ing off in Sunday attendance is one of
the serious failures of the modern scheme
of progress. Religion must keep step
with commerce and education if it is to
hold its own in the fabric of modern
life; and yet men stay away from the
outward expression of its demands as
focused in the weekly service.
Is the church to become back num-
Der? Is the empty pew to stand as a
synonym of the modern attitude toward
religion?
The question is momentous one, and
thoughtful people everywhere are try
ing to solve the problem, and to devise
some means for the abatement of the
growing neglect on the part of the pub
| lie.
What is there in present-day life that
thrusts aside religious consideration?
Is it the quest of pleasure. the ever
growing appetite for amusement, or
the fierce struggle for place and power
and the almighty and controlling dol
lar? Probably it is combination of all
three. Certain it is that the church is
RELOCATED not to the second place only,
but TO the last place in public considera-
ton. There has been a gradual break
ing down of the old attitude toward re-
ligion, lessening of the reverence for
things that stiffened the consciences of
our grandfathers and great-grandfath-
ers. The contributing causes to this
are not far to seek-the jesting about
serious matters. jokes that undermine
the high regard for matrimony and its
obligations; filings of wit at decorous
dress and habits; gay quips on men and
women who hold to the serious side of
duty-these and other things have
gradually lowered the estimate in which
religion and things religious are gener-
ally held.
The correction for this lies in going
back to the principles and habits found
ed deep in reverence for the better life.
And the beginning of this correction,
according to some of the deepest think
ers, is the resumption Of che church
going habit. This weekly outward
Manifestation of a mans belief is as a
tonic to his spirit, and so the effort is
to refill the empty pews and gather
men and women into the old circle of
Sunday worship.
To start this movement, February l,
which falls on Sunday, has been set
aside as 'go-to-church Sunday" and
the request sent broadcast through the
country that on that day everybody
shall make a special effort to attend
service in that house of God in which
he or she has been reared to worship.
And not only this year, but for all
years, the effort will be made to set
this first Sunday in February aside as
special church-going festival, with the
hope that the interest aroused on this
day may last through many Sundays
Governors of several states have en-
tered with the enthusiasm into the plan,
and ministers in hundreds of towns and
cities are looking eagerly and hopefully
to this day two weeks to see how their
plan for the return to the habit of
church going will work, Commercial
Appeal.
The numerous friends of our dear
Big Bud will rejoice to know he is
much improved in health and indica-
tions are that he will soon be himself
again. He is still nervous and irrita-
Bile, as indicated in letter to the Bea-
con in which he expresses himself in a
very peevish manner because we COM
mitted the sin last week of making him
say that "Samson was shown of his
locks" Had Samson been from Mis-
souri,. the mistake would not have been
50 bad, but as he wasn't we agree
with Big Bud that the error was al
most inexcusable. But we plead guilty
to being only contributory, as Big Buds
1--WE won't say whether
male, female or of neuter gender) made
The copy read ''shown" instead of
'shorn." But Big Bud should be more
and not lose his temper
over such a thing as Typographical err
ror, for they have been committed in
almost every publication since Guten-
Berg printed the first paper. That the
publisher of this paper is still alive is
evidence of the fact the public general
y is more even tempered than our
riend, !