Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-02-21
THE nGo mo- cHURcH TODAY MOVEMENT.

% HERE is movement on foot throughout the United States
to have "go to church today" Sunday in the fu-
ure which occasion special invitations will be sent to
everybody to attend It may be good movement, and
it may be out Of place for ayman make suggestions
the subject but it strikes that have permanent
Suits and that will be. at the most but spasmodc
ment Far be it from to critcse the in which the
churches conducted for is matter for each and every
church to decide for itself AS aman who hears the church
discussed in highways and byway and discussed in that
the ministers and churchgong people seldom if hear
say there is running all through church criticism under
current Of sentiment that the churches steadily drifting
away from the teachings of religion and turning too much
attention to purely worldly things Mind you this is not
assertion but statement Of what hear whenever hear
men talking of the churches For instance we heard one man
say few days I'm 80 years there will be Christian
religion in America" ow do you make that out inquired
his companion Because it will be Christian party" the
reply Another spoke Of the practice coming into vogue of
ing the churches places for political discussions and for
other things that have direct connection with the
worship of God, and vigorously deprecated the practice
He said: II have been church member since my early
manhood and just much of Christian have
been However at my church in the past few years. there have
been meetings of purely political character There moth
ing morally wrong in this but you readily see that pot
cal meetings my church. that took action directly opposite
my political beliefs did not appeal to Had they been in
accord with my beliefs would hold them nadvsed STILL for
they would tend to make Others who did not believe politically
do feel dsgrunted and put them out of touch with the
church."
In other words there is abroad feeling that the chruches
should render unto Caesar the things that Caesars and
unto God the things that Gods and the sentmne that
the two services are getting too much mixed.
Personally feel that the church has broad field outside of
its purely religious elements 1t has do with public morals
with charity the taking of the unfortunate and the sick
Every Christian indeed his brothers keeper and whatever
done toward the upft of humanity is within the scope and
realm Of the church We have pointed out the criticisms
above simply to call attention to them, and their suggestions
to what is causing the admitted falling off of church attend
ance.
The Telegram in editorial this subject Thursday says
What is the significance Of this mpulsive campaign to
secure church attendance under stimuant?
According to the most reliable statistical information there
something than 100000 churches of all denomna
tons in the country and omittng considerable following of
nonaached Christian Scientists and the unconfmed in the
Catholic church. the total uncants is in round numbers
S60OO00O The estimated seating capacity of all the church
edfces in the United States is 5S000000 These facts would
mean that if the church communicates loyal in attend
every church in the country would be nearly threequar
ters filled every Sunday Taking into the percentage
nonommunicants who attend church quite regularly such
circumstances there would be little call for any special church
going campaign would be rather the concern of the church
authorities to increase their seating capacity
1T is not for the ayman why it is that the church. as
whole fails to grip the interest of those allied with its mem
bershp but that it chargeabe with such failure is an obv
fact Can the fact be simply by inviting people to
go to church for single day. for that matter for any
number of days?"