The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-03-20
LOSS TO CHURCH
LODGE Is GAMER
o0n,inusa from ras. one.

months a year are preaching to the
boys and girls.
The Charity Proposition.
Then the state and the lodges
have largely taken over the charity
work. The lodge even with the open
Bible Is no substitute Cor the church.
but as long as lodges contribute so
liability and sympathy and charity
they will draw people to them.
The y. NJ. G. a. and Y. W. c. A..
undertake TO do work which could
as well be done by the church.
believe In the y. ". c. A. and have
been a member of II for twenty-five
years. II was organized TO take care
Of young men who were away from
home and who found no home in the
church. cannot but feel, however,
that Il has become sort of a gentle
mans club and young men substi-
tute their interest there for doing
real church work. The v. NJ. c. A.
and Y. w. c. A. should be SO con-
nected with the church that they
would gear into each other smoothly.
Tho salvation Army also is a pro
test against the hide2bound, stifr-
neelsed attitude OF the church. They
are doing a work that the churches
are not doing, and that we ought TO,
do. and that Jesus did when he was
on earth. ."
Men Not Doing the Work. ID
Somehow We men are not doing
the work IN the church that We
should do. Men are not working In
the churc as women are. Wasting
ton GLADDEN. has given as the fnfirm-
tiles of the church OF today these
things: unbelief, orthodoxism. sectar-
isnism and materialism. He speaks
OF orthodoxism as the dry rot of
the church. In my opinion sectar.,
isnism Is the greatest Of these in
firmities. II the district superin-i
tendeRts OF the various sects find
that a church OF one denomination
in a small community Is doing good
work. ask him TO let Il alone. Let
one church be we'll organized and be
a big factor I'm a community rather
than two or more small churches
struggle for an existence. I'd
Now as to how we might social
ize the church To begin with the
architecture OF the church, believe
that the church edifice should be con
sidered from the point OF utility, and
the money should not all be put into
steepies. ~ H 1853 81
Il think that the minister or some
other member of the church should
take the average janitor aside and
ave him talk about heat light and
ventilation OF the church. From the
way some churches are heated and
ventilated the janitors must be first
cousins OF the devil. A church should
be looked upon In the snme way
as a factory. and should be organ
ised as such. I you'd put more money
into the Sunday school OF the church,
and then II had any left would
build an auditorium. We make too
much out OF the auditorium and the
preacher Of the church. The church
out to be planned 70 serve the whole
community. The greatest opportun.
ity Of the church Is with the chill
dren. Success does not result so
much from reformation as from for.
nation. -F
"isnt II pitiful to see the small
amount OF money put into teaching
TO the Bible? ~
Should Have Club Rooms.
Il see no objection to having club
rooms in the church? But do not
believe money for church expenses
should be raised by suppers. 7 be-
lieve the church dining room and
kitchen have their social value in
the church. but they should not be
called upon TO Support the minister
and pay the church expenses. believe
that gymnasium and eswimming
pool may have place In the church.
But above all there must be point
OF contact between the young peo-
pie and the church.
The church should not be locked
up. u Il is to compete with the sa-
loon II must remain open Cor long.
or hours. II must be made attrac-
tive TO men. The preacher must be
socialized. The preacher should be
a fed-blooded man, and | like the
idea Of Theological schools being In
great universities where the coming
preachers may be leaders among
the students. They should study
economies and history scientifically,
and they should study psychology
with emphasis on the child.
Should Have snsiness Methods.
And II would be well II business