The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-12-22

water: yet, that is just what many
congregations of today are trying to
do. Hence the great lamentation
from various quarters over the de-
cline of the church. Let every town.
city or community look after the en-
forcement of the fourth command
ment and let every pastor preach
the whole Gospel, instead of trying TO
tickle the ear; then give more atten-
ton to his other pastoral duties, and
he will not have to preach TO empty
seats. Too many pastors seem to
think their whole work consists of
preaching two sermons each Sunday,
put II Is just as important that they
look af;er the spiritual interests of
their flock between sermons, viz: visit
any that are sick or in distress from
any cause, encourage any that may
be discouraged, and make them feel
he cares for them. In short. try to
infuse spirit OF cooperation be-
tween pastor and congregation,
But the average pastor has a yc.y
trying task. be his Aock large or
small: II is made up of persons OF
various tastes and tempemments.
and any line of work he may adopt
will hardly please them all. But II
all possessed the true Christian spir-
II OF wishing 10 serve. rather than TO
he served. such a condition would not
prevail.
Another cause OF the decline Of
the churches OF today. as most lay
men and some pastors see ii. Is the
new theology being disseminated
through pulpit and press, that is UNI
dermlnlng the faith OF many church
people. When a set OF critics can
make a true worshipper believe the
/ Old Bible. 20 which he has ever
pinned his faith. and has been an an
Choir 10 his soul, that the old book
does not mean what 1t says. his faith
in the Christian religion will be I'M
dermined right there. will concede
that some of the changes in the new
or revised edition OF the Bible. by
the substitution OF words of the same
meaning, may sound little better,
but It Is not more inspiring. Then
We find in many places the change
has destroyed the entire meaning
of the whole sentence. For one in
stance, in the old version. all the
I Gospel writer's record the resurrec,
ton of Jesus from the tomb as being
'on the first day OF the week, early
in the morning" Now note how the
smart Alexis" make Matthew tell il
in the new version; Now late on
the Sabbath day as II began to dawn
towards the first day of the week.
came Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary to see the sepulcher." etc. As
the Jewish Sabbath ended Saturday
at sun down. our Lord could not have
risen any ways near the first day OF
the week, and we have the grounds
for changing the Sabbath 10 the frs,
day Of the week under this version.
But this change Is no more absurd
/ than some OF the other changes.
The revision committee very like
ly were graduates from some OF our
modern colleges, whose chief aim Is
to create or finish up the most ef-
flcient ball teams. Too many of that
class Of church members at the pres
ent day Is the cause OF the attempt
to turn so many Of our churches into
play houses, where banquetlng,
games and other forms. of. amuse-
ment dominate much of the church
services. There should be whole
volume written from this phase OF
! compromising the true God with the
devils program. but space Will for
bid further notice here from me-.
II do not clai INTO be prohpet OF