Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1915-12-15
DR.. Lakeland Con I'd His Series
of Sermons on &, ,ay Eve
ming on What II. 'siness
Men of Decorah TX
of the ChurcA
ASST SERMON
PROVED TO BE {
Extra Seats Were Brought Into the
Church to Accommodate the
Big Audience Present to
Hear Last Sermon.

i It ldoI vi JIlS DuSlhSSS AhCl ,
Series in the NJ E. church last Sun
day evening proved to be the climax.
Extra seats had to be carried in to ac-
commodate the large audience. DR..
Lakeland discussed the question
why are not More Men Members of
the Church and What Type of
Church would the Business Men
Join?" He said
Nearly every man had a reason
why more men were not members of
churches. The chief reasons were
as follows:
The reason why more men are not
members of the church is because
the attitude of the church in general
is not manly"
IA The consciousness / have of life
and the knowledge | have of the
n the church will not harmonic this
side of the grave unless one or both
experience a New Birth"
because competitive business life
:. ysorbs the ordinary mans interests
q and energies With energies tagged
by his weeks work, with low de-
va Si6t VI INTEREST III ItllSIOH III the
community, relaxation seems better
& to him than entry into religious asso-
Rciations.
Because business men are not so
n easily lead"
Lack of ambition in their devotion
VI to God or otherwise too lazy
Men reach home for their dinners
Saturday evening tired out, just out
of busying, hurrying week of strain
81 in a very adversary atmosphere, and
they want and feel they must have
mental and physical liberty on Sun
day, Take note, am not saying
these reasons are good and sufficient
but they prevail in my opinion
The majority stress the strain of
business as their chief reason If this
be the fact, then modern competition
I'd is doomed. Business which so robs
manhood and saps his energies, that
"a it prevents the highest functions of
# life-communion with God must be
IA un-ChTistian
However, we fear that business
~ is not the only factor in the case. Let
NJ us look at this wearied, tagged tired
II business man. Too exhausted to
"A worship God, he tramps miles in the
# winter shooting and in the summer
"a time fishing. Or per chance he sits az
IN the wheel of a car and works from
f~~s-- eight hours Possibly he
~ PLAYS a game of tennis or ball to ease
IA his weary bones. Lacking the enthu-
i siasm for this, he mounts the park
A hill and stands by the hour. We are q
q little afraid that this wouldn't stand
II the acid test he would apply to the
Il church
THE church has been feminine in
81 its approach to spiritual truths. II
= has emphasized the passive over the
Il active. 1t has yet to present a vir-
~ lie, daring revolutionary Christ,
which will make the average mans
II blood tingle It's activities have but
small place for men.
Men will join the church which is
b so alive and vitalized, that it never
Il loses its hold upon a boy. Men will
q join church that attempts large and
n daring projects but not one organized
n on penny basis. II must attempt
4 something large and practical for
III the benefit of society. In its endeav-
n or after efficiency, it must be willing
81 to eliminate everything that will not
II stand the test of utility. Men will
Il join the church, when the church
II cases to play mendicant. We have
II i.eld church membership too cheap.
q In our coaXing, we have descended to
81 a whine, which has repelled rather
than attracted men. When the church
II raises its standards so that men will
N feel honored in its membership, then
and then alone, will they flock to 1t.
1--WE now definitely lay down a
n challenge to the business men of De-
N corah There is no business or pro-
Y fessional work done in any but Chris
4 tian lands These are by-products OF
i Christianity. Putting the question to
a business man, IF the church fails
4 can any other society take its placer"
D He replied No sir"
A Business men are community
leaders If they don't take their
share of religious service in COM
4 munity, then they are responsible for
their influence.
Il 1--WE have admitted that there are
j bypocrites in the church, that mighty
\ changes must be wrought, yea more,
II is in the crucible facing world
war, Labor and Capitol are in death
grips. Every non-Christian land has
4 omen doors Does il sound like
1 child's play Mr.. Business Man? Is it
\ not a mans task? Men are making
I hinge sacrifices for the Evangelical
tion of the world? Are you in the
game or on the sidelines? Are you
| in the trenches or shirking in mater
ial ease? Don't dodge! We haven't
You're either religious litter or
h load.