Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-23
German Missionaries in India.

II speaks something for British toler-
ance that hundreds of German mis-
sionaries in India have been permitted
to continue their work unmolested thus
far, and II speaks something for the
German missionaries that their critics
who want them interned can point to
few abuses of this hospitality and must
base their demand chiefly on the
chance of the Teutons have to do evil
II they were so inclined. But public
opinion in India demands "a complete
sweep OF enemy aliens, missionary or
otherwise" says writer in The Nine
teenth Century and After (August).
Leading papers like The Pioneer. to-
gether with the European Association
in India. have asked for action, and
even British missionaries admit that
sibility Of the highest authorities"
placed" The Rev. Dr. William Miller.
head Of the Madras Christian College,
points out that .'the course which
would give most pleasure to every one
who looks at the matter from Chris
tian standpoint would be to allow the
German missionaries to remain at their
posts. But the path of duty is not al,
ways pleasant path. and the facts
must be faced" These recommenda
tions are supported by Mr.. Austin
Chamberlain. Secretary of State for
India, who reported in the house of
commons that the representations
from India showed the time had come
to take precautions against abuse OF
the leniency hitherto shown. The
Nineteenth Century writer. A. Yusuf
Ali. believes the situation should be
immediately taken in hand. for the
. Nd he
German missionaries from false temp
Itations and opportunities which they
would not be Germans II they did not
utilize The German missionaries,
then. 1t seems, are destined to mingle
with the other enemy aliens in India.
whatever their calling or SEX" who are
to be "interned or cleared out Of India,
subject only to just individual exemp-
tons sparingly granted on the respon-
sibility Of the highest authorities" The
indictment affecting those Germans
doing missionary work falls under Ave
heads:
Falling OF in Church Attendance.
Characterization of The Tribune:
While in an eastern city few weeks
ago visited three churches on Sunday
morning, one Catholic, one Presbyter-
ian, one Episcopalian. The Catholic
church Vas crowded to the doors. The
other two were not one-third filed.
The diminishing interest in church
going has given me cause for reflection
!, for some years. OF course, the rising
generation is not religious. OF course,
the tired business man enjoys going to
the country to play golf or he likes to
stay at home and read the morning
papers. But believe the falling of in
attendance at church can be ascrtbed
to the long services, lasting from an
hour and half to an hour and forty
minutes. do not refer to the sermons,
which here in Chicago reach high
standard. I refer to responsive read
| fngs, numerous choir selections, many
| hymns, the creed, the long prayer, in
addition to the shorter ones the notes
read from the pulpit, and the impress
sive service of the collection Each OF
these is in itself of interest and may In
sp.re sentiment Of reverence, but new
ertheless there are too many prelimi-
naries to the sermon.
| BY the time the tired business man
| settles down to listen to 1t he is already
/ CHANGING at his watch.
| II the morning service could be linn
tied to one hour. and IL there could be
short afternoon service instead OF the
evening one, believe attendance at
church would be doubled. While COM
paratively few persons are willing to
60 out to church In the evening. nearly
every one enjoys going out OF doors on
Sunday afternoon. There is always
good attendance at vespers.
The Catholic church arranges Its ser
L 70 f1a NO
of its congregation than protestants do.
There are long services and short ones;
and the doors of the cathedrais as well
as OF the smallest churches are open
every day In the week.
In these times Of stress and high
pressure the church should make some
concessions to the new conditions.
E. r. NJ.
E. r. Ms. criticism on the length OF
|seryices in protestant churches apply