New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-13

are that and remember that we are all
children of Almighty God ] feel that
this is a great historical movement IN
the Christian church Of New York City.
| would rather see the Church of God
eXtinguished on this island than 20 see
il cover. powerless. under the assaults
Of materalsm. The Church viii be re-
vivid when our people in the pews
leave their organizations, their COM
mittees. their scheming and planning
and when we preachers forget our
theOlogiziug about the Gospel and
preach the Gospel. When this happens
the world will be shocked into wonder
and silence and the revival Of religion
will come"
Dr. Eaton came 10 the Madison Ave
nue. Baptist Church in 1910. For the
eight years previous to his arrival in
New York he had been pastor of the
Euclid Avenue Baptist Church in
Cleveland. where John d. Rockefeller
worshipped for years. DR.. Eaton is one
of Mr.. Rockefeller's closest friends
and often plays golf with him.
In view of the omission of the union
communion service. the Rev. DR.. Will
lam p. Merrill's remarks about
churches giving up cherished instltu-
tionalism to reach "the man out in the
d streets" took on. new significance for
| the revival committee.
= Woman PRAYED in German.
} When the strains of Revive Us
/ Again" died away, DR.. Welch called for
prayers from the congregation. An
elderly woman. sitting in one OF the
I 70 L.
that many could not understand her
After a minute Of rather awkward hes
itation. one Of the clcrgymen arose and
made his supplcation in such a heavy
voice that the woman was silcnced.
As soon as he finished, a man rose 70
his feet, turned to face the congrega-
tion. bowed in prayer. and said: Il wish
. 70 say that this sister here was pray
ing IN German. Perhaps you did not
all understand her. But ! understood
and am sure God heard her, u would
be we'll for us to listen TO her and pray
with her that there may be a great re-
vival among the Germans at this time.
During the prayers which followed
blessings were asked for "our German
sister and the dear German people"
The Rev. Dr.. William p. Merrill. pas
tor OF the Brick Presbyterian Church
admitted that to him enthusiasm for
Socialism seemed 10 be made Of the
same stuff as zeal for religion. If the
great unorganized religious tide is 70
be reached, he said, then the Christian
Church must sacrifice some Of the con
vention5 it cherishes.
For some years the thing that has
impressed me is how we are TO face
the rising tide Of what call unor-
%. 4,
or not the Church Of Jesus Christ is "a
amount 20 something in the future de
ponds upon the answer to this ques
ton.
Religion and Socialism.
"Outside the Church. all through our
social life, we lind something which
call religion, much OF which I am will
ing 10 call Christianity. II the Church
does not take advantage of its oppor
tunity 10 assimilate unorganized re
ligicn il confesses its ignorance. Nc
one knows just what the Church car
or will do in this situation. wish
could tell you. But one thing is sure
we must reach out and try to utiliz,
this enormous force which Is righ'
around US.
81 never meet a group Of Socialist.
without wishing that had some Of tn,
enthusiasm they have. WHAT they be
hevc may be right or wrong that is :
difference Of opinion but they certain.
~ have spiritual power there. some
thing that 10 them is religion. II
we do not recognize this fact I thinl
we are traitors 10 Christ Something
mast be done 70 meet unorganiZed re
. llgion on It's own basis. You can't picl
Up current magazine without reading
little religious article. and set Il !
al! outside the organized Church.
I'VE must make up our minds 20 dc
ore thing and that is 70 stop thinking
about the outsiders coming 70 get IN
line with Us inside the Church; ",
must do Z whole lot more than We ar,
doing 20 get in line with them. / NEAR
get out OF the rut Of conyentionality
The danger OF revival is that il vii
LIT Us out of one rut into another.
How are we TO reach that fellow
out in the streets who does not car,
much about our religious doctrines
We must have a unified Church which
will impress him with a real religion
To reach that man We must sGcrifc,
something which the churches cherisl
dearlv. The Church Of Christ mus
keep institutionslism in second place
by iustitution0lism. ! mean creed
Journalism and all the exterior bust
ness OF the Church. II must be put
down and kept down. In its place we
have just two questions 20 consider.
What would Christ say and 'What
does the fellow outside think Of us!'