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-
tlon to his other pastoral duties, and
he Will not havelto preach to empty
seats. Too many pastors seem to
think their whole work consists of
preaching two sermons each Sunday,
but II is just as important that they
look af:er the spiritual interests or
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
ne cares for them. In short, try to
infuse a spirit OF cooperation be-
tween pastor and congregation.
But the average pastor has a y.,y
trying task, be his flock large or
small: It Is made up of persons OF
various tastes and temperaments.
and any line OF work he may adopt
viii hardly please them all. But IL
All possessed the true Christian spIfs
II OF wishing to serve. rather than to
be served, such a condition would not
prevail.
Another cause OF the decline or
the churches OF today, as most lay
men and some pastors see 1t, Is the
new theology being disseminated
through pulpit and press, that is I'M
dermining the faith of many church
people. When n set OF critics can
make true worshipper believe the
Old Bible, 10 which he has ever
pinned his faith. and has been an an
Choir to his soul, that the old book
does not mean what it says, his faith
in the Christian religion will be I'M
dermined right there. will conceda
that somc of the changes in the new.
or revised edition of the Bible, by
the substitution OF words of the same
meaning. may sound a little better.
but 1t 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
Gospel writers 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 tho
smart Alexis" make Matthew tell II
in the new version: Now late on
the Sabbath day as it 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 TO the first
day of the week under this version.
/ But this change Is no more absurd
than some OF the other changes.S
The revision committee very like
y were graduates from some OF our
modern colleges, whose chief aim is
TO create or finish up the most eff
/ ficient 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 banqueting,
games and other forms OF amuse-
ment dominate much of the church
services. There should be a whole
volume written from this phase OF
compromising the true God with the
deyii's program, but space will for
bid further notice here from me-.
Il do not clai INTO be prohpct or
4