Semi-weekly herald., 1917-10-11


upon the next week, We print them
in full.
The first reply;
l Most every business man in
Durango has to work hard for six
and sometimes seven days out of the
week. When a stray day shows up
occasionally upon which he does not
have to work, he quite naturally,
wants to rest, or play, and to get ac-
quainted with his wife and family
II he has had hell. in tangible form
dished out to him for six days, he
doesn't want any NEUROLOGICAL hell
served on the seventh. He further
more objects to anything, other than
his own conscience telling him what
he should, or should not do.
2 Go q little stronger on Chris
tianity, and not 30 strong on church
ianity. Cut out more of the form
and absorb more of the essence of re-
lgion. Let all churches unite upon
the broad principles upon which all
are agreed; the moral and spiritual
philosophy Of Jesus Christ, the bro
therhood Of man, and the fatherhood
of God, the practice, and the further
ance of the doctrine of the Golden
Rule, Christ's only direct comand-
ment To man, and whilst uniting upon
these things, let them eliminate the
numerous petty, immaterial, and ir-
relevant causes of controversy be-
tween themselves. Let them cease
trying to regulate the minute details
of the individuals life. Men who
stand for Democracy in temporal gov
ernment, will never approve of a
Il Irussianized" church, which allows
no individual liberty. A business
mans religion should be bouy, help
ing him thru life, furnishing strength
to his arms, courage to his heart, and
peace to his mind, and should not be
a stone around his neck, keeping him
from enjoying the good things God
of man.
Rules and regulations, and the big
stick to enforce them may have been
a good thing some centuries ago,
when the mind of the average man
was incapable of comprehending the
abstract, but modern Goth century
man demands a modernized church.
Religion is a living, growing, vital
thing, just as the mind of man.
The second reply:
/. Our ministers are leaders of
WOMEN, and not of men. Our
churches are medieval. Sixteenth
century religion will not attract the
Twentieth century men. Our bust
ness Men plan their lives for six
days in the week, while the seventh
day,-Sunday, is governed much by
chance or habit. Here both chance
and habit lead our men elsewhere
than to church.
2. (a) Do something. Undertake
some DEFINITE thing in the COM
munity life and do it. Be leaders in
something.
(b) Adopt business methods; shut
up some churches and reinforce 9TH
ers. There should not be three Meth
odist churches in Durango.
(c) Go after business men in a
business way; show them the church
is a vital force in their community,
and they will support it.
(e) Make the services worth while.
Many sermons are not worth listen
ing to and the music is not much
better.
(f) The churches have neglected
the social side of life. Women get
this in their social sircles, and the
children get it in the schools, while
the business man is at work. The
mans social life is neglected unless
he gets it in his club or in the bill
lard room.
Under present conditions, l can
see but little hope. This town has
some twelve different church organ
izaticns. 1t is no wonder they do SO
little. We have one picture show,
and it is worth going to see, but we
have twelve churches and they
II you can get enough religion in
these different organizations to get
them to combine, put their money in
to two or three good men, pay them
80 they can afford to stay in the
and have a little surplus to
do business with, there will be some
hope, but under present conditions l
see little hope Of interesting busi-
ness men.
Don't blame the business men too
much. There is good stuff there. He
gets the blame all week and Graves
something else on Sunday. He can