Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-11-10
CALL FOR GOD-FEARlNG MEN

with our very civilization in the balance, there is no power so
able to face the issue and combat the forces of evil that are
abroad like the Church of the Living God.
But the Church must assert itself as never before and it
must assert itself at once if it is to fulfill its mission and save
the world from the calaclysm which is impending.
The call is for GOd-fearing men to arouse and assert
themselves. Jew and Gentle, Catholic and Protestant, one and
all, must shake off their Indifference and neglect and each and
every one do his or her full part in bringing the influence of
the Church to bear in the most decisive manner on the condi-
lions as we find them today.
The influence of the church in every community is read
lily recognized. Few men, even though they may not be affli-
ated with any religious body themselves, would care to bring
up their families in a community where there is no church.
The influence and power of the Church has been demonstrated
time and again in the contrast between the conditions in the
Frontier towns and mining camps before and after the estab-
Iishment of the Church in the community.
The Church has, from the beginning Of time, stood for
enlightenment and progress. It's very presence give some a
sense of security which no other institution affords. When a
own or city desires to advertise itself and attract new corners
10 live there one of its proudest boasts is its churches. 1t is
recognized universally that no man whether he attends church
himself or not, would pick out a place in which to live where
there is no church. Let any man, regardless of who he is or
whathe may be, go to a town with the idea of moving there and
learn that there are no churches in the place and his suspicion
is at once aroused. He has been accustomed to seeing churches
in every community in which he has lived that he had never
given a thought before of what a place would be like without
one.
The true meaning OF a Church TO a community DeSlnS 10
dawn upon him. lie realizes that the Church is the backbone
Of the place in which it is located; it is the stabiizing influ-
ence; the power for good and the symbol for enlightenment
No matter what other attractions a place may have a man would
hesitate a long time before making that place his home if it
had no churches.
But, having satisfied himself that churches do exist in the
town and that their influence for civic righteousness is recog-
~1,zed, it is very often the case that the man fails utterly to do
r. part in supporting the Church and doing his share of the
Church work.
The great majority of people are cold and Indifferent
when it comes to religion as applied to themselves.
Now, just because so many people are cold and ndlher-
ent toward the Church today there is grave danger of many of
the churches being forced to close their doors and pass out
of existence. The very foundation of the Church is threatened.
The forces of evil are alert and working as never before. In
sidious propaganda is being carried on all over the world;
false doctrines are being spread and radical teachings are be-
ing carried into the homes of the people undermining the very
foundation of society and challenging the sacredness of the
family life. Christianity is being made a mockery and even
God is being deled.
Admitting that the Church is the one sure foundation Of
our civilization; that a community without the Church is not
fit to live in, the question is, what are we doing to maintain the
Church and help it eXert. its influence?
The tendency generally is to let George do it." We read
lily admit that the Church must be maintained; not only must
it be maintained, but it must have workers to carry on its mis-
sion in the community in which it is located as well as through
out the world. But the impression prevails that there are 9th
ers to look after all this and the tendency is to leave the whole
matter of Church work in the hands of those who it is claimed,
like that sort of thing while the vast majority remain indiffer-
ent as to what is going on within the Church or what the actual
conditions of the Church are.
The truth is that right now, when the Church is facing the
greatest crisis in its history church attendance is falling off
at an alarming rate. Indifference is increasing and unless men
and women who believe in the Church as the uplifting influence
in the community bestr themselves before it is too late they
will find that the Church is gone and the temple of God is de-
stroyed.
Those who know the facts in regard to the Church in gen.
eral are so thoroughly alarmed at the outlook that a desperate
effort is being made to arouse the latent power of the Church
that it may play its full part in the readjustment of world af-
fairs that is going on today.
The leaders in the various religious denominations are
busily engaged in planning campaigns to enlist the support of
the millions of Church people who have drifted away and al
low their interests to lag. Great nationwide campaigns are
being conducted reaching out so as to get in touch with every
member of the Church in an effort to bring home to him and
her the peril which threatens unless every believer in God does
his or her part in helping to combat the evil forces that have
become so aggressive.
Unless the God-fearing people-people who realize and
appreciate the value and importance of the Church-come to
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