Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-27
A SUBSTITUTE

church for the reconstruction
period, sounds this warning not,
which churchmen of every denomi-
nation would do well to considers:
This year the churches Of
america abolished the saloon.
We are .Jubilant over the victory;
but II we do not do something
more than tubilate, our victory
VIII be q hollow one. This VIC
tory has brought us face TO face
with new responsibilities and
the churches OF America must not
be slackers. We must fill the
place of the saloon In the nations
social life. The churches must
be kept open seven days a week.
They must attract and inspire and
render useful service. More and
more. at home and abroad, the
great masses of Gods children
must be shown that It is the
function of the Christian Church
to serve their needs. not simply
to issue holy pronounoements. II
we do not answer these human
needs at home, the millions who
have been deprived OF drink may
be expected to turn to other forms
of vice-and IL we do not rise to
our present opportunities in the
world at large we cannot claim
the promise of peace on earth and
good will among men.
Right, DR.. Taylor. precisely right!
There must be some substitute for
the saloon. The moving picture the
aters are preparing to take in some
of the overflow. Why should the
churches not do something to get
their share? Churchmen, very
properly, have fought whisky tooth
and nail for years. But the mere
abolition of the saloon is negative
progress. The church cannot be
merely destructive of evil; it must
fight vice constructively by provid-
ing ounter-attractions.
We may rs well recognize the
fact that men and women do not
want to be forever the objects of
sermons, however beneficial sermons
may be. They demand recreation,
amusement and the society of their
fellows. The thousands of COM
munity houses and neighborhood
clubs springing up all over the
country, are an admission of this
truth and attest to the need. Many
a man goes to the saloon because
there is no place else to go. Close
the door of the saloon and you leave
him in receptive mood for what
ever substitute is offered.
DR.. Taylor says Methodists realize
this, and are going to make an earn
est effort to meet the emergency.
He adds:
The old system OF church extern
sion IN the rural communities
will largely be abandoned. In
stead OF building little meeting
houses, to be opened once q
week when weather permits and
q $500 year pastor can be sup
piled, there will be an effort to
build large institutional churches
in the charge of competent and
well salaried executives, not
merely as places in which to sing
hymns and pray. but as all around
social centres and general head
quarters of community service.
These churches will be open con-
tinously. day and evening; will
contain modern libraries and
modern AGRICULTURAL exhibitions,
moving pictures. a first-aid hospi-
tai and dispensary. perhaps. and
every possible aid to the social
and educational life OF the Hd-
jacent territory. Anything. in city
or country, which performs So
cial service will be considered a
legitimate part of Methodist mis-
sionary work hereafter. and the
Methodists are very certain that
these services will be welcomed.
Churches every where have the
biggest opportunity for service in
the saloonless days just ahead that
ever has been offered. and it will be
their own fault if they do not take
ADVANCE from it to their own benefit
and that of society in general.
lob ciy