The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-05-23
A Sermon on Church Deca-
dence from the Standpoint
of the Layman.
BY T. A. LATTA.f

BY r. A. LATTA.T
Last years accrettops TO the
protestant church membership were
the smallest In 30 Wars This in
crease in the Untted'States was only
$4,000 compared With an annual in
crease for the preceding 10 years OF
77l,940. The decline, however. be-
came very noticeable In 1915 when
the gain was only $4,000. My au-
thority for the figures is DR.. n. X.
Carroll church statistician.
Naturally the protestant church is
alarmed. And the explanations Of
fercd are as various as the mind OF
man IL varied. The suspension OF
active church work due to war Is
considered the principal cause. The
heavy mortality among church
members during the influenza ep'-
demic Is also offered as possible
partial explanation. In the many
different reasons offered for this de-
cline In the growth Of the church II
II very noticeable fact that respon-
sibility Is in every case placed out
side the church itself by those Of
ficially discussing the matter Yet,
now and again. voice is heard dis
regarding every excuse and alibi and
fixing the full responsibility where,
observers II bolongS-on the church.
The matter Is not one which con-
fronts only the church, II is OF ter
rife Importance to the entire social
and political system. For If the in
tluenCe OF the chuch Is waning then
the mortar which has held the fab
ric OF American civilization together
Is crumblng and "A social tragedy is
not far distant, Therefore II be-
hooves everyone at All concerned
with country and thoss forms and
ordinances OF life with which all are
familiar and all more or less ap-
prove, to genuinely concern them
selves with the subject and loan
such aid az may be prudent
SO in the friendliest and most
constructive manner of which l am
capable | am going to present some
settled In my mind as any rule OF
mathematics. Views. too. that |
find are shared TO the fullest extent
by friends and aSsociates-men rep
rcscntative OF the great average
body OF American citizenship, And
II may be surprising to the pulpiteer
to know that this very question
the church-and its apparent failure
to fully Justify its own existence and
the great cause Il represents. is a
very common subject of conversa-
lion among men of all vocations as
they fraterniZe in dining room.
lobby. smoking room and club. 1t is,
l. verify believe, the most common
subject OF cunycrsatiou--of earnest
sincere, friendly consideration
neither the presidential campaign
or the league of nations being eX-
cepted.
Where the Church Fails
Tho church. then, is decadent in
that its influence is waning on both
the world and its own membership.
And the one big cause Is the growing
similarity between the church and
politics, the church and state, the
church and society, the church and
finance-in brief, the church and
the world. The church OF today is
not greatly different In the abstract
from any business enterprise. 1t has
come to be organized along the
same lines, practices the same rules
and is at the present time entering
the religious trust period, employing
every artifiCo and rule employed by
big business, invoking every mate
Iridl consideration ever invoked by
tho successful captains of industry
The charge l mean to make is
that the church is far less spiritual
and far moro material than II ever
was before. And hy reason OF these
facts II is far less influential with
tho great mass OF humanity; be-
cause az n worldly institution II can
never hope to compete, can never
even justify it's existence or the cost
81 its upkeep. And for all this the
church and not the world Is to
blame.
There exists a greater longing to-
day for the ministrations OF the
spirit than at any time in two de-
cades, am thoroughly convinced
OF this. And where must humanity
turn 10 satisfy the appetite? You
say to the church, OF course. And
reply by a flat contradiction. And
if need be will call 20 tho witness
sand the idol and sheet anchor OF
the church today, Billy Sunday.
What | have here said no breaches
in every sermon. And when a com
/! uaunitY. filled with churches which it