The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-10-23
WHAT is THE TROUBLE?
81 ]. c. skolIowE

W0 are olLen asked why II Is, that
members of the church seem so in
different TO its services, and why there
Is so much trouble in getting them to
see the necessity for contributing to-
wards its support? All kinds of ex-
plantations are offered, and the blame
Is placed, alike. upon the clergyman.
the vestry, or somebody else; in fact.
each one is more than likely to shift
the blame upon someone else's
shoulders.
But It seems to us that this spirit
is altogether wrong. We need to look
below the surface Of things, to boldly
face the issue in hand no matter how
unpleasant the results arrived at NAV
be, and 50 try and see what really Is
the cause for out empty pews and for
the perpetual cry of lack of funds.
The fact undoubtedly is that there
are great many people today who
do not in the least feel that they re-
quire or need the services Of the
church, and this because at heart they
also feel that they receive no special
benefits from the services, and, feeling
this way. they naturally cease to have
any further interest in the church, and
SO do not care to give their time or
support to that in which they have
ceased to take any part or interest.
You viii always find that people
spend all their spare money on those
things which they like and enjoy the
most, and from which they imagine
they are getting tho most satisfaction,
recreation or amusement
On the other hand, all those who feel
that they are deriving a benefit from
the church and It's services. are present
whenever possible, and are always
willing and ready to give according to
their means. They recognize and feel
the need Of the spiritual side of life,
and they are willing to pay towards
that from which they feel they are re-
ceiving a decided benefit and which
they also realize is a decided benefit
and moral upllft to the community In
which they are living. But these same
people often, judging from their own
standpoint, think all others who are
only nominal members should do asI
they do, forgetting that, before this
can be expected, they must somehow
be made to realize that they can also
receive like benefits as themselves
which at present they do not feel at
all, and. therefore, naturally do not feel
like contributing to that which they
are unable to recognize as any special
benefit to themselves or others.
That conditions In the immediate
present are not likely to change. APP
pears to US quite evident.
The old custom of the father and
mother going regularly to church. TAX
ing the whole family with them as
soon as each child was old enough to
keep quiet. seems at the present day
to be rapidly becoming a thing of the
past: how many children we see at
Sunday school whose parents seldom, |
Il ever, come to church. Then, as the
grow older. and leave the Sun
lay school, the home example has a
tendency to Offset whatever Of good the |
Sunday school might have accom-
olished.
Children are naturally inclined to-
follow the example OF their parents. |
Then, again. Sunday school is some
lines used by older members as a sub
stitute to church services.
People by gradually absenting them
selves from church take but very |
short time to grow into chronic alb
sentees. Every year there are num-
lers OF church members who cease to
1e active and practical workers, and /
could be added to the great list Of
mere nominal members. Formerly. in
he Roman church, attendance at the
mass was considered as one OF tho
passports to a higher life.
md neglect Of this was supposed TO
mean eternal perdition. So long as
people believed this they naturally at
ended the services, much in the same
natter of fact way that a man pays
premium on a life-insurance policy to
protect his family in case OF accidents.
At the present time the belief IN
hereafter. to a great mass
II people, are extremely hazy and In
le1lnite, and the arthodox Ideas Of
heaven and hell have to a large ex-
ent in the Protestant church, received
heir death knen. The most superficial
IDEAS OF universal salvation are more
n less gaining ground; together with
What we are unwillingly compelled to
as the secularization OF
he churches rapidly gaining ground.
t Is not at all surprising that during
his age OF transition which is going