The Washington times., 1921-08-06


her to write one reason why the church
should be kept open during the sum-
mer.
A Few Answers.
Here are some of the answers:
THE church and its services and
ministries are a necessity to the spir-
itual well-being of all who desire to do
! right and ought to be accessible at all
times to such persons"
THE devil never takes vacation or
closes up his temples of vice and i'm
morality-God's house Of refuge and
rest ought to stand open at least as
long as the places of crime and worldly
pleasure"
THE closing of the churches in Au-
gust discourages the church going
habit at other times"
Why Not October, Too3
"If we may close the churches In Au-
gust. why not in October and why not
throughout the year?'
Many people have time Off in Au-
gust and at no other season-if the
churches were closed during this
month, these persons are denied
church privileges at time when they
most need them and can be most en-
joyed."
THE closing Of the churches in Au-
gust lowers the standard of religion
to the level of convenience, selfishness
and takes out of the Christian life the
spirit of sacrifice and love-"
Sickness. sorrow, poverty and re-
morse are the lot of very many In our
city-where shall these stricken ones
go for comfort, forgiveness. relief and
joy If the house of prayer is closed
during any month in the year2'
D4h nyNr Inc
ciate of the clergy staff of the Church
of the Epiphany, asks:
"Why not love your mother or
your wife or child in the summer as
throughout the other parts Of the
year? The church is our mother.
Summer religion of many persons
forms a sad commentary upon their
religious life. Many get cold feet
with respect to religion when sum-
mer rolls around, and their church
going becomes little less than mock
cry. They stay away religiously, as
they argue to themselves. and remind
one of the words of the little child
starting off on a summers vacation:
'Good-by, God. we are going off for
q vacation now
No Religious Vacation.
There is no such thing as a va
cation from religion. Church going
is the outward sign or symbol of
what we believe in our hearts about
God.
I'm taking a vacation from religion
in summer we run the great danger
Of breaking up a good habit. Religion
tends to crystalline into habit. and
ne who forms the habit Of church.
going is aiding himself nightly in
making religion both a joy and a
power in life.
I'VE should throw our influence
for good on the side of organized
religion because its need Is sorest
just at this season. Many churches
have a struggle to get through the
summer. May 1, in this connection,
urge upon those sojourning at some
summer resort, where perhaps there
is a beautiful little temple Of God
with. it's doors wide open to them,
that they bear this in mind"
Rev. Reginald Rowland, of the New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church,
has other comment on the question.
Houses of worship are open, re.
ligious services are held for those who
may desire them, but we do not ex-
pect the same intensity, zeal, and
earnestness as manifested in the win
ter season, nor may we accomplish
as great results. Let these periods
be times of refresehment, rest. and
recreation" says Rev. Rowland.
Sees Need Of Loyalty.
at was recently found upon investi-
cation that eight out of ten men were
indifferent to organized religion. While
each of these men had n religion Of
his own and believed in the cardinal
virtues of Christianity, he did not as
sociate these with being a Christian.
This was largely due to the fact that
some who bear the name OF Christ
do not clearly manifest the Christian
character.
What we need in the churches to-
day is passion, devotion, and loyalty
II we are TO convince the world of the
reality Of our convictions and earnest.
ness of our professions. We need more
of the men who will not go on a mo-
tor trip unless they can stop at n
church service. We need more of the
men who say to their children not,
Go to church, but, Come to church.;
and not a church, but my church.
There are too many people today
whose religion of service leaves out
the element of worship, without which
service soon becomes empty and mean
ingless. Others feel they may wor-
ship God in nature and as individuals.
Matthew Arnold was right when he
said, Man philosophers best alone,
but he worshlps best in common. This
is partly matter of psychology-our
group alteration lifts us to a higher
plane than would be ours in isolation.
It is partly deeper than that-a God
who Ia love finds us readiest for His
indwellng when we are consciously
sharing each others aspirations
when we refrain from outward as.
ISOLATION in the church as an institu.
ton, we soon experience the fruitless.
ness of a prayer which runs, Lord
help me, not my brother; Lord help
me and no other The church has
best been defined not as an ark of
refuGs to draw US apart from q sin