The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-05-09

not allowed to exclude that element
as is not infrequently the case witt
urban churches. There is more preach
ing for edifcation and less pulpit
straining to be entertaining.
No, the most perpleXing problem
confronting Christianity in the Unit,
ed States is the problem Of the urban
church, and it grows more perpleXlng
every day. Now that "the wireless
has come, it is quite probable that
many back-slidden members Of urban
churches will forsake the assembling
of themselves together in the sanctu,
airy, and have their sermons Served
at home 'on the half-shell." Why
not? They care little for spiritual
worship or Christian fellowship, and
? novel entertainment on Sunday will
be quite satisfactory to them after
thew have taken a turn on the golf
links.
If the Christian Sabbath, as it has
been known in the United States, is
ever overthrown, it will be pulled
down by urban people with the con-
sent. if not the active cooperation.
of many members of city churches.
The Christian people of our country
churches will have to save it, if it is
saved at all.
The cause of temperance and pro-
hibition must find the most faithful
defenders and ardent advocates in
the rural churches. It's so now. Ur-
ban influences and patronage keep
''moonshine stills" going in rural dis
tricts to the discomfort Of our best
country people. "Bootlegging" relies
on urban support for its life.
Dance halls, foul circuses, defillng
movies" and such like, find their
strongest defenses behind city walls.
Crimes of violence prevail in cities
as they do not in the rural districts.
In the course of year there are IN
two cities of New York and Chicago
more mysterious murders" for
which no one is ever arrested and
punished than all the lynchings that
occur in entire South. There is not
so much ado made about the matter,
but this is because the murders are
too numerous to be very shocking;
they are too commonplace to occupy
much place in public attention.
fostering masses of evil abound in
all. our great cities, and indeed in all
the cities of the world. A great Cos
pc. is required for their cleansing and.
redemption, although the most di-
lated preaching in the world is found
in urban pulpits. PROBLEM navels,"
political issues, who shall have MIS-
Gle Shoals, and other current top
ies"". displace the gospel of Christ IN
the pulpits of far too many city
churches. The starving souls of urban
peoples. are given stones for bread
until many Of them turn away from
such disappointing ministrations.
1t would astound not a few city
preachers to know how many men
and women are living within stones
throw of their churches without once
dar4ening their doors who We're once
communicates in small towns and
rural districts. Let them make one
of the surveys about which some
of them are so fond Of talking, and
they will be amazed by what they will
find. -,
In number of our Southern cities
simultaneous meetings" of an evan
gelical sort are being held. If dur
ing these meetings the men and wcm-
en-, who have come into our cities
from rural churches ana failed to
unite with any urban church were
brought back to revived Christian life
the result would be a new era IN the
religious history Of the country. 1t
is greatly TO be desired that some
such energetic effort be made IN this
direction.
There is vast waste Of Christian
life in our cities. They are sepul-
chres of multiplied thousands Of
souls who were once active in rural
churches. Why this waste?
1t is time newspapers and maga-
zines took a rest from their tedious
discussion of the problems of the
rural church" and directed searching
attention to the problems of the city
church" The urban problem is our
imminent peril, and nothing else than
q potential Christianity will suffice to
solve it. Powerful preaching must
displace much of the pretty pulpiteer-
ing in our city churches; and urban
pastors who indulge such triilng
I 10