Phoenix tribune., 1922-11-25
RELIGIOUS UNREST

Following is editorial which appeared recently in
one OF our exchanges and there is not much difference
between coored people of the east and west reproduce
1t without comment for the edificatOn of our readers
The article follows:
The Christian church is today facing the gravest
problems that 1t has been called upon to face in many
year The spirit OF unrest prevalent in the world today
is beng felt III no uncertain way in churches.
The falling away of church attendance in nearly all
OF our churches is being and discussed MANY
and varied have been the advanced but this
tcle to do the good that is intended that should
we must discuss with utter fanness Of the things
That cause falling in church attendance Dr. Mich
oas Murray Butler president of Columbia University in
an address delivered in Philadelphia year ago. attrbu-
ed the unrest to education.
While this is true to large degree vet we NAV trace
much of it to nsatate desire to initiate the white
man AS churches discard the old sprtuas that our
mothers sang songs that set to music but the
Pent up outpougs OF devout people, churches lose
their power to attract The old plantation melodies have
peculiar place i'll the life of race And when ere we
al to recognize that fact slowly but surely with the ir
reslstlbe movement of geological subsidence faith in
waning, even among the most devOut.
Twenty years ago nearly everyone held to some relg-
os creed Today those of group who follow no par
cuar creed number thousands and as their hopes of
heavenly Kingdom dissolve other hopes themselves
with growing intensity. Much of this can be charged
back to desire to initiate the white mans cold unemo-
onal religion devoid of fire and fervor so characteristic
of our people.
And as our preachers fall away from the old time
ever increasing numbers Robert BIatchford in the Lon
don Clarion said "We shall reach the happiness
the King desires for until have converted our re-
lglOus leaders and made Christians out of them The
world said he is full with socaed religion which not re-
hglon at all; not Christianity at ALL merely organized
hypocracy We cannot say much as Mr. Blatchford
upon this subject but thing can say and that is
that there something radically wrong and if the church
would measure up its high calling some of the tactics
now being peIsued by ministers of the gospel must be
abanodned
Those who wend their way to church on Sunday 90
hear the gospel of the Son of God not to listen too long
harangues about criticisms that might have been
eveled at the preacher during the week. Jesus said eff
| be lifted up from the Earth will draw all men unto
me- And if the lifting up of Jesus fails it foregone
conclusion that all else will The spending of hours in
telling how good he is and how bad the one with contrary
views is does to drive away the attendance than
anyother one thing.
1t our ministers would do preaching and less
fault finding churches would soon take on the new
life so necessary to the life Of well organized church
After nearly 1000 years. much of the world today rese
bes the Athens of St Paus day in that it is given all
most entirely to idoaty but in there are as many
idols idol worshppers and every such one finds his
idol in his looking glass
But these man made gods, this endless number of !,
personal idols must be broken up and destroyed and the