Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-14

t IF is difficult to say whether their critf-
cisms Of the churches, or their CRIES 1or
help from the churches, are the more an
moving. But both are becoming quite
wearisOme.
Both the churches and the preachers are
growing yerv tired of the appeals of these
outside and self-constituted bodies, when
like the two daughters of the horse-leach
are ever crying, GIVE give; F Ist3oa
xxx:150 Their clamorous calls, ii needed,
would exclude preaching from the pulpits OF
the country on almost every Sunday in the
year and suppress the spiritual functions OF
the church to the point of its per1shng
from diSuSe. -
But there is hope in the fact that both
preachers and churches are awakening to
this evil impression upon them, The grow
ing disposition to resist such things is
voiced in recent communication OF a
preacher which was published IN, The re,
formed Church Messenger of Philadelphia.
within the last two months requests
have come to me to observe Hospital sun
day. World Court Sunday, Red Cross Sun
day. Education Sunday, Father and Son
Sunday, Tuberculosis Sunday, Golden Rule
Sunday, Home Mission Sunday, Church Pa
per Sunday, Bible Sunday. In that same
period of time appeals for funds have come
to us for Home Missions, Japanese Earth
quake Relief, local Old Folks Home local
Hospitals; local Chidrens Home, Bible So
ciety German c. E. Societies. Ministerial
Relief Near East Relief, etc. Meanwhile,
our Home and Foreign Mission apportion-
ments have doubled and the growth of our
own work has been handicapped for seven
years for lack of an adequate church build
ing, which we could not yet afford to build,
as our people are of the working class.
Now I realize full well that these are
all worthy causes. Interest must be aroused
and funds must be raised; but where shall
we draw the line? What shall We ministers
emphasize, and what shall neglect?
When shall we find opportunity to preach
that series of sermons on prayer, and to
discuss some of the other spiritual problems
that perplex our people? How shall we re-
spond to these appeals for funds? 1t is
helpful to think of the miracle of the loayes
and fishes-but even the most generous
people will grow Indifferent if you try it
week after week. Shall we appeal to Con-
gross or to General Synod for few extra
Sundays each month? If you could not
which ought to come first? most worthy
Oracle of Philadelphia, tell what to do'
The editor of the Messenger replies to
his correspondent counselng generous pa
thence with all these appeals, but his mild
answer hardly meets the request of the
preacher who seeks his advice.
1t is quite true that we are living in q
time in which good causes have multiplied.
To the appeals of some great bodies, such
for example the Red Cross Society, the
churches must and will, always respond
But of others there are not few which
have outliYed the necessity out of which
they arose, and they should cease to exist
day longer. Many sprang up during the
late war, which no longer have any reason
for continued existence outside the desire
of their secretaries and other employees to
retain jobs with lucrative salaries attached
They are mendicant in their nature, and
parasitic in their effect.