Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-10-25
DR.. W. |. Ransome
On
SOCIOLOGY
The Church Once More
SOCIOLOGY
At The Bar Of Public Opinion

The article of Oct H. provoked much from those
religious circles The Baptist Ministers Conference of Richmond
vicinity has set aside next Monday to discuss the The
of the article has been requested lead the
order that all the ministers and those interested may
article we are repubishing it in this issue
GENERAL UNREST
several of the churches Richmond in the State
and county there be unrest pastor recently
large church Richmond effort have
resign defeated brewing still
nearly all OF them behind in current
expenses. There be special
charge immortality against pastors of these restless
delinquent churches
THE CAUSE
The cause of the situation manifold Among them may
placed the following:
l. ndiscretion on the part of some pastors.
Lack of executive ability and training the part of 9TH
ers.
g. Weak and small churches which should combine with
larger other smaller
f. Financial depression
Lack of loyalty the part of the church members.
BEGGING
1t is an annoyance to the public and reflection the
church constantly begging the pubic and outsiders for
money the church mission church among non
established then this ought to be supported
and stronger churches and missionary
But than for little band OF Christians to
and build church. in proximity to another church,
the faith and expect the public to for the church
which these few people persist in maintaining.
Many of the churches in Richmond and in most cities
throughout the State and country would do Christianity service
especially by coored churches The writer knows instances in
churches gone down rather than unite leaving the
surviving members to be picked by experience of grace
method Tor membership in some other church
GIVING
most church members religion measured by the
money they give the church, they have little
Negro crowd
cothngs automobiles which they live good hou
equipped with radios and at the time contribute little
nothing to the support their Church. Some of these
people have heart ask the church to exempt them
paying dues Every Negro church in the city has long
delinquent list Many church members have of obi
cation whatsoever to their church.
CHURCH ENTERTAINMENTS
Church entertainments have their place. There still
people who do not to frequent pleasure resorts to
sit the lin crow gallery of the best theater There
ought be wholesome helpful church entertainments for
people and for others who The church
should be righteous community center but entertainments
given this point The primary aim to make
money the building fund and to raise the salary of the
church officers.
table as gift God will pay twenty-five cents for
cert ticket and will eat ice and hot dogs after the enter
ainment The average church member has not
the dignity righteous giving unto the Lord The writer has
in mind certain entertainment which given
which about fifty characters took part These people rented their
The cost of the costumes two dollars and fifty
eachOne hundred and dollars The entertain
melted hundred dollars The players paid for their
own uniform What made If the players alone had given
the their uniforms the church. money would have
realized greater dignity would have surrounded the
church.
Laws Ethics Often Broken in Church Entertainments
Many people know that in buying from church entertain
men they often ten cents for the amount ice
which ugody restaurant keeper would charge only five
This justified by the sellers because 1T is for the church.
Churches sometimes feel forced permit to
their sacred walls that not in harmony with their ideals
They the money These kinds of entertainments draw the