The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-09-03
DEAD WOOD IN THE CHURCH

The Herald of Rock Hill, S. c.:
"A very sane attitude toward denominations ana
decentralization is taken by DR.. + W. Gregg Oh
the First Presbyterian church as exhibited IN MS
sermon Sunday night before the union eongreEa-
ton OF Rock Hill churches. DIR. Gregg spoke On
The Holy Catholic Church or the Universal Chureh
that takes in all denominations Of the Christian
religion. 10 was a sermon that all ardent denom''
nationalists, and especially the narrow-minded de-
noIniDa tionalistS, should have heard.
cdr Gregg does not decFy the fact that We have
denominations in this and other countries because
he believes that certain denominations mt the needs
and desires Of certain people while other denoml-
nations &c the needs and desires of men who are
different minded
"The speaker made statement that will PROB
ably not meet the endorsement Of all preachers
and prominent laymen but certainly it ought to
have the endorsement Of all. Dr. Gregg said that
If person does not find himself happily situated
in q given church and that the atmosphere is not
congenia to the best efforts of the individual in
religious life, then certainly such person should
change mis- denomination and enter church more
TO his satisfaction.
TOO many denominationalists think unduly OF
numbers and achievements in quantity rather than
in quality Too few church leaders are willing to
adopt q program Of Hberality far AZ church
membership is concerned Many think in terms Of
great numbers rather than in terms of great per-
sona results
And speaking of numbers we are reminded Of
the pastorate of a popular preacher who after
three very successful years reported to higher au-
thorities that the membership of his church had
decreased very materially. The decrease was due
TO the fact that the preacher had taken from the
church rolls q lot of dead timber that should have
been removed years and years ago.
''If dead timber were generally removed from
ehurch rolls and il members encouraged to
seek church homes Of rehgiously cOngenial ma
tdre, il is possible that the membership rolls
throughout the country would show a decrease, but
we venture TO say that the results would be whole
some and very beneficial in the long run"
There is sound argument and suggestion
for ministers and for laymen in the sermon
of the Rock Hill preacher and in the COM
ment of The Herald. The Times-News be-
leves the statement that dead timber"
should be removed from church rolls is
something that ought to have the serious
thought of church authorities, and that
consideration should be followed by action
A short time ago Roger Babson startled
the country by making public an article IN
which he contended that the churches OF
the country have not really been gaining
ground, but have in fact been losing; and
that in membership they have lost in num-
bers instead of witnessing an increase.
Mr.. Babson's opinion was based on some
investigation made by him and the stand
point from which he was proceeding was
the confident belief that the dead wood"
on church membership rolls does not ac-
tually represent effective church numbers
Babson contends that church rolls are UNI
Intentionally, perhaps, padded, by count
ing the dead wood" as live numbers. At
any rate, whether the actual figures of
church membership are too high or too
low or fairly correct, it is certain that the
inactive, non-effeetive church membership
reduces the strength of the church in a
startling degree, This is fact known to
millions OF citizens in addition to Mr.. Bah
son. "'r
How should q church member rate who
never attends the services of his church,
never contributes q dollar to its support
and whose indifference to his church obi
cations and privileges is a constant source
ofrepfoach, in the minds Of people outside
the church, to the church's principles, pro-
grain and effectiveness?
Why does that kind of church member
care to have his name on the dead wood
roll of church,.
Whst doth 1t profit man to have, his
namss0ni . church book and have mind
'rtiFit- u -.
49, sas3s -,