CHURCHES AND PEOPLE.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 22, 19 September 1911, Page 2

CHURCHES AND PEOPLE.

A NEW ASPECT.

The 'Outlook' (New York) writes:"The question is much discussed among ministers—Why do not more people go to church? We wish they would substitute another question—Why do not the churches go to more people? The question is very effectively put in a letter which lies before us from a clergy, man:

For years it lias been my growing conviction that the church life of our time is really merely playing with the great problems of humanity. We try to build a superstructure that we call moral and spiritual, and we have not the foundations on which to l>nil<]—. namely, a clean, pure, strong, sound physical life. Our churches ought to be open to every sort of instruction mid work that shall insure to every bov and girl knowledge and training that shall save them from blighting evils. We ought to open our churches to our physicians to help to do this work wisely and effectively. When such work is done, then our moral and spiritual work will have the right foundations on which to build —and not till then. For there will always be many homes where this work is not done by parents, and the churches ought to see that it is done, as the very basis of all true religious work, There is also the question of providing the public the right sort of amusement, if we are going to object to such as are now provided by the play-houses, the pool-rooms, etc. The street corners every night slkw how many men have no places of recreation or of profitable resort. Our churches, instead of being shut every night save for our very inefficient pray-er-meetings, ought to be wide open and to present a variety of attractive programmes of amusement or instruction every night in the week. , "There are those who object to any such work as this undertaken by the Church, because they say that it is a departure from the Church's legitimate religious function. But it is not a departure from the Church's legitimate Teligious function. If men were hungry, Jesus fed them; if they were ignorant, He instructed them; if they were in sorrow, He comforted them; if they were in sin, and in despair because of sin, He brought them a message of pardon. This evangelical message of pardon was only a part of his work. It may have 'been the most important part. It may have been even in the largest part, measured by time, though that we doubt. But it certainly was not his whole work. And the commission which he gave to his Church was to carry on the work which he himself had done; it was to feed the hungry, teach the ignorant, comfort the sorrowing, succor and save the sinful. If the Church would follow the example of its Master it must study human nature, understand human needs, and minister to those needs, whatever they are, either by its own direct activity or by inspiring the ministering activities in other organisations." / " When men come to my church I want them to have comfort. They can come in athletic suits if they wish. They can wear as little as possible, so long as they are cool,' said' Her J. 1). Borrow to his congregation at Dale Presbyterian Church, Toronto. 'lf next Suni day is as hot, I will preach in my shirtsleeves.' "'■