SKYSCRAPER CHURCH.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 20 July 1925, Page 3

SKYSCRAPER CHURCH.

JESTS IN THE PULPIT.

Church life in America lacks tlia depth of spiritual feeling so abundantly evident in British possessions, and in many of tho largo cities of the United States tho “almighty dollar” appears to reign supreme, and furthermore, frequently intense advertising is resorted to by pastors in order to fill their churches; while many of the churches of America, instead of being places of v,-oi-ship, now more closely resemble the theatre in consequence of tho discussion of subjects more suited to tho stage jmd lecture hall (writes the San Francisco correspondent of tho Auckland “Star.”) Moving pictures aro very often shown in some of tho churches, and even boisterous laughing occurs when the pastor indulges in jesting. “Socony Church” is tho suggestion of Rev. Dr. John Roach Stratton for the name of the New York skyscraper edifice at which Rev. Dr. Harry Emer- j son Fosdick is to be pastor. I Dr. Stratton, fundamentalist and i pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, in i New York, in his sermon tho other J Sunday, poked fun at the plans of the j Park Avenue Baptist Church, which is j attended by the Rockefellers, and has called Dr. Fosdick, modernist and former Presbyterian preacher. I Dr. Stratton suggested that three | generations of Rockefellers might label ; the new church with an. enormous ! “Socony” sign. “Socony” is the trade mark of the Standard Oil Company of New York, as the letters infer. Newspaper accounts of Dr Fosdick’s first sermon, a week previously, in the Park Avenue Church, also inspired Dr. Stratton to satire. John D. Rockefeller, his son,- John D. junr., and the latter’s son attended tho service, and shook hands with the members of the congregation. Tho elder Rockefeller, wlicTis worth endless millions of dollars, gave dimes to several children, and one dime fell on the floor. Dr. Stratton, in the course of his satirical remarks, said- “A picture skillfully painted of the three Rockefellers standing m a row across the chancel, and at the base of tho pulpit the shining Standard Oil dime rolling on the carpet, and the lucky voungster making his wild dive for it between the legs of the Standard Oil magnates, ought to be historically preserved, and tho best place tor it would be directly above the altar.