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VOL.
XXI
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
JANUARY
15,
1900
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
No.2
CHURCHES
AS
SOCIAL
OLUBS
apprecia~ion.
th.e
minister
of
~ormer
days,
with
his
seemly
Rev.
John
Wat~on,
widely
known
in
"orthodox"
circles
(as
dress,
his
dignified
manner,
his
sense
of
responsibility,
who
"Ian
Maclaren,"
his
literary
nom
de
plume),
wrote
for
pub-
came
fro~
the
secret
place
of
divine
fellowship,
and
spoke
as
lication
recently,
that
in
his
judgment
the
churches
of
various
one
carrymg
tlle
message
of
the
Eternal.
He
may
not
have
denominations
are
rapidly
becoming
social
clubs-ceasing
to
been
so
fussy
in
the
aisles
as
his
successor,
nor
so
clever
at
appreciate
or
use
the
place
hitherto
considered
the
true
posi-
games,
nor
able
to
make
so
fetching
a
speech
on
'Lo\-e
Court-
tion
of
the
church.
TIle
text
for
his
criticism
was
found
on
a
ship,
and
Marriage.'
'
printed
postal
card
sent
out
by
an
American
Y.
1\1.
C.
A.,
.
"There
are
no
doubt
many
points
in
which
the
cOllgrega-
which
read
word
for
word
as
follows:
hon
of
the
present
has
advanced
on
the
conO'reO'ation
of
thp
"no
NOT
FORGET
past,
but
it
has
not
been
all
gain.
for
the
cIlier
note
in
the
"The
next
Social.
:vorship
of
the
former
gencration
was
reverence-people
met
"The
next
Candy-pull.
m
the
presence
of
the
Eternal,
before
whom
everv
man
is
II'S'!
"The
next
Entertainment.
than
nothing.
AmI
the
chief
note
of
their
children
who
meet
"The
next
Rong
Service.
to
listen
to
a
('hoir
and
a
clever
platform
speak~r
is
self-
"The
next
Gospel
;\1!'l'ting.
complacency."
-Thp,
Ladies'
Home
J(J~rnal.
"The
next
meeting
of
the
Debating
Club.
*
*
*
*
"The
next
Chicken-pie
Dinner.
"Ve
have
frequently
pointed
out
these
same
tendencies,
but
"The
next
date
when
you
ought
to
make
the
secretary
we
are
glad
to
be
able
to
quote
the
words
of
another-of
one
happy
with
your
cash."
who
stands
so
high
in
Churchianity.
But
Dr.
Watson
will
ere
Commenting
upon
this
card,
he
says:-
long
find
that
Ill'
must
not
criticize
"Babylon;"
and
that
if
hp
"This
remarkable
list
of
operations,
combining
evangelistic
persists
he
will
lose
caste
with
the
lm'ds
thereof.
So
con
zeal,
creature
comforts,
and
business
shrewdness,
requires
no
servative
a
journal
as
The
Advance
has
already
intimated
that
"ommentary;
the
item~
give
us
a
convincing
illustration
of
an
"Candy-pulls"
and
other
modern
methods
of
making
Chris
up-to-date
religious
imtitution-a
veritable
hustler
of
a
tianity
attractive
must
not
be
interfered
with
by
"old
fogies."
Y.
1\1.
C.
A.
And
so
say
we'
Let
the
innovations
proceed-thev
an'
"The
Christian
church
and
a
Y.
M.
C.
A.
are
of
course
vel'
V
essential
to
the
very
existence
of
"Babylon."
And
beside's,
the
different
institutions,
and
the
latter
is
free
from
any
tradition's
sooner
the
social
Churchianity
clubs
act
out
their
real
senti
of
austere
dignity,
but
one
is
not
surprised
to
find
that
the
ments
all
along
the
line,
the
better
it
will
be
for
true
Chris
dmrch
has
also
been
touched
with
the
social
spirit
and
is
also
tianity,
whose
separation
from
Churchianity
is
now
due
to
be
doing
her
best
to
make
religion
entertaining.
One
enters
what
accomplished
in
this
harvest
time-"wheat"
from
"tares."
jg
<'aIled
a
place
of
worship
and
imagines
that
he
is
in
a
draw-
Th~
!l!0r~
it
becomes
apparent
tha,t,
with
the
vast
majority,
iug-room.
The
floor
has
a
thick
carpet,
there
are
rows
of
relIgIOn
IS
merely
"a
form
of
godlmess,"
the
more
will
those
theater-chairs,
a
huge
organ
fills
the
eye,
a
large
bouquet
of
who
have
the
power
of
it
as
well
realize
the
width
of
the
gulf
1I0wprs
marks
the
minister's
place;
people
come
in
with
a.
which
really
separates
the
two
classes
in
divine
pstimation.
Jaunty
air
and
salute
one
another
cheerily;
hardly
one
bends
The
louder
grow
the
revelry
and
irreverence
and
the
scoffing
Ill"
head
in
prayer;
there
is
a
hum
of
gossip
through
the
at
God's
Word
by
"higher
critics"
and
the
boasts
of
Evolution,
bUilding.
the
louder
in
the
ears
of
the
Lord's
true
saints
will
sound
the
"A
man
disentangle"
himself
from
a
conversation
and
bus-
Master's
command:
"Babylon
is
fallen,
is
fallen!
Come
out
tIl'S
up
to
the
platform
without
clerical
garb
of
any
kind,
a"
of
her,
my
people,
that
ye
be
not
pflrtakers
of
her
sins,
and
likply
as
not
in
layman's
dress.
A
quartet
advances,
and.
that
ye
receive
not
of
her
plagues."-Rev,
18
:2,
4.
facmg"
the
audience,
sings
an
anthem
to
the
congregation.
*
*
*
*
"Inch
does
not
rise,
and
later
they
sing
another
anthem,
also
The
Editor
of
the
Washington
City
Times
gives
his
opinion
to
the
congregation.
There
is
one
prayer,
and
one
reading
of
some
of
the
methods
of
Churchianity,
thus:-
from
Holy
Scripture,
and
a
sermon
which
is
brief
and
bright.
.
"A
,sensational
Brooklyn
preacher
lately
discoursed
on
sub
Among
other
intimations
the
minister
urges
attendance
at
the
.Jects
like
these:
'Would
Christ
Belong
to
a
Labor
Union?'
oyster
supper,
when,
as
is
mentioned
in
a
paper
in
the
pews,
'\Vould
Christ
Go
to
a
Brooklyn
Theater?'
and
so
on.
It
is
there
will
be
oysters
and
meat-turkey,
I
think-and
ice-cream.
rather
difficult
to
conceive
the
moral
status
of
people
who
This
meal
is
to
be
served
in
the
'church
parlor.'
actually
approve
of
sermons
of
this
sort.
Undoubtedly
a
large
"No
sooner
has
the
benediction
been
pronounced,
which
has
part
of
the
audiences
which
they
attract
come
from
mere
some
original
feature
introduced,
than
the
congregation
hurries
curiosi~y,
as
they
might
come
to
any
other
sort
of
show;
and
to
the
door,
but
although
no
one
can
explain
how
it
is
man-
they
mIght
as
well
be
at
the
theater
for
all
the
good
that
it
is
aged,
the
minister
is
already
there
shaking
hands,
introducing
likely
to
do
them.
One
of
the
most
deplorable
features
of
lwople,
'getting
off
good
things,'
and
generally
making
things
modern
American
life
is
the
tendency
toward
sensationalism
in
'hum.'
One
person
congratulates
him
on
his
'talk'-new
name
the
pulpit.
It
is
bad
from
every
point
of
view.
It
excites
for
a
sermon-and
another
says
it
was
'fine.'
emotions
which
are
in
no
way
religious,
and
are
all
the
worse
"Efforts
have
been
made
in
England
also
to
make
church
for
passing
under
that
name.
It
is
in
execrable
taste,
it
mis
hfe
really
popular,
and,
in
one
town
known
to
the
writer,
leads
people
to
a
sort
of
contempt
for
religion,
and
it
makes
WIth
some
success
of
its
own
kmd.
One
church
secured
a
new
the
churches
which
indulge
in
it
odious.
set
of
communion
plates
by
the
popular
device
of
a
dance;
"It
has
grown
out
of
another
bad
featul
I'
of
ollr
modern
vanous
congregations
gave
private
theatricals,
and
in
one
case
life-the
plutocratic
ideal.
Any
sensible
person
may
easilv
had
stage
property
of
their
own.
Bible
classes
celebrated
the
understand
that
when
the
attraction
of
a
church
for
fts
mem
<,ouclusions
of
their
sessious
by
a
supper;
on
Good
Friday
bel'S
depends
on
this
sort
of
thing,
and
on
the
ability
of
the
there
were
excursions
into
tlle
country
accompanied
by
a
mili-
people
of
the
church
to
dress
well
and
pay
for
a
handsome
tary
band,
and
a
considerable
portion
of
the
congregational
building
and
a
showy
choir,
there
is
no
more
real
religion
in
income
was
derived
from
social
treats
of
various
kinds.
This
the
whole
business
than
there
is
in
a
cirpus
.
.
.
.
partirular
town
is
only
an
illustration
of
the
genial
spirit
"It
would
be
murh
more
to
the
pomt
for
the
sensational
;;preading
throughout
the
church
in
England.
One
minister
preacher
above
quoted
to
ask
himself,
in
private.
whether
his
11;;('"
a
magic
lantern
to
give
force
to
his
sermon;
another
has
church
is
the
kind
which
Christ
would
be
likely
to
approvp.
adupd
a
tavern
to
his
church
equipment;
a
third
takes
up
the
or
if
it
is
full
of
money-changers
and
the
sellers
of
doves.
latest
murder
or
scandal;
a
fourth
has
a
service
of
song;
a
"It
is
time
that
sensible
and
thoughtful
religiou~
people
in
fifth
depends
on
a
gypsy
or
an
ex-pugilist.
this
country
understood
what
a
church
is
really
intended
to
"If
this
goes
on,
the
church
will
soon
embrace
a
theater
be.
It
should
not
be
a
bad
imitation
of
fashionable
society.
aud
other
attractions
which
will
draw
young
people,
and
with
all
the
meannesses,
caste
distinctions.
pettiness,
and
prevent
old
people
from
wearying
in
the
worship
of
God.
jealousy
of
that
society,
veneered
over
with
a
coating
of
[Contrasting
these
modern
and
irreverent
and
unscriptural
formal
religion
..
,
."
methods
with
those
of
the
past,
Dr.
Watson
continues:-]
CHRISTIANITY
IN
JAPAN
"Perhaps
it
may
be
the
perversity
of
human
nature
which
Not
long
since
Japan
was
considered
the
brightest
example
is
apt
to
cavil
at
new
things
and
hanker
after
the
good
old
of
progress
in
Christian
missions,
and
with
good
reason.
times-which
were
not
always
good,
by
any
means-but
one
Everything
coming
from
Europe
or
the
United
States
was
is
not
much
enamoured
with
the
neW
departure,
nor
at
all
looked
upon
with
favor-the
Christian
religion
included,
In
convinced
that
what
may
be
called
for
brief
the
'candy-pull'
a
few
years
the
number
of
converts
to
various
shades
of
nom
system
is
any
improvement
on
the
past.
After
a
slight
expe·
inal
"Christianity"
ran
up
to
40,578
in
1878.
However,
a
flence
of
smart
preachers,
and
church
parlors,
and
ice-cream
great
change
has
occurred
there:
and
within
the
past
two
suppers,
and
picnics,
one
remembers
with
new
respect
and
keen
years
the
total
converts
claimed
by
all
the
sects
is
only
403.
[2561]
(19-20)
Vou. XXI ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 15, 1900 No. 2 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER CHURCHES AS SOCIAL CLUBS Rev. John Watson, widely known in “orthodox” circles (as “fan Maclaren,” his literary nom de plume), wrote for publication recently, that in his judgment the churches of various denominations are rapidly becoming social clubs—ceasing to appreciate or use the place hitherto considered the true position of the church. The text for his criticism was found on a printed postal card sent out by an American Y. M. C. A., which read word for word as follows: “pO NOT FORGET “The next Social. “The next Candy-pull. “The next Entertainment. “The next Song Service. “The next Gospel Meeting. “Che next meeting of the Debating Club. “The next Chicken-pie Dinner. “The next date when you ought to make the secretary happy with your cash.” Commenting upon this card, he says:— “This remarkable list of operations, combining evangelistic zeal, creature comforts, and business shrewdness, requires no commentary; the items give us a convincing illustration of an up-to-date religious institution—a veritable hustler of a Y. M.C. A. “The Christian church and a Y. M. C. A. are of course very different institutions, and the latter is free from any traditions of austere dignity, but one is not surprised to find that the church has also been touched with the social spirit and is also doing her best to make religion entertaining. One enters what is called a place of worship and imagines that he is in a drawing-room. The floor has a thick carpet, there are rows of theater-chairs, a huge organ fills the eye, a large bouquet of tlowers marks the minister’s place; people come in with a jaunty air and salute one another cheerily; hardly one bends his head in prayer; there is a hum of gossip through the building. “A man disentangles himself from a conversation and bustles up to the platform without clerical garb of any kind, as likely as not in layman’s dress. A quartet advances, and, facing the audience, sings an anthem to the congregation. which does not rise, and later they sing another anthem, also to the congregation. There is one prayer, and one reading from Holy Scripture, and a sermon which is brief and bright. Among other intimations the minister urges attendance at the oyster supper, when, as is mentioned in a paper in the pews, there will be oysters and meat—turkey, I think—and ice-cream. This meal is to be served in the ‘church parlor.’ “No sooner has the benediction been pronounced, which has some original feature introduced, than the congregation hurries to the door, but although no one can explain how it is managed, the minister is already there shaking hands, introducing people, ‘getting off good things, and generally making things ‘hum,’ One person congratulates him on his ‘talk’-new name for a sermon—and another says it was ‘fine.’ “Efforts have been made in England also to make church life really popular, and, in one town known to the writer, with some success of its own kind. One church secured a new set of communion plates by the popular device of a dance; various congregations gave private theatricals, and in one case had stage property of their own. Bible classes celebrated the conclusions of their sessions by a supper; on Good Friday there were excursions into the country accompanied by a military band, and a considerable portion of the congregational income was derived from social treats of various kinds. This particular town is only an illustration of the genial spirit spreading throughout the church in England. One minister uses a magic lantern to give force to his sermon; another has added a tavern to his church equipment; a third takes up the latest murder or scandal; a fourth has a service of song; a fifth depends on a gypsy or an ex-pugilist. “Tf this goes on, the church will soon embrace a theater and other attractions which will draw young people, and prevent old people from wearying in the worship of God. {Contrasting these modern and irreverent and unscriptural methods with those of the past, Dr. Watson continues:—] ‘‘Perhaps it may be the perversity of human nature which is apt to cavil at new things and hanker after the good old times—which were not always good, by any means—but one is not much enamoured with the new departure, nor at all convinced that what may be called for brief the ‘candy-pull’ system is any improvement on the past. After a slight experience of smart preachers, and church parlors, and ice-cream suppers, and picnics, one remembers with new respect and keen [2561] appreciation the minister of former days, with his seemly dress, his dignified manner, his sense of responsibility, who came from the secret place of divine fellowship, and spoke as one carrying the message of the Eternal. He may not have been so fussy in the aisles as his successor, nor so clever at games, nor able to make so fetching a speech on ‘Love, Courtship, and Marriage.’ _ “There are no doubt many points in which the congregation of the present has advanced on the congregation of the past, but it has not been all gain, for the chief note in the worship of the former generation was reverence—people met in the presence of the Eternal, before whom every man is less than nothing. And the chief note of their children, who meet to listen to a choir and a clever platform speaker, is selfcomplacency.” ar he Ladies’ Home Journal. * * * We have frequently pointed out these same tendencies, but we are glad to be able to quote the words of another—of one who stands so high in Churchianity. But Dr. Watson will ere long find that he must not criticize “Babylon;” and that if he persists he will lose caste with the lords thereof. So conservative a journal as The Advance has already intimated that “Candy-pulls” and other modern mcthods of making Christianity attractive must not be interfered with by “old fogies.” And so say we' Let the innovations proceed—they are essential to the very existence of “Babylon.” And besides, the sooner the social Churchianity clubs act out their real sentiments all along the line, the better it will be for true Christianity, whose separation from Churchianity is now due to be accomplished in this harvest time—“wheat” from “tares.” The more it becomes apparent that, with the vast majority, religion is merely “a form of godliness,” the more will those who have the power of it as well realize the width of the gulf which really separates the two classes in divine estimation. The louder grow the revelry and irreverence and the scoffing at God’s Word by “higher critics” and the boasts of Evolution, the louder in the ears of the Lord’s true saints will sound the Master’s command: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen! Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”——Rev. 18:2, 4. * * * * The Editor of the Washington City Times gives his opinion of some of the methods of Churchianity, thus:— “A sensational Brooklyn preacher lately discoursed on subjects like these: ‘Would Christ Belong to a Labor Union” ‘Would Christ Go to a Brooklyn Theater?’ and so on. It is rather difficult to conceive the moral status of people who actually approve of sermons of this sort. Undoubtedly a large part of the audiences which they attract come from mere curiosity, as they might come to any other sort of show; and they might as well be at the theater for all the good that it is likely to do them. One of the most deplorable features of modern American life is the tendency toward sensationalism in the pulpit. It is bad from every point of view. It excites emotions which are in no way religious, and are all the worse for passing under that name. It is in execrable taste, it misleads people to a sort of contempt for religion, and it makes the churches which indulge in it odious. “Jt hag grown out of another bad feature of our modern life—the plutocratic ideal. Any sensible person may easily understand that when the attraction of a church for its members depends on this sort of thing, and on the ability of the people of the church to dress well and pay for a handsome building and a showy choir, there is no more real religion in the whole business than there is in a circus... . “Tt would be much more to the point for the sensational preacher above quoted to ask himself, in private, whether his church is the kind which Christ would be likely to approve, or if it is full of money-changers and the sellers of doves. “It is time that sensible and thoughtful religious people in this country understood what a church is really intended to be. It should not be a bad imitation of fashionable society. with all the meannesses, caste distinctions, pettiness, and jealousy of that society, veneered over with a coating of formal religion. . . .” CHRISTIANITY IN JAPAN Not long since Japan was considered the brightest example of progress in Christian missions, and with good reason. Everything coming from Europe or the United States was looked upon with favor—the Christian religion included. In a few years the number of converts to various shades of nominal “Christianity” ran up to 40,578 in 1878. However, a great change has occurred there: and within the past two years the total converts claimed by all the sects is only 403. (19-20)
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