A Unique Method to Increase Church Attendance by K. C. R.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 10, 1910

A Unique Method to Increase Church Attendance

By K. C. R.

THE Washington Post of Jan. 27, 1910, contains the following:—

“Indianapolis saloon-keepers who violate the closing laws hereafter will be compelled to keep their saloons closed until they can produce a letter from a preacher certifying that they have attended church on at least one Sunday morning and remained throughout the service. Such was the ruling of Mayor Samuel Lewis Shank in two cases today.”

The penalty inflicted upon Indianapolis saloon-keepers will doubtless have a tendency to increase church attendance on Sundays. This result is also being sought by prominent churchmen through the medium of Sunday legislation,

as will be seen from the following words from Rev. S. V. Leech:—

“Give us good Sunday laws, well enforced by men in local authority, and our churches will be full of worshipers, and our young men and young women will be attracted to the divine service. A mighty combination of the churches of the United States could win from Congress, the State legislatures, and municipal councils all legislation essential to this splendid result.”—Homiletic Review, November, 1892.

There is no doubt but that the saloon-keeper will be glad to become a “devout” attendant of some religious service on Sunday, if he can by this means be permitted to carry on his wicked, soul-destroying business during the other six days of the week. When the saloon-keepers in this country become allies to the cause of Sunday legislation, it will certainly strengthen numerically their forces.

With a church attendance composed of people who are required to do so as a penalty for violating the law, one may seriously ask the question as to the sincerity of such a class of worshipers. Church attendance, to be of benefit to the individual, must be voluntary. All church attendance which is required by force or is promoted by pecuniary gain will be far worse than no attendance at all.

K. C. R.