What Is the Matter? by L. A. S.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 28, 1902

“What Is the Matter?”

By L. A. S.

“In spite of the optimistic sentiments that so often find expression regarding the present condition and future prospects of Christianity in this country,” says the Literary Digest, “an undercurrent of dissatisfaction—a widespread feeling that religion is losing rather than gaining ground—is to be detected in many of the church papers.” As evidence upon this point the Digest quotes from several of these papers, beginning with The Evangelical Messenger (Cleveland, Ohio). In a recent article considering the question, “Why Do Not the People Go to Church?” the editor of this journal says:—

There is a general lament over empty pews. We seem to be experiencing a decline in church attendance, especially in the cities. We build large and beautiful churches, equip them with every convenience and comfort; we have fine music, and there are many able preachers in our pulpits, men who keep abreast of the times, who read and think, who have something to say, and know how to say it. Yet the pews are sparsely filled. The people are elsewhere, on the street, in the parks, or at home reading the newspapers and novels. What is the matter?

The testimony of Dr. J. E. C. Sawyer, in the N. Y. Observer (Presbyterian) is next quoted. He says:—

The average preacher goes along year after year preaching mainly to women, leading prayer meetings mainly attended by women, devoting most of his hours of whole pastoral labor to calling on women, and is seemingly not greatly troubled because the overwhelming majority of the church membership consists of women. There are millions of men in this republic who have no personal relation to Christian churches, and no interest in them. . . . The revival which the church most needs is one which will crowd its meetings and its altars with young men.

The Digest quotes from several other journals which offer suggestions regarding what is needed to remedy this lamentable situation. The New York Examiner (Baptist) calls for a revival of “old-fashioned Christianity,” and the Chicago Advance (Congregationalist) sees some hope in an evangelistic crusade initiated last August at the Winona Bible Conference, under Presbyterian auspices. But there is only one true remedy for the situation, and that is a return of the churches to the point where they diverged from the pathway of gospel truth sixty years ago, when they heard and rejected the great and solemn message, “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14:7. L. A. S.