Spiritual Decline in the Churches
A WRITER in The Chautauquan calls attention to the spiritual decline which he declares is everywhere evident in the leading churches at this time. “In most large cities,” he says, “ministers are saying that never before was it so hard to get people aroused and interested in spiritual matters. This condition obtains West and East alike.” Some churches are beset by internal dissensions, he observes, and others seem incapable of making any move in advance. No city has been aroused by the customary winter revivals. Missionary causes are poorly supported. Charity seems to have turned her back upon church bodies. Charities not connected with any church, he notes, are flourishing even more than usual, but “the minds of givers, large and small, seem bent away from church channels.” He hopes, however, that there will come a change for the better.