Men and Things by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 25, 1871

Men and Things.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

THE CHURCH AS A THEATER.

MANY of the churches in our cities are becoming more and more simply places of amusement and entertainment. They partake largely of the nature of the theater. Indeed they seem in some cases to have set up a sort of rivalry to it. The following from the Christian Union is to the point:—

The Sunday services of a Methodist church in Philadelphia were recently advertised in a Saturday paper, with the following as the closing item:—

One of the best quartette choirs in Philadelphia under the direction of that magnificent tenor, F. R. Thomas, M. D., with Prof. Harry Barnhurst as basso, and kindred talent as soprano and alto. Lovers of artistic music may enjoy a rich musical treat at every public service.

What would good old father Wesley say to that, were he alive? It is remarkable that the Methodist church, once noted for its plainness and simplicity, should take the lead in these things. How much would God be honored by the performances of such a choir as the above? Suppose the choir filled the bill. When the hearers went out, you would hear them praising that “magnificent tenor,” “talented soprano,” &c. How much spiritual food could poor, perishing, sin-sick souls find in that? Is it not time for the Lord to work? Are we any better than they? Do we humbly serve him?

ETERNAL MISERY A BAD DOCTRINE.

The evidences of this are abundant, look at it which way we will. The following from an editorial in H. W. Beecher’s paper is a good confession on this point. He says:—

“In view of the fact that we who hold the doctrine of eternal punishment cannot bear to dwell upon it, and dare not ask of God to help us realize it, is it not a grievous wrong that those who are compelled to withhold their assent to it, should for that reason be set beyond the pale of Christian charity, not only, but too often of common courtesy.”

A doctrine which we “cannot bear to dwell upon” nor dare ask God to help us realize, certainly cannot commend itself to the conscience of men, nor can it honor God. The well-grounded plea he makes for charity to those who reject the doctrine, we suspect was made as much for his own benefit as for any other party. If we read him correctly, he is not far from Universalism.

FALL OF BABYLON.

From every source comes increasing evidence that the nominal church has fallen from its purity and its power. Private members see and confess it, ministers lament over it, and the mass of the people are waking up to it. Both the church and its ministers are fast losing all hold on the public mind and conscience. My observation fully confirms the following remarks from the New Jerusalem Messenger.

“Decline of the Ministry.—Col. Higginson, in the Toledo Index, quotes the opinion of an eminent New England divine to this effect. He says:—

“‘One of the ablest clergymen of New England is—D. D. of great practical experience and of no radical tendencies—told me, not long ago, that in his opinion the clergy had been living for half a century in the inherited prestige of Puritan days. He added that this prestige was now almost worn out, and that in fifty years it would be impossible for a man of mediocre talent to sustain himself in the ministry. And, as it was admitted by all, that the ablest young men are not now commonly attracted to the pulpit as a profession, it was really doubtful, he said, whether, a hundred years hence, there would be any clerical class at all.’ . . .

“‘This view finds confirmation in the fact that the ministry seems to be losing its hold upon the public mind. There are certain eminent preachers who are able to maintain large congregations by their power as orators and scholars; but it is an undoubted fact, which nearly the whole religious press is deploring, that ordinary men no longer have the encouragement and support they formerly had in the ministry. . . . Church-going has come to be looked upon for the most part as a Sunday entertainment; and whoever can furnish the best entertainment is the most successful preacher. An inherited feeling of reverence has heretofore given a certain factitious support to the institution; but that is fast fading away, and it is evident to all careful observers that unless some change is effected, or some re-action takes place, the ministry will lose the little power it now has, and will fail of support as a distinct class.’

“‘The result of this is, that fewer young men of education and ability enter the ministry now than formerly. Some facts have recently come to light and been widely commented upon by the religious press, showing that the proportion of college graduates choosing the ministry as a profession, is only a fraction of what it was fifty years ago.’”

These are sad facts, and yet they really inspire us with courage; because when the people awake to the evident facts, then they will feel the need of a reform, and will listen to present truth. The ministers are losing their power to oppose the truth. The people distrust them. We expect to see things grow worse and worse till the world is prepared for the loud cry. May it come soon. D. M. CANRIGHT.