THE CHURCHES IN THE UNITED STATES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 924, 17 September 1910, Page 9

THE CHURCHES IN THE UNITED STATES.

IMPRESSIONS OF AN ENGLISH . - MINISTER. • ' Rev. J-.--:Hv Shakespeare, !M.A., a pro-, minent English - Baptist .minister, and. who, it riia-y- be remarked, is:,stated.to bo "tho nearest .liviiig. relative of . the l)oet, lias given the '"Christian his impressions on religion in the United States, as tho result of. a recont visit.to America.-;.. !';.-■ "I cannot say," . Mr. . Shakespeare writeSj "that I-consider the position of the miiiistry -,in America- to be satisfactory. .It did! not appear to mo that tho -best brains of America! were being, given to ,the' ministerial oflicc. : Perhaps this is, true everywhere just now, ..but more in the! Republic than' . anywhere else. , The,pull of the! almighty: dollar is very strong., I am afraid that; any man wlio lias the. chance of making; a fortune, and follows' soinb:less,material' pursuit, is''..regarded; as ,a .bit":'of' a! fool; 1 There is; an' absence.: ,bf,'clericalism : so Dr. Clifford himself, and I never' saw 'so "variegated an extent of blue, feci; and! green .ties in a. ministers' meeting in. ray-life. I am quito sure iliat ■ all this _ has brought about a change ill tho consciousness !of the, minister himself, and .in. the. attitude of. his,people, which/has nicant--the loss of a"large.part.of his.influence.: The minister is, now ■to a gresyt extent lwil ..fellow .well met, I !and the.itlea.:bf a vocation -has-gone. : .Perhaps',; it is!-all part and- parcel -of tho decay ence! ahd!:the:!breaking down-bf I will, never..believe . jcan !survive the.ioss. ! 'of .thelforms, pf : ''pietyi":br. . reverence! .the.- forms: of. roverencp. ; !' ■' C

"The! Americans havo - settled . one question for' ; iis,; viz., . whether it'is;pos-, sible to\ secure large .' having fifst-cliisEi music,' and ,they have settled it in - the negative. Probably the service;was,.neyier done■ so well in' America !'as' ; !it : is, now,' and _'it. 'has.,gone' side by..' sido with the decline bf.' church!, attendance;!''.;- I-;!!like the AmbHcan,service,'.with!its responses, and ,well-trained'phbirs, that the ' does most of its, worship .by '.proxy ; -but- nreachii}g'.. v is taking a'less" place in the.Churoh. - It;is being crowded out, and. .nothing; . but preaching. ; tract;_a ; ;;.cohgregation';:. It is. significantthat: :in; Anierica': ,;t<[-day : , .there :iiE!;. !no: preache;f of.H-he ,order; of Henry '! lieccher or Phillips Brooks." .