Article April 27, 1899 Issue

Religious Tide Out

Chicago Times-Herald

That the Methodist Church in cities had ceased to grow in membership; that the Christian Church at large was passing through a revolution, and was face with a crisis; that religious themes no longer interested men, and that ministers, as such, were no longer revered, were some of the statements made by Rev. H. D. Atchison of Wilmette yesterday morning in a paper which he read before the Methodist preachers' meeting. A heated discussion followed, but the correctness of his statements was not questioned.

The meeting was held at the Englewood First Church, as a part of the programme of the board of examination. Mr. Atchison's theme was "Church Life in the Twentieth Century—Not a Prophecy, but an Appeal," and his paper, which was both long and able, was listened to with deep and painful interest.

The Methodist Church, he said, was face to face with a crisis, and during the twentieth century would undergo startling changes. Of course, he said, the time limit on pastorates would be removed, and the presiding eldership would be abolished, but these were trifles. Other changes were impending which threatened the very life of the church. It might just as well be confessed that the church was not now winning men as it had done in the past, that it was failing to meet the spirit of the age, that the preachers were no longer revered for the sake of their office, and that multitudes of its members were dropping out and identifying themselves with literary societies or with Christian Science.

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