Show REASONS OF CHURCHGOING I people who stay away from church seem always prepared to make an eloquent defense of their inaction abc observes serves a writer in the womans comans home companion Camp arilon tile the challenges that thoy they often meet prepare then them with reasons good or bad but the churchgoer Is rarely asked to account for his action reasons inspired more or less by malice are often imputed to him but this journal has instituted an all inquiry with results that ale aie interesting te and psychologically us as well the question why is answered by one in saying because it seems to me that the church bears the same game relation to right living that the flag does to patriotism it upholds an all ideal A V lawyer who says that perhaps ae 1 c should not be elpe expected acted to go to church at all replies that he also in church observance follows an ideal lie ile writes briefly I 1 go to church worship Up god and because I 1 know that I 1 can live a 1 higher a broader and a better belter life as the he result I 1 am in fit action a busy man and my religion is rational ration 11 rather than ithan em emotional odonal but I 1 know that ideals are the lever ever which moves the world that behind every ideal lies a religious inspiration and that church going is the practical support of all religion another has three reasons 1 I 1 because ot of what it stands for fol with all of its human imperfections the christian church stands for the elements ot or life and the alg highest bliest conception of god known to mankind T 2 because of its offspring nearly all the institutions and agencies interested te in the uplifting of humanity are the product directly or indirectly ol of tile the christian church and most of the people who give their time talents and money to the tile support of these beneficent institutions are members of or results of tile the life and work woric of the church I 1 want to have a part pan in this general uplift 3 because of its enemies it if a nin man n is to he be judged by ills hiis enemies why not tile the church the foes of tile the home marriage and righteousness a are re also foes of the chul church ell all forces which seek in man an kinds destruction seek beek the churchs churche vilification A farmers wife gives a mingling of religious and worldly reasons that bear a lery human stamps stamp 1 I an am tile the wife of a farmer farma r living in a thinly settled section coun try itry I 90 i scrapes S held I 1 ain a log aba shack alto to hear s sincere in c ere it if not always brilliant sermons to sing to wear my best clothes and to see other people one who answers tile the question admits that his or her reasons for going to church are un as can well be imagined thus 1 I have been reared to think that all well bred people go to some church it take very much timo out of your sunday two hours or so and you leave an impression that you are distinctly high toned and perfectly proper no cold cream on oil liot lot flesh ever produced such soothing sensation as this churchly application will to your soul now mr editor that is ig the square honest reason leason why thousands of people go to church but it if I 1 iou ou are arc hunting for a true religious uplift squirm and be afra afraid id to publish this fifteen letters were sent to fifteen young men known to be churchgoers these were tile the questions asked name age married or single occupation about how many sundays of the year do you attend church why do you go 90 to church please ilease confine your answer within one hun died words fourteen out orthe of the fifteen replied seven express a desire to exert a good influence over others by the rightful observance of the sabbath ten believe that church attendance Is a duty and eleven speak or of church attendance as a privilege lege only four speak of the sermon and one touches a keynote when lie he says 1 I never go away without a blessing it matters not who the preacher Is whether lie he be an all eloquent or scholarly or not it if he be a Chils dan at heart lie ha will bring us its the blessing 1 that we need literary digest |