SMITH AND THE CHURCH INTRODUCTION Last Spring I wrote for the Atlantic Monthly an article under the caption Should Smith Go to Church with no idea that it would attract any at tention. I was astonished and not a little awed by the great number of per sonal letters that essay brought me and by the deluge of newspaper articles in the secular and religious press that fol lowed its appearance. Most of my critics were friendly, though several religious papers bore harshly upon my lack of spirituality. It was said that my point of view was purely utilitarian, and that I utterly ignored spirituality. My essay has been the subject of many sermons by ministers of all denomina tions, not, I am constrained to say 9 because I offered anything novel in explanation of Smiths indifference to Ti INTRODUCTION religion,, but because my title presented a tempting target, and some of my sug gestions threw into concrete form the views of the average doubting layman. I have replied to all of my correspond ents who showed a serious interest in what I believe to be the most important of questions, but have not felt called upon to reply to printed criticisms. I may say here, however, that I am delighted to find that the church as a topic is still so provocative and thai I am glad to have been instrumental in drawing into the arena so many and so valiant de fenders of religion. I welcome the ap pearance of this volume of sermons because they discuss Smiths predica ment so frankly and honestly. Smith I projected as the average man, and I confess that in the main I spoke for Smith and as Smith The re proach that I am a person incapable of spiritual perception is not without its sting and yet I submit that we Smiths are entitled to the consideration of those blessed with spiritual gifts. INTRODUCTION vii A spiritual aristocracy is not likely to further the cause of Christ in these days of awakened social consiousness. Spiritual arrogance in the few will not help the many who stumble in the dark seeking light. Having been most of my life a church member, and an interested observer of religious phenomena through practically all my adult years, I protest that it is unjust for any one to assume that I arraigned the churches in a spirit of cynicism. Dr. Beattys pays me the compliment of meeting all my criticisms fairly in the open. He has not rummaged in the dark lumber-room of medieval theology to find answers to Smiths questions but has discussed them compre hensively in twentieth century sunlight A church of saints smugly enjoying their own saintliness is not, to my thinking, a Christian Church. Christs concern was with sinners. I know of nothing more depressing than the con templation of churches that serve only the needs of good people. A fashion viii INTRODUCTION able church is an anomaly and a blasphemy. And many churches of the once-a-weeJc urban type, against which I launched my spear, strike me as having the poorest imaginable excuse for existing. Christianity, if it would catch step with modern life and do its great part in uplifting and sustaining mankind, must extend its friendly helping hand to the poor 9 the weak, and the erring. And this the average city church is not doing. Smith knows this. Nor does it suffice to say to Smith that on Sunday prayers are said, hymns sung and sermons preached, and that if he does not present himself in church on Lords day it is his own fault if his soul is not saved. This is an easy way of dismissing Smiths case against the church 9 but it is inconceivable that it would be the way of the Carpenter of Nazareth if he were to appear now in our strenuous America. I had hoped that my suggestion for an immediate movement toward unity through local effort would have met with a friend INTRODUCTION ix Her response than has been given it... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.