The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-10-21
Fashion In Churches.

actions of the simpering bellies and brainless
coxcombs of the beau monde. As long as its
yotaries confined themselves TO the eXactitude
of dress and the style Of conversation which
might be regarded among the caste as perfectly
genteel, it was provocative OF laughter. and
gave racy dclgttftilncsS to society. which
persons with ii larger molicum of sense could
heartily enjoy. 1t was only another hue added
to the var:eyatcd web of life. and delicately
cun,ra>tcd with the strong coloring of active
manhood. in the busy pursuits OF wealth and
fame. But by slow degrees it has widencd the
sphere Of its influence. and impcrceptbly in
situated its authority into the more important
avocalions Of every day lite. It has at last
reached the sanctuary, and modified the rcli
gion Of the present day. Even the form Of the
edil!cc has hCcome Il matter of the deepest con-
Germ to the multitude 7'llo are to worship within
its walls. Long, anxious mont.:-- are consun-
ed. in congregational meetings, held to discus
the vital question. whether HE last maniac ar
chitect shall frame in frenzy. the plan of Il cru
citorm distortion. bearing about the same pro
portion to st. Peters or st. Puul's as peanut
does to q pyramid. or whether good sense shall
assert her rights, and in defiance Of the pro-
phttc warning of West end manllnas with mar
riagcablc daughters, erect 4 neat, suitable
building. not wanting in comfort and cOnvc-
nence, but innocent OF the tnsellcd bijoutcrir
which cannot but make the judcious grievc''
1t is needless to add that the latter party on
such occasions are invariably in Il contemplate
minority. In the fulncss of time the archtec-
tural enormity is complete. Damask and gilt
cOrSpirc to make it us much unlike a house of
God, as the nature ot those articles will ALLOW
An organ, combining all the startling effect of
4 brass band, is located in some unexpected
nook and boys of tender age. or ladies of worn
out operate notprlety, are engaged to amusc
the audience with fantasia before service. \
chime of bells ring out to the quiet stiffness of
the sabbath air, familiar tunes and giddy girls
bound up the marble It 'ps to 4 Strauss-lkc tE-
naturalization. Within. stained glass throws Il
grey twilight over every object, and the at,
mosphere is resonant with the patter of tiny
feet as they troop along the tiled uisles. or the
crush Of silks, too flowing in their proportions,
to effect an easy and unobstructcd entrance in
to the narrow doorway of the cushioned and
carpctcd pcws. Female heads Of families re-
pose in disaitic'! grandeur at the maternal en-
Of the seat and conflcEtally whisper gossip to
equally imposing mothers adjoining. which, to
say the truih, is not usually in character with
the sacrcdmcSS the place. Fascinating misses
of - sweet >Ntcen,@ OF th"reabouts, make Il Vi
gorous assault upon IA neiaiibGring bonnet or
express bcwitching regrets that the horrid
dress maker should have failed TO send home q
ChdnfUy 1nlhia, or Il watrrcI silk basque.
solid men with heavy watch seals aud shiny
bald heads. just give thought to the Parker
Ven or Hudson River Stock. before the parsun
is seated : the organ sounds All alarm of trun-
pets. and an alto scream from the choir after
considerable prolonGation, is suddenly drowned
y roar of basso frofundo. ably assisted bv
the fall force OF the organ now
Silence, like poultice, come,
T. heal the blows Of sount.'
Then. as if every one were fully prepared, :;
general scrub ace of noise and music, innocent
of the ightest trace of harmony cnsucs, where
in the organ easily distances every connection
and the affair is brought to an unexpected stop
by the loudrst possible "Amen." This being
the most important part Of the Sunday mornin"
proceedings short service is followed bv u
short sermon. AMI a bored audience gracefully
rolls out OF the open, to lounge homewarGs
the female portion to exhibit their beautifully
expressive vsages all honnctcd and shaw!ci,
behind the transparent plate glass of front par
Tor windows. Thus ENDS the religious life of
the fashionable world, and asSurcdly it were
/ better did this hollow mockcry never interfere
with the trivialty G. this lavender co!orcd cy-
stcnce.
1t is useless fer protesting Christians to he
wall the spread Of in.idclity AMI vice While
such things exist. One thorough faced fash
toha1lc Christian. we venture to say. will drive
more doubters into intidclity than Il thousand
Bible discussions. The monstrolis difference
oet"ccu pIoitASloh ihu practice. noticeable III
slch men. is more than enough to stagger the
belief of the most strong minded. and its evil
influence Will more than counter-balancc the
humber example Of the honest believer in the
iowlicr walks Of life Instead of the bitter and
relentless warfare SO universally waecd against
lax religious opinions. a better system of tao
ties would be, to ferret out and expose the lat
ent treason at home. and eradicate from Christ
lanity itself that bastard and dciormed mita-
ton. which by its transparent hypocrisy brings
disrcpute upon the system and its followers
After the beam is removed. there will be little
difficulty in DISCOVERING . !liote.-PhiiadelJhi a
Register.
The DEATH OF JOE MoRGANs Little DMGH-
TER-Shc was wont to run over to the tavern
IN the evening to lead home her drunken IA
ther Just as she was entering the door one
night, Slade hurled tumblcr at her father. but
it struck her upon the head, and resulted in her
death.