New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-08-19
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
SUMMER RELIGION.

Al
that great change which il wrought in the heart in the
vorl Of regeneration ard tie season OF natural growtn
and fertility desGrates the probationary state IN whcn
the soul is to become fruitful remain Ore' or barren
Tie smile in one respect Is unapt for she spirltua
sumner once past returns no more There isa touch
ing pathos therefore in the lsrenation Of Jeremiah
The summer is ended. ani we are not saved
Bu. il seems that Christians OF the present day
have 10 idea that this imagery has any literal appics
ton. TIE summer, if we might Judge from general
usage is now regarded as Of respite from al
care secular or spiritual The care Of tie imnortll
soul is laid aside cOnseutsneousy with that Of worldly
gain True IL is done BY many with deliberate intea-
ton of making up by increased yes. afterward for the
temporary suspension Of religious exercise, bur IL
NAV be feared that such Christians are getting INTO
the system OF equivalents which prevails so much in
the Church Of England and that greater feryOr for
a season will get 70 be considered as sufficient
amends rot only for the laying aside of penetental
discipline during the summer months but tor tree n-
diligence in pleasures that would be proscr6ei az any
other season. Perhaps they might even find eonye-
nient 10 sdOpt the perfect graduation OF merit
in the Roman Catholic Church, and prescribe 10 them
selves penanee in the spring which would legal
ize all the license of the summer and relieve the
conscience OF the unpleasant apprehension. which
might have place ii they were resting upon merely
prospee;irs peHGnce the flfment Of which might be
interfered with by cholera some Otaer unforeseen
agency.
But it is not merely question as to the consistent
conduct Of those who absent from their homes aud
usual religious associations. On entering any one Of
the churches of this City which may happen TO be open
on the Sabbath during the present month we cannot
fail to get the impression that religious service seems
TO lie chiefly intended for the YesthieT class. Those
whose circumstances do not admit Of their resort 10
country residences find sanctuary left 10 them here,
seeninpy fer ''the sparrOw to make her nest or the
swallow to lay her young in; the usual Sabbath
service family performed by itinerant minister
and during the week. the sick the dying the Oereaved
and all who have need Of spritu: comfort must seek
aley iaon from higher source than any earthly al.
mnistratiOn. Tie pastor Las gone with the CHOSEN Ot
his flock to rural scenes places of fashionable ies'
tiyity Let it be granted that be is seeking renovation
of health that shall ut him 10 bear the pressure OF
ministerial labors which he must soon resume. wish
could say that those labors were wholly worthy OF
the exhaustion Of ply steal energy which makes neces-
sary this annual prOphy actic cessation from active
duty But is it true that the physical strength OF
our ministers il too much wasted on artistic pulpit
performances involving the neglect of apostolic JUNCTION
Of life sympathy with the untrieaded and seit-sacrl-
fcing spirit that finds more congeaality in works OF
unobtsive and unpublished usefulness, than the adu-
lSton Of admring friends
Let this not be deeMed proscrptive eensure.
There are many honorable exceptions. Nor is the
fault even Of those liable to admOniton in this respect
exclusively ohargeabe to them. 1t ia the increased
demand in Churches for literary display that has
shorn the ministry in so great degree OF its sacred
u ,
The .scnmen,s hosts OF Gods elect
is constrained by public taste to the most precious
part of bis time in providing Tor the entertainment OF
auditors: lie must dazzle with tropes while the soul
that is hungry for the bread of life must remain un-
satisfied.
In this City the absence of wealthy families during
tbe hot season Is not surprising Wealth must have
some discriminating notorety and il would seem that
extravagsnt expense is the chief or only mode yet
thought of by our metropolitan espirants by which
claim TO proper distinction can be- substantlated.
But in our neighhoring city which has obtained
popular name as the City Of Churches, one might ex-
lect it would be otherwise grave, religious charac-
Ter which there predominates, We should suppose
nigh. cOun,eIact subserylence to any frivolous usage
But even there il is Questionable among the better
sort to he seen in the churches III August: VINE
conversations are thus thinned out 1t might be worth
sucp, sting that two or more societies should unite
together in worship in their respective churches alter
uaielv OF in one might be most convenient This would
relieve the deserted aspecI which church has when de-
priled OF the larger number OF usual worshpefs ana
would also diminish ministerial labor.
The Pilgrim Church has. however, made an lni-
prov emeut upon the ecneraiussge. The church build
ipC was evacuated on the Il Of July, under sudden
apprehension that the To0 was about 10 FALL NOOther
place of worship was provided aud that large society
have been left from that time without shrine or the
enjoy ment Of any ministerial labor The roof OF the
deserted sanctuary still, however, holds firm. We
have not the means of knowing whether the dlsper-
sion Of the people was by vote OF tue majority dc-
cording to congregational FORM or whether there IS
in this case new Illustration OF what we some"h
suspect TO be peculiar feature OF the democratic sys-
tenn in churches viz: Power without responsibility,
or in other words that the convenience Of lew ls
paramount to that of the larger number
But il was not our Intention to nculpate our
Christian public to so large an extent. Let those
societies Who choose, give leave OF absence to their
ministers. Let families, who can afford 1t, take the
like privilege. But what insist upon Is, that sys-
teuatc provision for public worship should be made
TO sufficient extent 10 accommodate all who remain
at home not merely that churches should be open but
that there should be concert among the minis
ters-some alienation with each other, that while
one 10 absent another should be understood 10 Ohcae
Tor his people l. there not sufficient bond OF union
in the churches for such arrangement Would IL
not be equally proper in the care OF souls as N tha OF
the body that in ease Of absence 1t should deyolve
upon some one having friendly interest ought
minister 10 have less thought for the welfare Of his
people than physician tor that OF his patients
II makes some difference in the religious tone OF
community whether Of the regular ministers are
aiways at heme all Simultaneously absent LEAVING the
pulpit to be flled by those who may chance to come
while the numerous private Offices OF minister among
his people are left wholly unattended 10.
II prefer 10 remain at home" said an exemplary
Minister. Whose name it would be Oficous TO men
tom II find more need Of my services now tnan at
any other time, except in preaching. do not TASK
myself much in that and find my other abors 80 Tar
from being oppressive Ia be sautary and felisustan-
ing and enjoy satisfaction that cosd not feel II
| Was absent ing how much / am wanted here
DELLA.
EseIsG Man BY A MIsTAKE.- The Culc1alatt Com
toereiq says Some time since i-nersn lecturer VINO
gave his Graham, passed through the interior OF