Grass Valley telegraph., 1854-03-02
For the Telegraph.
A Glance at Customs
MR. EDITOR ,

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MR. EDITOR =
we take great pleasure in attending church.
We love its quiet, holy, serene, sacred. soofbL
ing scenes and influences. To spend season
among the sympathetic Congress of ones feI.
low being, all convened from the same mo.
tives and with kindred emotions, is high boa-
venly. elevating, beautiful. Oh we love II.
and love the immortal nature that promnts
to it. Fling away to the idle winds every
creed and sect that has found its basis in the =
glorious developments of the Bible to our be-
nighted souls, and STILL there remains a great
ness, majesty and intellectually in conse-
Grating the heart at times in devotion to the
fountain of perfect wisdom and power, that
sublimes, dignifes, deifes the human charac-
ter aione above all other possible influence,
and offers an iInpregrable argument to his
Immortality.
We have some 3oo0 people IN the bounds OF
Grass Valley. There are anuIHber Of Church
es here all OF them comfortable, and one Of
them spacious, magnificent 1Be weekly at
tendance at church in the three buildings in
this place ~ consecrated to divine service,
all put together, will not, from the best OF
our knowledge, exceed two hundred persons
on an averaged In christian country as
that in which we live, does not this seem
strange? Is it not bad symptom to see so
little attention paid to divine and moral min
lstrations on the part of a large and enter
prlslng population such as we have in Grass
valley population which, for it's intelli-
gence, is almost unrivaled by any other?
what use is handsome and commodious chur-
ches, built by large private contributions
FAIRS and Concert benefits if its naked and
unthmklng walls are to echo Sunday after
Sunday to the solitary voice of a desperate
preacher who would perchance teach morali-
ty at least, If he did not convince the mind of
the necessity of repentance and regeneration.
AS the press, in our days Mr.. Editor. has
become by common election, the great me-
dunn through which pass the public eye into
every thing relating to its health and welfare
we have thought to use it, as we have
done in turning the attention of our people.
If possible, to the neglect practised in this
community in its attendance on church SER
vices. There are great number of our best
citizens who scarcely ever attend church.
We would respectfully suggest: with the most
liberal and expanded feelings of toleration-
with pride in the independence which eve
ry man under our noble institutions possess
es, feels, and is at liberty to practice in every
thing relating to his opinions and actions
that they would do much for the social, moral,
not to say religious interests of this town;
much for the Childhood and youth Of our com
munity much for refinement and good order
among us, by regular attendance at some
one of our churches.
To throw religious doctrine all aside, the
moral obligations of every good citizen, friend
ly to solid, social advancement must feel him
self bound to throw his influence in favor of
any fashion calculated to subvert such an
end.
The English population here are constant
attendants at the churches, practice which
certainly reflects credit upon them. In the
New England States, church-going is fash
aon everybody goes, converted and uncon-
verted A man who does not go to church,
is thought to be at war with the great Com
servator of popular intelligence. Our liber-
ties have much to do with their enlightening
influences. By church going, many people
become usefully intelligent that otherwise
would remain in the darkness of ignorance
1t is means of popular instruction open to
all and every judicious and liberal-minded
preacher, will make his discourses as general
ly instructive as possible consistent with his
obligations to the cause of christianity as
such. The public have it in their power to
make the church source of enlarged benefit
TO 1t; 1t is in their power likewise to detract
from Its utility and Importance by discour-
agement of its endeavors, till it shall lose vi
tallty more or less, dwindle away in mea-
sure, and become fertile institution of popu-
lar intelligence, and efficient promoter of re-
tinement, social health and good morals
We trust Mr.. Editor, that our suggestions
which are made with the utmost Difference to
the views of Others and which have no puri-
lanlcal superstition at their bottom, will be
duly considered by the public. We should
like to see church-going for the reasons above
stated not to speak as a areligionist whatev-
er our views may be. become a fashion in
Grass valley, as in the case in towns of the
older States. Yours I'M