Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-10-02
MDRAL AND REL1glUUs.
Fashionable Religion.

GUbAoAoUA0 00A6AVA'
In high aristocratic quarters, hypocri.
~ has its vantage ground. In The best
society religion is popular and devo.
tional exercises arc essential as con.
t'asts 10 opera nights and ball room fes.
tivi,ics. A pew in church is an cIcmen,
TO rcspectability akin 10 a respIendent
equipage or service OF plate. Unique
cruciform churches are absolutely ne.
cessities to aristocratic devotion; and 10
this end human ingenuity is tortured to
achieve medieval atrociiy OF disboli.
cal ugliness and miraculous inconveni.
ence. Close upon the consecralion Of
this offspring Of nightmare, comes o
public auction, where the right to wor.
ship God in conspicuous situation is
knocked down 10 the highest bidder at
so much 10 the cubic foot. The elec tion
of a pastor is a work Of great response.
bility and accompanied with groat cx.
citement. The congregational meeting
is called. Two or three deluded indi.
viduals suggest the propriety Of choosing
a man Of eminent piety, which meets
with no favor, and the mover is pro.
nounced on 'old'fogy.' The sense Of the
meeting (meetnss are often devoid Of the
arlicle) approves Of an eloquent satir.
list, who has a reputation for saying sx.
ceedinsIy uncharitable things in very
quiet way, about sister denominations.
Under the guardianship Of this shepherd,
tho church commences operations. A
trial Of the organ is the next imperative
demand, and, by the aid Of the fguran.
tes OF the opera. concert leads off the
attack npon the strong hold Of Satan.
1t is not impossible, in view Of the
age, that we may yet chronicle the dis.
appearance Of installation services, and
in their place, dilate upon the graceful
waltzing OF Miss - at Rev. Nj.
-'s Inauguration ball. Here follow
weeks Of animated discussion with re.
gard TO pew furniture. Knots Of jewel.
ed dowagers meet in the aisles or vesti.
bules, to interchange views in respect to
what color Of velvet for prayer.b book
binding, the light streaming through the
stair ed glass window would enhance in
its effect. On the Sabbath morning,
flashing carriages roll up before the
church door, and set down their loads Of
richly dressed ladies. 1t is impossible
for young lady to get into pew with.
out performing the Jenny Lind trot; and
as pews backs are usually high and an.
gular, they do not exactly accommodate
themselves 10 tho skillful execution OF
that tepscichorean accomplishment, in.
!, asmuch that q foot coming in contact
with the cushioned stool, frequently ia.
cilitates the forward movement without
materially adding to its grace.
The congregation once seated, the
overture is performed on the organ, in.
Producing all the popular airs, from the
Katydid Of Julien, or the latest gem Of
. Ethiopian minstrelsy, to the sounding
, diapasons Of Mozart and Beethoven.-
A favorable opportunityis thus afforded
for close observation OF every ones mil
} inery and mantua making before the
, service begins. After short sermon ths
audience, as it came up, rolls off t.
} ma nsions in the west end TO discuss ep
3 icurean delicacies and sparkling Mo
, selle, satisfied that it is highly reputable
to make an outward show Of piety or
=. Sunday to shade the sombre hue Of week
. day sel6shnsss.
8 We believe we speak reverently wher
i we say that such a religion as thi
! works out curse a thousand fold NOR
Q baleful than tho blatant infidelity whcl
}, those kid gloved clergy so eloquently re
:. buke. Fashionable life is ut best
y sham, but when it carries its corruptin
hypocrisy into the sacred things of life
it bee ONES a maleyolent demon, tri
fling with realities tina, stretch into tn
If unkno own hereafter. And it is the i'm
'e peralive duty Of all who can, 10 tea
.. from its face the painted mask wit
n which it hides its dishevelled deformity
re and hold it up before the world in i
" true light-a cold and calculating FEM
n. working disastrously in all our soci'
a. system, blasting with it's foul breath Ii
% holy affections that grow green in II
" home Of the heart, and sowing the seet
st Of harvest that will be gathered f
le The burning.-Phil. Register. 4