Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-01-10

FASHIONABLE RELIGIoN-It would he very ;nter.
esting to know how, exactly how, New York spends
its Sabbaths, particularly when we remember that
there are not churches enough to seat one half the
population of the metropolis and that the places of
worship which are open are with few exceptions
never more than half filled. The Roman Catholics
are very constant in their attendance at church but
the poor Protestant generally finds the temple too
fine, the congregation too much impregrated with
mammon worship and too splendid in attire for the
proper understanding of the dispensation of Him
who was meek and lowly and had no place to Law
his head. So the poor Protestant falls into loose
habits on Sunday. He reads novels or sleeps, and
is speedily accounted among the ungody that are
to be cast into the outer darkness where there is
weeping, and wailing, and crashing of teeth.
The churches as we'll as the theatres have follow.
ed the fashionable movement up town. On all the
avenues may be found religious edifices generally
more expensive than tasteful-more snowy than
comfortabie-more suggestive of the pomps and
vanites OF this wicked world than of the lure and
holy prccepts which should be inculcated within
their walls. The gorgeousenss Of the edifice-the
magnhcence Of the congregation-the Pecksnffian
discourse of the fashionable preacher-the gems
from the last improper opera worked into sacred
music for the CHORAL! these are the elements of
religion after the modern improved style.
Fashionable religion is generally good specula-
ton in pecunary point of view. The pews are
sold at auction after the fashion that Barnum dis
posed OF the choice seats 20 hear Jenny Lind. Very
large sums are netied in this way. Occasionally,
the fashionable churches burst like other mercantile
speculations. One of the most exclusive situated
in the Fifth avenue, is now in tight place, fnan.
ciay speaking. 1t is heavily in debt, and in dan.
ger Of being sold out by the Sheriff: 1t is Baptist
church, but the preacher is not exactly the type Of
him who preached in the wilderness of Judea His
rament is not of camels hair, but of the finest
broadco:h :; his meat is something more elaborate
than locusts and wild honey; the water of his Jor-
dan from far away in the country, and is care
fully warmed for fear that the faithful might take
cold in immersion He does not cry Repent We,
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" but he
breaches pleasant dulcct discourses, showing the
whitest of hanGs-the most immaculate of pocket
handkerchiefs-the most splendid of ambrosal curs
He is a sweet preacher for the ladies', and thorough
" understands the dilletan;sm of modern Chrisan-
ty. Decidedly, John the Baptist would be astonsh-
ed at his Fifth avenue representative 1t is to be
hoped that the bulls and bears Of Wall street will
forget their quarrels for awhile, and come down
handsomely for the relief of the modern John the
Baptist.
It is curious fact that the reformation was
brought about by the luxury, corruption and efem'
macy which crept into the bosom of the mother
church, and that now those who profess Protestant
ism, are following in the same evil courses against
which Knox, Calvin and Luther launched their
thundcrs. In simplicity Of attire, abstinent habits
Of life and devotion to the interests of their ocks,
the Catholic clergy now stand pre- eminent. On the
other hand the representatives the stern old Pur
tans who could not bear the sight of surplice are
turning away to all sorts of denominations. There
is no more of the solid old Cotton Mather piety left
among us. There are velvet cushions artistic mus
ic, sweet preachers, nicely worded somnolent dis,
courses worshippers rolled mp in Russian sables and
loaded with diamonds, splendid churches, where the
atmosphere is redoent with perfumes, and the very
light shaded with many colored tnts, heavy floating
debts, crushing mortgages, but not drop Of the
mama of righteousness, unless poor sinner for q
moment, under fear of the mighty sexton, offers up
his lonely prayer in free seat Such is fashlona.
BILE religion in New York in these latter days. Read
Christ's sermon on the Mount and let us have a
fashionable DISCOURSE with the thirteenth verse tor
a text. NJ Y. Herald
KENNETH RAYNER-This gentleman, since the ut.
ter defeat of Mr. Fillmore and the overthrow OF MS
party finds with the humiliation of all his prospects
and visions of high station and honor, that he has
been grievously injured and unjustly abused, SIMPLY
because he had sought to degrade the south into an
alliance with her enemies and to sell the principles OF
bis party for the support Of abolitionsts. -,
Know Nothing philosophy may pallate, and JUSTIFY
the treason and outrage and Mr. Rayner and his train
of satellites may hold indignation meetings and cor
rupt patriotism and principle into justification
But Kenneth Rayner will never be able to shake on
xh.. vbich hanvs ia his sl.irfs or ascend