Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-10-29
what is to Become Of the Second serv;e

What is to Become of the Second Service,
In about half a score OF our churches, this
question is already settled according to the
doctrine Of annihilation; they have no second
service, and they never intend to have one
The rest OF our societies continue to insist unon
double -barrelled gun as the ..regulation''
that the second service lags sadly: and IL is
next to impossible to have it catch up with the
nrstin popular confidence and affection. Very
few, nowadays, think they shall be heard for
much speaking. As WEAKNESS Of the flesh.
much listening is taking the place OF much
study; and Is It not nearly time for ssa corporaps
guard" to be dismissed with @ pension, while
we adopt an s'afternoon congreeationn A less
threadbare and equally expressive?
The trouble is neither modern nor local Sell
wno 6s4 as1. s9
when he said, 1.-THE main argument why they
have two meals a day: the soul must be fed a.
well as the body. But may as well argue
that ought to have two noses because have
got two ears. what have meals and sernsons 40 M
to do with one anotherl" In Switzerland lately.
the roof Of church was crushed by the snow.
When we saw that the people thus buried alive
were over fifty women, aad less than ten men,
we recognized the familiar proportions Of .
Let us notice several classes who advocate
the perpetuation Of the ancient usage
In all congregations, there are some naturally
are such q delight, that they can scarcely have
too many. They would be glad If it should be
said unto them. three or even four times every
Sunday, .Come, let ms 60 into the House of the
Lord" In unfetgned sincerity, they demand
repeated opportunities Of public Worship
Where such persons are suficiently numerous
gent efforts to supply their meals. There il
hardly an instance OF a church full of hearers
fhirstlng in vain for a second draught Of the
water Of life. Where the number Of earnest
wishers for more than one service 10 quite
limited, the most they can reasonably ask
another meeting IN some room proportional to
the size Of the assembly. II only your vito
put them in the carryall but in the chaise.
In congregations of moderate intelligence,
where the people have no libraries which they
use, and take few periodicals which they read,
It is almost q matter Of necessity that they
ehould be provided with several services.
This il the chief way in which the day Of rest
spiritual Advancement The minister Of such
congregation is q workman that needeth to
bs ashamed If he will not double tina tolls. OF
his body BY dividing the weekly products OF
There are other champions of the double
order, who are entitled to less favor. In shis
uncomelT class should b placed an.wno
would have two services merely hecause " the
Orthodox" have them. and those who are mis-
chievously exacting in their requirements Of
Every denomination has its peculiar methods.
"TAe Orthodox" never think OF observing Gus
toms that take no hold on their convictions
merely because Unitarians observe them, and
Unitarians should be above affecting q show of
zeal that is initiative and not honestly sponta-
neous. If the example Of IS the Orthodox" II 50
potent why not adopt their doctrines as well
as their practioes9 Besides, Mr.. Beecher, who
in pulpit power il at least one-half Of Ortho.
doxdom, Is in favor OF one sermon; declaring
that the human mind is constructed on the
principle of a pop gun, and can retain only one
charge at q time!
The exacting laymen are as mean as the con-
forming ones are weak. It Is gross insult 70
impute the unrighteousness of Incidence to all
clergymen who do not exult in preaching TO
pews and pillars. Men who stay at home az
ternoons but ineist that their pastors shall serve
their time out, are treating the shepherds as
miserable hireiings, il not wretchsd galley
slaves. This feeling must have eliminated in
the remark Of q profaneiy blunt parishioner,
nine sts 5hat silent prayer Of yours some
After all, the decision OF this question is,
practically, in the hands of the people.
| Let Them attend to the second service
| in strong force, and there is not the slightest
neglect Of it, their failure to furnish an ecclssi-
astical quorum, which hangs q milestone
around the neck of a preachers enthusiasm.
| There is q remark of keans which ought to
be quoted in this connection, "Such an audi
| ence would extinguish Atna-"
| While the people are making up their minds,
| they " i'll please to consider the moral OF this
/ fact, given to us by Macaulay! "Rumford
/ proposed to the Elector of Bavaria scheme
| for feeding his soldiers at q much cheaper rate
| than formerly. His plan was simply 20 COM
pei them to masticate their food more tnoIon&n.
ly. A small quantity. thus eaten. Wooid
| afford more sus tenance than large meal nasn-
ly deyoured.'-Aonthly Journal