Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-13
From the PhilAdslphis Telegraph


Christianity - an institution, WGs meant for
all classes and conditions Of people. Its Divine
Author took special care TO prevent Il from 6s
coming the exclusive property OF the rich. lie
instructed His Apostles expressly 20 preach the
Gospel 10 the poor without Aoney and without
price and declared that al should pArtake 81
the water Of eternal life equally aud freely
This Was ChrsJ'a plan. He came 70 inaugurate
3 very democratic sty.e OF religion. de wished
70 estab lsh Church which should be plain and
cheap in its worship, rather than pompous and
expensive.
lie ala no, hesitate on any 1t occlS on, to
syince His disregard for pretentiouS rituals and
csrsmoniAls. he looked 10 the hea {, rather
than 70 the outward department Of His Disciples
to the living, earnest genuine faith n At ami.
mates the s0ul Of the true believer rat or than
70 long prayers ssnctimonious Visages, customA-
rVactS Of devotion, and all the hollow pageantry
Of professional piety.
In one word spirituality, and not Journalism
vas what Christ everywhere and ct al times
throughout the entire course Of His earthly mis-
sion, made the simple, supreme test Of vital or
thodox Christ anity. The creed that He taught
WAS one Of simple love 20 God and love 70 man.
Itrequired no schOOlmen 10 eIpOund and enforce
IL lie chose humble fishermen and the like "
preach il. IL dealt in no sbstruse doctrines OF
morality IL involved no refined and intricate
questions II belief and duty.
"
hAs made al acult and obscure. Modern religion,
az taught and preached IL . very different SOFT
of thing from that which the meek and lOwly
and loving Nazarine wss sent 10 proclaim.
In the drat place We have rendered il 80 cost
ly An affair that the great mass Of every cOnmu-
nity can hardy AFFORD IL Our temples are mag
pidesnt in architectur proportions and adOrn.
ment and so splendid in interior fitting up, that
the necessary price Of ssat in them Is beyond
thu means Of most persons. The charge for &
new in one OF our metropolitan ch irehes-and
The pews are now sold az public auction 70 the
highest bidders-iS literally prospective, except
% the wealthy classes.
Palatial structures, with grand organ and
choirs. and cushions and carpets and gorgeous
chandeliers aud munihcently salAried preachers,
10 saw nothing Of the weekly contributions TO
~ sorts Of charities make an active member.
ship in any Of our city congregations an exceed
ing aristoCratic luxury, not 70 be thought Of,
much less INDUCED, by those who are Ouly mode
ratsly well on.
ne consequence Of all this Is, that thousands
Of parsons who cannot compete 10 public sale
for a reserved or secured seat in our superb tab
ernacIss. must either stay away altogether or
b. content % accept Of b ,ck bench in the gal
lew a. q special concession 20 pauperisn
Admitting that those who are aole and willing
10 nav for dne temples and fine preachers should
have them. is God bonOred by any such Osten-
tatious homage, or is His cause really advanced
byItq Iften or twenty humble places Of Wor-
hip might be built for the money that II costs
% erect one grand cathedral. and ten thousand
people can have the GOSPEL preached 10 them
habitually instead Of i've hundred. is il not
sinful waste Of means 10 leave the INDECENT null
titude wi bout place Of prayer in order 10 grA-
tify the worldly vanity Of the Opulent few
These a-e questions that are suggested by the
present rehgi US revival in our country, and more
particularly by the suspicious movement now
going on amOOg churches Of various denOmins-
lions with a view 10 promote unity and an eX.
tension OF the dominion Of true religiOn every.
where, and among all classes aud orders Of the
people