Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-07-12

the Brownsville States, come over /
on that interesting occasion? We /
would like to sec the opponents of 7
the measure, and hear their dispas-
sionate views, rs well as those gifts /
We are not so committed /
TO the matter that we will not hear
and act upon any good reasons for
the measure
FASHIONABLE RELIGION.
One of the worst signs Of the
times in the United States, at the
present period, is the tending to-
wards fashionable reltgiOR-or to
speak more plainly, in1idelisy. All
churches seem to be more or less af-
fected by an infdelity that is truly
alarming. Politicians-those who
make politics an article of traffic
and trade-hayc long since ceased
to believe in future rewards snd
punishments, but all their energies
and talents are given TO the present
to make money and reputation,
but especially to make money, at any
cost. The Nation cannot now look
10 the politicians of the present day
to heal the body polite. There can
not now be found ten righteous men
in the halls of Congress-though
we have any number of prof. esSed
Christians-likeo one of the Senators
from this State. God save the coun-
try from the present inidel law
makers! Our hope is in the up-ri-
sing of the honest yeomanry of the
land; that uprising has commenced,
and we believe will go on until our
present rulers are hurled from place
and power. But here comes the
church, with its fashtondl religion,
that threatens to retard the early
accomplishment of so great an OBJ
ject. No wicked and perverse nation
can long prosper-the great ruler of
nations will visit His wrath upon all
such as violate His clearly express
ed will. We are no thcologians,
but we have read the history of the
world sufficient TO learn that no ma
ton can long prosper, after it plum
ges into infidelity. Is there not i'm
minent danger of the United States
plunging into the dark abyss of inf
deity? Look at our churches in
nearly all the cities in New England
that land of woOden-nutmC gs and
great moral ideas! There, in high
aristocratic quarters, hypocracy has
its vantage ground. In "the best
society,"" religion is popular, and
devotional exercises are as essential
as contrasts to opera nights and
ball room festivities. a pew in
church is an element of respectable
ity akin to a resplendent equippage
or a service of plate. Unique cru
ciform churches are absolute neces-
sites to aristocratic devotion; and
to this end human ingenuity is tor
tured to achieve au atrocity of dia-
bolical ugliness and miraculous in
convenience. Close upon the con-
secration of this offspring of a
nightmare, comes public auction,
where the right to worship God in
a conspicuous situation, is knocked
down to the highest bidder at 50
much per public foot. The election
of preacher is a work of great re-
sponsibility, and accompanied with
intense excitement. The church
meeting is called. Two or three de,
luded individuals suggest the pro-
priety of choosing man of eminent
piety, which meets with no favor
and the moveri is pronounced an "OlC
fOgy." The sense of the meeting
meetings are often devoid of thai
article) approves of AN eloquent sa
tirist, who has reputation for say
ing exceedingly uncharitable things
in very quiet way, about sister
denominations. Under the guar
dianship of this shepherd, the
church commences operations. 4
trial of the organ is the next imper
alive demand, and by the aid of thu
.fgurdntes of the opera, n concer
leads off the attack upon the strong
hold of Satan.
1t is not impossible, in view of thu
iniidelity of the age, that we ma,
yet chronicle the entire disappear
ance of installation and ordination
services, and in their place diIatr
upon the graceful waltzing of Mis-,
-, at the Rev. Mr--'s inau
guration ball. Here follow weeks
of animated discussion with regard
TO pew furniture. Knots of Jew
eled dowagers meet in the aisles o.
vestibules to interchange views il
respect to what color of velvet foi
prayer-book and hymn-boOk bind
ing, the light streaming through
the stained glass windows, would
enhance in its effect. On the Sab
bath morning, flashing carriages
roll up before the church door anC
set down their loads of richly dress
ed ladies. 1t seems impossible fol
a young lady to get into pew with
out performing the Jenny Line
trot, and as all pew backs are usual
ly high and angular they do not ex
actly accommodate themselves t.
the skilful execution of that terpsi
chorean accomplishment, insomucl
that a foot coming in contact Will
the cushioned stool, frequently IA
cilitates the forward movement
without materially adding to it
grace. The congregation once seat
the overture is performed on thu
organ, introducing all the popular
airs from the katydid of Julien Oh
the latest gem of Ethiopian Min
strelsy to the sounding diapasoni
of Mozart or Beethoven. y favora
bic opportunity is thus afforded fol
close observation of every one:
millinery and mantua making be
fore the sermon begins. After s
short discourse the audience, as il
came up, rolls of to mansions in the
west end to discuss epicurean deli.
cacies and sparkling Moselle, salts.
fed that it is highly reputable to
! MAKO an ont ward -bnuv ~ ,,iaf,- -,
Sunday, to shade the sombre hue OF