, 1874-08-09

PASTORAL VISITS AND SENTIMENTAL RE-

LIGIoN.
! It ia so seldom that the New York Observer
contains anything of interest to man who has
been alive during the last ten years that re fec
bound to give editorial notice OF tne fact that it
has been saying some sensible things anent the
| Beecher case. It draws from it the moral which
has already been enforced in these columns, that
pastor and feminine parishioners need to keep
| further apart than they have been in the habit
| OF doing. It is not right that wife should
confide in her clergyman rather than IN her hus-
band. Some men have q passion for gossip.
When they become clargymen they encourage
theee domestic revelations, and SO thoughtlessly
involve families in irremediabIe trouble. The
Observer says:
For this why lies tho danger. A. silly woman, pous
perhaps, hut very soft and shallow, hear The stirring
words Of her eloquent pastor: is roused, warmed
yoothed, c1atcd-4he thinks ediifd-aud straightway
she believes him to be tho sent to do her good.
She goes to his study to tell him so; how much enjoy
ment she finds in his words sho wr1tes him letter
and pours out her little soul full Of twadde about her
gratitude for what her dear pastor laa done for her;
how she "s lifted up" by his instructions; how she
loves Ai1 friend given to bs her guide aud co
fort and SO and on, moro and worae, running o
q ma"k;sh sentln,entalty, eickauug Mau-Horship,
disgusting to every sensible person, but very
nectar to vain, worldly preacher, who sceks
only to NIKE his hearers ~ feel good" Such people
to theiz pastor to ask what they must DO to
be saved2" It Ia to tell him bow good tLey feel low
hs il exalting theln filling them with oy, peaco,
and love-. Ne cannot 60 into particulars without Of
Tending the tastes OF every reader. W. Make our
meaning plain. We wish to 10 understood II saying
that what worldly preachers and sentimental women
call communion OF soul" aud " kindred spirits,"
" mutual help, F" and holy sympathy" anu words
the same strain, not rsligon-it Is not even relie
ious- It is Of the earth earthly. It Is 81 GArna1
conceived In su." II IL simply the lower NATURE the
human passion, OF creature toward another. God
is not i'll it.
The Phlade.plia Press suggests that tho first
kiss. the brides fec to the officiating clergyman,
should be abolished while public opinion is ripe
for such change. It is indecorous and useless.
This ia but one OF many outer signs OF senti-
mentality which lies deep at tho root Of re-
igion,- especially the religion Of women. Wom-
an is the religious sex. The keen, searching
analysis OF the reasons OF religion which is the
characteristic OF the men OF to-day has made
the sex, with Bome exceptions, which
glories in the holiness Of childlike faith
regard all reaeoning about religion AZ more or less
wicked So belief becomes more OF an emotion,
less Of logical result. Religious exaltation,
which our New England ancestors built up upon
q foundation Of unshrinking, piiless reasoning,
is in their daughters vague throbbing OF the
heart. A1rs. Ti1ton exults in the JOY to her soul
that her acquaintance With Beechor has brought
her. A lost reputation, ruined home. hesrt-
broken husband, sickening, worldwide scandal,
what are these to the .'re'igious fcrvor" The
81 communion Of SOUL" botweon herself and her
pastor? II don't know but would do the
same thing again." says she, because it has
been SO much to my sou1!" sentimentality can
no further SO. Wo have here the outcome Of
the divorce between religion aud reason, the
union of sanctity and sentimentality. The SER
mon that says 'foel good instead Of "be
good p" is the dev1ls progeny, whoever be the
human oracle to utter it.