The New York herald., 1874-12-20

couutrys Rooo u tney ooulu DuL SUI up the gnost
Of another Know Nothing crusade against catho-
lies. and thus ride once more into powerl Yours,
DC, tW. II. GROSS, Bishop OF Savannah.
RELIGIOUS THEATRICALS.
NcoNs1srENuEs OF CHRISTIAN SOCIETIES
HOUSES OF WORSHIP CONVERTED INTO THEA
TRES, GROCERY STORES, RESTAURANTS SHOOT
mo GALLERIES, ETC. CHRISTIANITY INFERIOR
TO PAGAN1sM.
There is no organization among men so pYact.
cal in many respects and yet so impractical and
inconsistent in others as the Church. 1t condemns
the world for being worldly and condemns !ts
own members for not being OF one mind. It con-
demns the theatres, but applauds church fairs
and festivals and concerts and pantomimes and
the like. The theatre IS c0ndem ned too on hear
say testimony kind OF evidence that is not I'D.
mssible either in this world or in the next; but
fairs-paper fairs, necktie fairs, apron fairs
toy and doll fairs, fruit and flower fairs
and bosr OF kindred gatherings-are
| perfectly proper In the eyes OF church
! people and quite consistent with their elastic
consciences. This Is the season Of fairs and here
are few samples OF this business for the current
season. 1t may safely be asserted that there was
| nothing more offensive In the Temple OF Jerusa-
| lem when Jesus OF Nazareth took the scourge OF
| small cords and drove from that house OF prayer
| the money changers and the dealers in doves and
| those who had converted 1t into den OF
| thieves than is to be found to-day In many So
| called Christian houses OF worship One godfy
| congregation, whose location we omit laid in
large stock OF groceries, according to its puo-
/ hshed accounts, and received orders and dev-
| cred goods at the homes OF its customers; and
this was in addition to 80 splendid stock OF toys
| and DOLLS" "confectionery spread In tempting
ray" together with fancy articles, flowers, books
| and stationery, refreshments and everything to
delight the eyes OF the lads and the lasses lnclud
ing the usual stock OF beautiful young ladies'"
Here tsa
| CHRISTIAN CHURCH CONVERTED INTO A GROCERY,
fancy and toy store and the reporter who visite
| 1t was impressed with the grocery adjunct that
he wrote OF 1t as "a novel feature OF this fair"
| Bad as It was to sell doves for sacrifice In the
Temple 1t must have been less offensive to Christ
than such an exhibition in His house Is In this age
| Of the world and BY a Congregational society. In
an Episcopal church fair grocery table was also
/ set and stocked with s'an abundant supply OF
! canned fruits and groceries,"
| Here is Q reporters summary OF another fair In
a Baptist church :-"Articles Of every kind and
variety are offered for at prices equal to the
best bargalns.n And then he adds that "the
ladies believe IN doing everything above
board and dtscountenance. the custom Of
squeezing money for nothing out OF good
they they don't resort to system Of petty robbery. 50
speak. For 1t is little better than that to put
man In position where he has either to give
money for something he does not want, and which.
moreover, II ne does v ant there may not be one
sy he Vii @
derly robbed. No Christian woman should put any
person. whether Christian or pagan. would do IT,
Another Baptist church added New England
brown bread ana baked beans, apple dumplings,
chicken and nxings,n while another Kitchen "sent
forth more modern SUBJECTS for gastronomlcal re.
Another church fair exhibits
| 'PUNCH AND JUDY SHOW"
at ten cents head and exhibits miniature yacht
for another small sum. And then We have de-
scribed mlnutely the beauty OF the ladies' and the
serve. In this description and enumeration We
nnd jewelry and silverware candy, pertumery and
Floral or evergreen houses With modern Rachel
or Reoecca sitting ct lemonade wen and dis.
much glass are concomitants in all church fairs,
| as they are in this.
informed '@hat the. usual relresnment candy,
| ice cream, oyster and fancy tables lemonade well,
TS
'fatr Raches," We are told, also were kept
a the uco S to thirsty
Duckes.'W a telegraph too. it appeared, did
good business, and messages new thick and fast
catchpenny tricks are NO better than those prac-
| tised by three-card monte men, and are certainly
is not confined alone TO Metnodists Baptists and
and we and the ssaid Epscopalissns,
reformed ana needing reform, resorting 70 the
same means to replenish their exchequers. In
Reformed Episcopal church fair we read OF "a
fancy worked chair Of some value, which Is 70 be
r Ser Of votes Of I rom the patrons Of the iarn In
other words, the game Of chance receives the
sanction Of the ministers and professed followers
| Of
Episcopal church refreshments and Ice cream,
so5a sls .o ana ssrveS %
al oomers IL ns an0ter s,n an oil painting ,n Of the
posed Of by chance or lottery. And in
A UNIvEBsALIST CHURCH FAIR,
to all the foregoing attractions there was added
people collected and got glimpse OF the future
from paint ted slip IN an empty egg shell. The
Indulge in ike religious lnconslstencies. In
prominent Presbyterian church in Brooklyn, few
called twas given, parts Of which have appeared
from time to time In theatres OF New YORK. and
some time or other there. But It is quite differ
ent thing when church is converted into
the same M Representations are gwen there IN
a Reformed Dutch church 10 the same City
Of Churches we are informed IsSd tnas ,,,, no, D,
Creedmoor, where they could learn to become
crack shots" How ennoblingi Young men taught
and young women to be fortune hunters or
fortune telers u may be long before they are
taught to be Christians And all this In the name
devoted to HIS worship and honor. In Catholic
church we are tolo that the billiard table was con.
were realized by the sale OF silver, china, embro.
dered chairs, rugs, wax work, &c. In another we
are told that the amnsemenH every evening were
quite entertaining and that the tables contained
an immense number OF valuable prizes The
Friends, too, have fallen into this trreligous way
OF making money. And yet, Notwithstanding
these extra Inducements and worldly wise attrac-
tons,
rHY CHURCHES ARE KMPTY,
or nearly 90, on Sundays and week evenings,
while the theatres are crowded every evening.
| and the gambling and billiard saloons are nightly
filed with young men. And the pastors and plous
church folk wonder why IL Is so, and tney grumole
and complain that the world - going neaoiong 10