Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-24
CHURCH GOING As A Luxury.

York exchanges that the Rev. Hugh NJ.
thompson, one of the ablest Episcopa Al di-
ship OF Christ church, in that city, mainly,
II not exclusively, on financial ground. The
cnurch, which is prominent and old-estab-
salaTy in airesr. swss au M ,,,sin
quite q number of churches, Of vario Is de-
nominations, in the same city, are very
hard up" and the Ii he may be said of other
cities. In Boston, for example, the ancient
Brattle street church, driven by business
from the locality 1t had occupied for much
more than a century, migrated to the South
come have been swamped In a very extern
sive building, Of incurably wretched acous-
tic qualities In Chicago debt of s25 900
TO $4,000 on a splendid stone church is the
rule rather than the exception. In Cincin-
natl we build more slowly and prudently,
but burdensome church debts have not been
The costly structures which ambitious con-
gregations have erected in all our popular
eenters are mainly the production OF the
flush times that succeeded the war. A hand
some building requires fitting accompani-
ments In the way OF salaries, etc, and the
society has by no means put Is hands I'm its
pockets for the last time when the final mort
gage on the house has been paid.
Public worship, pure and simple, Is the
cheapest thing imaginable. There is no
scriptural excitement for copies OF Solomon's
Temple, or for expensive accessories OF any
kind. Any grove or room in which q con-
gregatton can gather meets all the biblical
conditions. Public worship In the modern
concrete form generally means a tasteful
build1ng-a magnificent one If il can be Ob
tained-an eloquent preacher with heavy
salary; fne organ; an accomplished choir;
rooms for the Sunday school and week-even-
Ing gatherings; IN short, q very extensive
establishment. However strictly religious
the main objects OF modern church may be,
Its social features are too numer Gus and i'm
portant to be passed over. Indeed, they are
often practically the most conspicuous at
fractions. Strangers coming to city ask,
fru-l,o
tributions and their labors, but what one
carries the greatest social weight with 1t.
They may restrict their inquiries to their
unfrequently the case, change their sect as
Well as their place of abode. The house of
worship Is chosen rather as a social specula-
ton than for the desire of religious culture
and usefulness.
We are not so unreasonable or ascetic as TO
pronounce all regard for social cOnsidera-
lions worldly" or unreasonable; but IL must
be admitted that just In proportion as 1t be-
comes predominant, devotional instincts and
religious principles are subOriinated. When
the former reaches its maximum, church at
tendance is simply matter of policy. The
old fashioned idea of duty has nearly, II not
wholly disappeared.
We are not uncharitable, therefore. in con-
institution. AS such IL must be affected BY
the influences which beset other institutions
OF its class. If money is plenty, and public
opinion favors church going, the position of
Z
financial reaction comes on, or when a fam
lily can stay at home on Sunday without
losing caste, the position is very likely to be
very different.
Retrenchment is now the order of the dav
In domestic affairs. If IL is hard for family
To reduce expenditures, 1t is still more diff
cult for public organization to do so. To
diminish the ministerial salary, eurtail the
expenditure for music, and otherwise limit
the pecuniary outflow, is equivalent to
hanging up flag OF distress. Yet this-if
m hn 2l nSNf Ana
Just what many churches must come TO in
all our cities. 1t will not do to protest
against this under the plea Of mourning for
the desolation OF Zion, for, as we have
already shown, the multiplication of ex-
penses is merely an intensifcatiOn of the
social and secular attractions of the church.
ment Of fashionable congregation for it's
sumptuous place of gathering and the fervid
devotion which led the old Puritans to sit
Tor two hours in an unwarmed meeting
mouse with the mercury below zero. If the
church really bases its claim on secular
considerations, however much 1t may null
tiply pious utterances by way of disclalm-
Ing such notices, IL must yield to social
laws-the laws OF secular finance not ex-
cepted.
Not very long ago we argued from we'll
known facts that there were too many
churches in Cincinnati; that economy and
usefulness would both be furthered by q con-
centratiOn OF two or more societies or the
same denomination within one building. II
occupy one church at different hours. Ac-
cordlng to present appearances, the supply
OF touses OF worship is greater than the
demand. Looking at the subject from a
different point of view, we find that there
are not enough church buildings in Cincin-
natl 10 accommodate all its population,
should all desire to attend. This is true even
when the extremely old, the very young,
and the sick are not counted. This being
taken into view, IL appears that from some
cause the mass of our cities do not care to 90
TO church at all. The dread of expense no
doubt keeps many at home, and, as the
period OF Imitation passes away, this can
sideration viii strengthen rather than di-
stronger tnan IL is now. An exceptionally
eloquent preacher may draw a crowd, but
STATISTICS, as well as observation, show that
the thIoDg is composed mainly of attendants
nom other churches. A fine musical festival
Will not lack an audience, but the nOn- musi-
cal who have spiritual wants, as well as the
music-loviDg, will still remain away
In brief, we find that while the churches
cannot forego all social considerations they
capnot depend upon them for support. An
gregation may WELD good deal of magnetic
force, but all the churches In q city can not
De OF this class. If then, our churches are
10 be hlled once more, and new houses built
seeking place OF worship, the motives COM
monty presented must be supplanted by
higher ones. Whether old time devotion or
Old time habits can be restored, is problem
which we leave the churches TO answer. 1t
is one which they will be compelled to solve
at no distant day. If hard working man
reels no impulses OF duty he is not likely to
pay literally for an institution of which he
Goes not perceive the value. Even il his
ambition leads him TO do so, we can not per-
be profited thereby.