The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-16
is THE CHURCH AT FAULT?

GROWING INDIFFERENCE TO RELIGIOUS
DUTIEs-rHE PASTORS AND THE PEOPLE
To THE EDITOR THE HERALD
The extraordinary disturbance that prevails in
the religious elements. spreading through every
denomination and bringing stormy excitement into
all the churches. fail to have attracted the
attention Of thoughtful minds and to have been the
cause Of anxiety and pain to those who believe that
in pure and undecided Christianity lies the
permanency of governments and the happiness
and prosperity OF peoples. In every direction
we find yearning after something new in religion;
disposition to depart from the old landmarks dis
satisfied. restless spirit which seeks some change
under the name Of reform; some departure
which is not always distinctly developed in the
minds Of those who are its advocates Ministers Of
the Gospel tell that this is dangerous
that it springs from the insidious inroads OF
materialism into the sacred realms of faith
and from all pulpits are uttered earnest
warnings against the peril Of those seductive but
pernicious doctrines that steal upon us concealed
beneath the cloak of progress and enlightenment.
The Catholic priesthood denounce with severity the
growing disregard Of the dogmas Of the Church. The
jewish rabies mourn the disposition to abandon
or least regard with indifference sacraments and
rites that have been held sacred through many
Protestant clergymen Of every denomination
condemn the carelessness Of religious obligations
and the impotence under rebuke that and
moro observable among their congregations. Per-
haps their censure Is in some instances just
their warnings sincere. Yet 1t Is well to
remember that the very yearning after some
thing new in religion is evidence that
the desire for religion exists in the heart, and
justice well wisdom demands that
apostles and ministers Of all faiths should search
xha he Of <har and
whether those they teach and guide may not be
driven to grope in dark and unknown ways by the
conviction that the examples held up before them in
their Church not such satisfy the cravings
Of purely religious spirit.
To those who have imbibed their views of religion
from the teachings of the Bible the modern Church
scarcely be the ideal Of the Church preached by
Him who. "meek and lowly Of heart" Himself. said
to His disciples, IF any will come after me. let
him deny himself and take up his cross and follow
me-" Indeed. the modern Church is even too unlike
tho Church Of own fathers at whose affairs many
of knelt in our youthful days. Among all de-
nominations the spirit of avarice to have
into the heart Of the ministry. How often will the
gentle picture Of the man
to all tho country dear,
And passing rich with thirty pounds year
rise to the minds eye We enter one Of modern
churches. whether Protestant Catholic. and behold
every side tho evidences of lavish outlay aud of
1.-THE pride of wealth." Looking around us we are
impressed with the thought that the Temple Of God
might properly be called the Tenn
pie Of Fashion. Massive. deliberately orna-
mented buildings. with extravagant decorations
alone considered as fitting places from which to
preach that Gospel which Saviour instructed His
followers to preach from tho housetops. Naturally
the doors Of such buildings closed to tho poor
and humble. to whom our Lord delighted to preach
pay heavy pew rents. and whose pride draws from
their pockets liberal subscriptions toward church
Of pure Religion by ths spn. of
Mammon. Seldom does service pass without an
appeal to the congregation for money. The church
is in debt. rs 1t cannot help being when 1t incurs
enormous expenditures not warranted by its means
for gingerbread display Some new gewgaws
wanted 10 tickle the fancy Of fashionable congrega-
ton or q fashionable preacher. The salary Of the
minister is in arrears. or It Is proposed to sup
ply him with the means of spending the
enjoying European trip during the season which.
according to modern church ideas the devil is mac
tive and religion afford to take holiday.
money! Money! Money!" is the horse-leech cry at
all times and all occasions until the conviction is
forced upon that wealth IL an essential to Chris
tianity. The poor in church but little consid-
cred, while the rich l am constrained to say,
whether religious or irreligious. whether good
bad church members. are given undue
sideraton. Their dollars the credentials that
win favor for them in that living Temple OF God.
which ought to be tho same to-day it was when
Christ casting from it with scourges them that
sold and bought" and overthrowing 1.-THE tables of
the money changers and the seats OF them that sold
doves" said, 1t is written. My house shall be
called the house Of prayer. but ye have
made it den Of thieves Let US for u
moment imagine the disciples OF the Saviour
standing at the doors Of that Temple and exacting
money fee the price Of admission to the
benefit of His holy teachingsi Yet our modern
churches charge for admission, like % variety show,
which some OF them, through pulpit sensationalsm
and bufooncry aud the consequent practice Of theat
rical habits. such laughter and applause by the
audience. are indeed. made to closely resemble. The
for this species OF pous backmail Is TINT the
churches would not be supported IL voluntary
tributons alone relied upon. This assertion i'm
plies that religion no longer has its seat in the hearts
OF the people which. II true, would be sad reicc-
the fidelity OF the pastors Ia the duty of con-
qucrng the hearts and minds OF those who are under
their spiritual guidance
never hear Of heavy church debt and of the ex-
traordinary means occasionally adopted to drug the
money out of the pockets of an unwilling congrega-
ton without asking myself how church can DC
Justified in mourning expenses beyond Its means.
any than an individualY Certainly the prayers
OF the righteous are acceptable to God II offered
under humble roof M they are when they ascend
from velvet covered stools through gildcd
doincs. church cheaply built can DO made
decent and and capable of accommodate
inu a large number OF persons. But this does not
nowadays satisfy the ambition of church digntaries
cicrgymen or CONGREGATIONS SO magnihcent and
costly c,iifces put up Az II the Almighty, like
savings bank trustees or those who suddenly acquire
wealth. were TO be battered and gra,ihed by brown
ston. fronts, carved ornamentation and frescocd
ceilings. II q church builds beyond its means
Al mast intend to cheat it's creditors to
wiring the money out Oh the people whether
they are willing or not This In not honest
Neither Is 1t just expedient to set exhorters to
work to squeeze money enough out OF congregations
Ia nav debts that ought to have been incurred
IL IL sin Pile nonsense to pretend that tho subscrip
ti.,ns to church debts on such occasions are made
from religious motives. Mr.. A. with unchristian
ostuntation, puts down his name for large amount
lie can afford It, and. he In purse-proud. he loves
10 let his neighbours know that he can Mrs.
insists that her husband shall give as much
a. Mr.. A has gwen. Why For the
love OF CHRISTI Alas. mol But for the love Of dis
PLAY and because the unchristan spirit of envy and
jealousy makes her resolve that Mrs. AS husband
shall not appear ON the list rs larger subscriber
than her own. Thus the reprehensible custom of
building and ornamenting churches In an extrava-
CANT manner not warranted by the means ut COM
mand for the purpose leads to the pious confidence
game OF oxtorting money from unwilling pockets
mindeansrs pride OF wealth. envy. jealousy and all
Observation-Disclosures.
Are not the c.crgymen of all denominations them
selves blame for the restless and dissatisfied feel
ing apparent among their hocksy Have they any
longer the simple. Inexpensive habits, the humility
IN ark