Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-25

gambling Christians OuSnt 10 % uo1 onAS
consistent but they ought to avoid setting
bad example in matter of SO much
gravity.
CASTE IN THE CHURCH.
Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles ex-
ercise dominion over them, and they that are
GREAT exercise authority upon them. But it
shall not be so among you: but whatsoever wall
be great among you, let him be your minister.
MATTHEW Xxx: 25-26.
There is nothing that SO retards the pro-
gress of the Christian church so much as
the spirit of aristocracy that has sprung up
within it. There is no doubt but Christ de-
signed his church to be pure democracy, IN
which all men should be upon an equality
in which all should receive the same privi-
leges and the same treatment. He offered
salvation to the poor as well as the rlch' to
the low as we'll as to the high-born. Yet in
the church we find as many sets-as great
stress laid upon caste-as We do IN fashion
able society. It is conspicuous in every
house of worship on the Sabbath and at the
prayer and conference meetings and at the
social gatherings; it is prominent IN the
treatment the members receive from
their pastor and in the consld-
GRAFTON they show for each other. Ask
any poor man or woman why they do not
attend church, and the reply will almost in
variably be: "We do not care to be sub
jected to slight in the house of the Lord.
When we 90 we are made to feel our pow
erty more keenly than on any other day OF
the week, and therefore we stay away" The
richly upholstered pews, the costly frescoes
and furniture are all hint to the poor man
that his presence is not wanted, for none
have right to the enjoyment OF these
Injuries unless they help to pay for them.
The extravaganza in dress that pervades all
church assemblies also tends to keep many
away from the ministrations of the gospel.
A woman whose husband cannot afford to
dress her in silks and velvets and bedeck her
with costly jewelry does not care to make
himself conspicuous by contact with her
weather. neighbors, and consequently is
obliged to remain at home or spend the Sab
bath in the parks or groves about the city.
Nor is she to be blamed, for it is not in
human nature to seek to be placed in an I'M
favorable light when it can be avoided.
Take any of the churches of st. Paul and
watch the congregation as it comes In and
passes out. Men and women in fashionable
attire march up the aisle with great pomp
and dignity, their clothes rustling and their
jewels flashing, deigning to look neither to
the right nor the left, and take the most con-
spicuous selts in the edifce. Those of hum
bier means enter quietly, waiting in the
vestibule until the ushers have obsequiously
seated the richly attired attendants, when
they enter. With an impatient gesture they
are motioned to an obscure seat, and left tc
hear, if they can, the words that drop from
| the preachers lips. When the service is
over they are glad to hurry out and away
from the sacred edi6ce lest their common
garments should brush too closely those Of
the fashionables and provoke invidious com
PARSONS. Unless they are more than usually
aevout they must feel the difference between
them and their neighbors, and as conse
quence the service has lost its capacity fo1
good to them.
In every part of the church there is az
aristocracy that makes itself especially obi
Gus. The main purpose of those who belong
to it seems to be to Guido each other and tn
rest of the world in their display of fnery
They pass the humber members of tn
church with look of contempt, or glance
of Indifference, and seek by every means il
their power to show their own superiority
and to humiliate others. The merchant o
} real-estate shark holds high head as he en-
ters the sanctuary, and on emerging has n
kindly saiutation or word of welcome for tn
poor clerk, or bookkeeper, or mechanic
whom he encounters. Only for his ow
caste does he seem to care. The min
lister, as he descends from the pulpit, has
cordial grasp of the. hand and host of in
quiries as to their welfare for the men an
women of wealth, but only cool, forms
recognition for the man who earns his Twin
by pursuing humble vocation.
This spirit of caste is wholly out of plac
in the Christian church. It is entirely 8
variance with the spirit that actuated Chris
when he was on earth. He established
democracy; his professed followers seem
bs seeking to make of the church ali arii
tocracy into which none but those Of wealt
and high social position can enter. The
are succeeding admirably in their endeavo
} for poor man breads to enter the fashion
| able Protestant churches of the present da,
It is almost impossible for the poor to hav
. the gospel preached unto them, though
was intended that they, rather the rict
\ should derive comfort from it. We do nc
, expect to see social distinctions abolishe
: wholly in the church, but true piety woul
seem to dictate that these distinctions b
made as little observable as possible in th
4 house of God. Modesty in attire and
!, more cordial fraternity ought to preva
9 among brethren and sisters of a commo
. faith. The equality of brethren is too ofte
9 lost sight of entirely, and instead of con
b munion of spirit there is rigid ostracisr
+ that is fatal to the growth of the church.