, 1879-08-03

cares anything about the matter, it IS regarded
as an institution primarily feminine, and closely
analogous to the rite oil 5-o'clock tea There Is
hing to prevent men from dropping 10 II they
will; but the genius OF the rcpast is that OF the
drawfng-room and it's queens. So is it with the
Rtualtstic churches Of fashionable London.
Men are not prohibited from entering, and are,
indeed, occasionally known to enter; but the
proportton Of maie to female votaries is that OF
one to ten Yet these are the shrincs which are
on the increase throughout the length and
breadth OF the land. As they increase, this dis
proportion between the attendance Of the Two
sexes becomes the more conspicuous, and the
conclusion is ever emphasized anew that the
gulf between the manly intellect and the FASH
iot,abe religious faith OF ENGLAND is being stead
ily widencd.
OF whom do the fair and pious vo1aries for
the greater part consist! 1t would be 1ound,
were auy returns of the composition Of the
crowds at these places Of worship published,
that young unmarried women largelY prcdo'n1-
nate. 70 them, church-going Is often the chief
business Of existence.-a distraction, solace,
pursuit. The fact has something. more than an
ecclesiastical significance. When one is told
that young lady has taken to religion Of the
Rituallstic variety, and is seriously meditating
an Abandonment OF the poMps and yanitfes Of
this wicked world, one knows perfectly we'll
thusiasn. no deep sense OF rcvcrential awe, no
promptings Of The spiritual nature, which can
correctly be- cited as the motive cause. 1t is
not any sudden awakening to the CONSCIOUSNESS
opportunities fippantly frittered away The
Church is Sought after simply as q relief to the
unhappinrss Of home. There is no more III
tolerable incunbranee to the fashionable mother
vino fights against the advance of years
than the grown-up daughter. The girl
1>ac honr1 1rf in, fttn h1{.t.
as possible But ittt;kas been necessary Tor
her at last to come out:and take her place in the
running OF the London season. 10 the loud
parent the child becomes rival and spy, anu
there gradually commences weary series Of
maternal prosecutions, which render the life OF
their victim burden. The oppressed maiden
perhaps is delivered at once from the bondage
OF her: 7irglnity by some heaven-sent KNIGHT.
Perhaps she attempts more dangerous steps
With view OF making herself the Instrument
Of her own relief. But this relief comes very
frequently, indeed, in the shape Of the orna-
mental ministratious of the Church. Natural
emotion, cruelty checked in one quarter, insists
in expendi,tG itself III another, und the appear~
ance which IN Anglo-Catholc shrine in select
district Of the Capital presents on any ecc'eslas"
ticat festival is u puiuful commentary upon the
standard OF domestic happiness that obtains In
polite society. Add to this element the number
Of uusterc lnatrons und spinsters OF certain
age, Of enthusiasts who delight in the music, OF
ladies VINO bel1sFc IN the MISREPRESENTATION o.
church-going, and to!eraoly exhaustive anniTsls
will have been given o1 IN ordinary A1gu An
glican congregation.
This devotion to the rites ana ceremonies o1
the Church eau seldom do more tilan ind,cate
passing phase IN the deVeiopment o1 En@iisn
wonaauhood. ITS social consolatlons o1ten 1a'l
when their novelty has worn oil, or tho wor-
shipcr changes her lot, nnd the sensitive, IN.
happy girl Is merged III the practical vile anu
mother. Femlnine religion, as It Is now under
stood. is not settled state ol mioo 50 mnci. as
an accidental cxnio'con OIL 1eeil1ss. u Is oue 70