The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-16
SIS Christianity n Faiiure."


for no other reason than because the doubt
implied in such title is calculated to
arrest attention. The letter from which we
take it has a kind of sardonic earnestness
which is not disguised and is but slightly
obscured by the hippant levity of style
which seems to rs out of keeping with so
important, and, we may be pardoned for
saying, so tremendous a subject.
The longer of the two communications is
couched in language more betting the
gravity of such a discussion. So far as the
writer refers to facts of general notoriety his
statements are sufficiently definite and per-
fectly Ineligible; but he touches upon
some other matters in so vague and general
way as to excite a wish that he had de-
scended to particulars and given names
dates and circumstances. He is evidently
writing from knowledge, but he raises more
curiosity than he thinks it prudent to satisfy.
He seems to US to tread with the eau
tious steps of thoroughly earnest
and sincerely religious man, who is in
possession of information which has been
impaired to him in confidence and whose
indignant sense Of what is due to the inter.
ests of Christianity impels him to go to the
very verge Of the obligation imposed upon
him by the confidential sources of his in
formation. There must, OF course, be per-
sons who know in detail the facts
which this correspondent states with
the omission of names, dates and
identifying circumstances. Those per-
sons will, Of course, see that they
are aimed at. The accusations which are
so enigmatical to the general public will
which are limited at in the quotation from
our correspondents letter, which we here
insert, will be perfectly Ineligible both to
the erring clergyman inculpated and to his
ecclesiastical superiors, who have mis-
takenly shielded him from exposure. The
correspondent who signs his letter can
Fashioned Christian" says
1t is common nowadays to discover revolving i'm
morality beneath the sacred robes, Notwithstanding
the that many such offences meet the light
of day, but are hidden and concealed sometimes for
the sake of shielding the character of the Church,
and sometimes it is to bo feared, because the supc
riors OF the offending ministers know their frail
ties and fear to provoke exposure by the punishment
of subordinates This is certainly grave assertion,
but it is neither made recklessy without pain.
] am personally cognzant Of such unfortunate cases,
and | might cite one in particular which involves
clergyman who recently made himself very conspcu-
Gus by thrusting himself before the public in
marked manner. Charges of gross immortality
made against this person, substantiated
by the afiidavits OF parties of unmpeacha-
bic integrity and established character. yet the
only satisfaction degned by the superior of the ac.
cused i'll the Church all exclamation of this i'm
port:-"Why do you want TO hound this poor fellow
to dcathy' Certainly this rebukc, coming from a
high Church dignitary, was not encouraging to
gentleman who, in the conscientious discharge of his
duty as u Christian, impeed to bring to the
notice OF the Church the immortality of minister to
whom is inrusted the responsibility of the religious
training and guidance of young people. The poor
fellow" remains undisturbed i'll his calling to this
day, and no action has been taken on the charges
brought against him on the plea that expose would
scandaze the Church. As If church could bear
any deeper disgraceful scandal than attaches
to the conformation of gross immortality on the part
of one OF its ministers at whose feet young knees are
bent to seek enlightenment and guidance III their
religious duties!
We take no special interest in the case
here cited. We do not doubt that clerical
immoralities are sometimes hushed up in
all denominations, from mistaken notion
that the Church should be protected against
scandals whenever concealment is practi-
cable. But the exposures OF similar clerical
immoralities are so frequent and make SO
large u figure in the current news from year
to year as to make it entirely credible that
there is residue of such cases which are
never brought to light. The numerous and
scandalous offences of clergymen against
sexual morality are but one symptom
of disease which has seized upon
all the churches, both Protestant
and Catholic The undisguised symp-
30. Oh,
carefully hidden when concealment is
possible. Our principal churches are mere
temples of fashion. Seats in these sump-
tuous edficcs cost thrice and in many cases
tentold the price OF seats at the opera, and
the display of dress would humiliate the
poor even if the sittings were free. The
declaration of the Saviour that "the poor
have the gospel preached unto them" has
become obsolete in most American cities.
Even in the Catholic communion, which
has heretofore been regarded as the refuge
of INDECENT worshippers. practice has
arisen of exacting an admission fee,
AS if Divine service were a mere
popular entertainment, standing on
the same level as theatre or
musical concert. Ali the dread realities
of religion seem 10 have evaporated from
these fashionable entertainments, with their
display of dress and pride, which have boen
substituted for the devout and humble wor-
ship of the common Father Of all Chris
tians.
But while recognizing, as truth compels
us to do, the substantial truth of the repre-
sentations made by our correspondents, we
must be permitted to doubt whether mere
exposures OF the dilapidated state Of our
existing Christianity are calculated to do
much good. Are not such exposures rather
fitted to discredt religion and to confirm
scoffcrs and sceptics in their opinion that
religious professions are deceitiul cloak
Vital Christianity will never be revived by
holding up false Christians to scorn.