Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-01-15
MAMMON IN THE PEW.


A learned bishop, in commenting re-
Gently upon the change that has taken
place in the relations between the
Christian Church and the world, re-
marked that Mammon now rents a
pew and helps TO conduct the estab-
lishment. 1t would be an interesting
experiment If some one would take the
book of the Acts of the Apostles and
try, just for amusement, to imagine
how the narrative.would have read If
il had been written as record Of the
movements OF the church and the
church people nearly two thousand
years later. Tho contrast between the
condition of things when Mammon
was prosecuting the Church and when
Mammon is holding pew and help
ing to pay for the choir would, per
haps, be rather startling. Even more
interesting would be an attempt TO
conceive thepresent condition of things
as existing in the Apostolic age. Sup
pose, for example, that such record
should contain information like the
following; Peter went to Joppa to
carry the gospel to Cornelius, but up
on arriving at his destination he dis
covered that he had accidentally left
all his sermons behind him at Jerusa-
lem, and as he did not know how TO
speak extemporaneously he was oblig-
cd to postpone the intended Sunday
service until he could send and fetch
his manuscripts. The brother OF Ones.
linus came to hear Paul preach, but as
he was person of very humble birth
and all the pews upon the ground floor
were rented by wealthy people, he was
shown to back seat in the gallery.
The church edifce at Antioch cost
1875 900 two-thirds of which femain-
ed as a mortgage upon the building.
The brethren strove earnestly to
reduce the debt, and with this
intent they held fair at which
pin cushions and ice cream were sold,
and during which there was much ex-
citement over rattle for a cake. The
gold-hcaded cane, that was offered to
whichever clergyman obtained the
greatest number OF votes, was award.
cd to Paul, who had 3S1 votes, while
only 270 were given to Peter, and III
scattering. The attempt to raise the
money having, however, failed, the
edifce was sold by the Sheriff, and
was purchased by q Roman, who fitted
il up for circus. Apollos having
been attacked with a light form of
bronchitis, went to Melita for the ben
eft of his health, and the church TO
which he administered was closed all
summer, repairs being conducted in
tho interval Philip, having for many
years performed pastoral dnties faith
fully in q parish Of Ethiopia, number
of members OF the congregation grew
tired OF him and they cut down his
salary to get rid Of him. When he re-
signed, younger man was called, and
as nobody extended a call to Philip,
be was admitted to the Home tor De-
cayed Clergymen, whore he ended his
days. Paul preached at Corinth with
power and fervor, and at the conclu-
sion of his sermon he asked that a
HYMN should be sung. 1T was given
IN an artistic manner by the choir, the
solos for the soprano and alto being
unusually brilliant, while Paul was es-
pecially pleased with the extraordi-
nary leit-band playing Of the organist
during the performance Of the fiorid
accompaniment. A Gentle from Alex
andria who attempted to sing was re-
quested by the sexton not to inter
rupt the music. When Paul visited
Ephesus, he was entertained by Alex
ander the coppersmith, who, although
not believer, held a pew in the mid
de aisle of the church, belonging to
the vestry, and contributed so liberal
ly TO church objects that he was more
highly regarded than any Of the con
vcrts whose circumstances were not
; so good. Paul, while in the pulpit
+ preached with force against sin but
:, of fcoursc, carefully avoided saying any,
thing that might hurt Alexander't
, feelings. While at Lystra, Paul en-
countered cripple who had been rob
bed of the use Of his limbs by rheuma
: tism. He advised the unfortunate mar
. TO read carefully the patcnt-modicin'
advertisements in tho religious news
papers in the hope of being directed
: toward reliei.
And so forth. A narrative which
should treat such n subject in sucl
q manner might be open to
l. charge OF undue levity; but such al
accusation could not fairly be made by
| I those religious persons who approve
of the things upon which the travesty
! is based. The Christian church to-day
= sanctions, to greater or less extent
y these very things; and it is not an,
. more shocking to imagine st. Paul ap
; proving an effort to reduce a churcl
IS debt by the help OF rattle, than II il
y 10 regard the fact that such method
l. arc actually employed. The churcl
l. OF to-day is q power for good, and !
l. contains tens ofthousands Of good pco
IS pie. 1t is doing noble work and donl
J; It earnestly; but Mammon does sit il
y the pews and help to pay the expenses
+ and there are few ministers who hav'
D courage enough to stand up in the pul
3 pit and TO tell the rich sinner in th'
. pew the honest truth about bis con
l. duct. II is respectable to 60 to church
Z and those people who go because il !
n respectable, have become so ncccssar,
" M contributors 10 the expenses tia