The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-08-11

whose aesthetic cultivation, or affectation
OF refinement, prompts them to fret at all
apparent coarseness or rudeness in the
accompaniments of worship. They are
impatient to see all the externals of reli-
gion arranged and established according
to the purest style of art. The architec-
ture, the music, the painting and drapery.
the elocutiop and scholarship of the min
lister, and the dress and manners of the
people, are all treated as matters of prime
Importance; and they object to this or
that, not because God is less glorifed, but
because they, forsooth. are less delighted
with the performance. They dislike the
bad taste of other people so much, that
they can derive little benefit from their
privileges. According to them, religion
is worth little unless it is refined, elevated,
and beautifed according to the tastes of
the most cultivated society.
Such persons have often little suscepti-
bility of conscience, and practically say
in Church matters 81 Not thy will, but
mine be done They have great con-
tempt for the coarseness of mere scrupu-
lous and devout people, and bitterly ex-
press their disgust for the absurd views
of what they consider as inferior classes,
of the baser sort.
On the other hand, it must be confessed,
there are often found in the Church de-
vout persons whose narrow views and te-
naclty OF opinion proceed not SO much
from want of piety, as from deficiency
of taste. They are the cream of the
Church In point of reverence for the will
OF God, but, on account of their inability
to appreciate certain canons of taste, they
fall into many practical errors, and in
volve their brethren in a world of trouble.
These two classes, the aesthetic element
and the devout element, when brought
into conflict, are capable of vast amount
OF agitation. The only remedy for the
evil is that the former shall be induced
to cultivate more Christian humility in
the school of the Publican, and the latter
persuaded that bad taste is not one of the
fruits OF the Spirit. But the principal
moral is this: The peace and purity of
the Church ought to be in the keeping of
those who enjoy, in the first place, vital
spirituality of mind, but who add thereto
a respectable degree of aesthetic cultiva-
ton. When the great interests of the
Redeemers kingdom fall into the hands
OF plous men without delicacy and refine
ment, the danger is that the Church will
unnecessarily repel from it those classes
which are the hardest to reach. But
when the other element acquires an un-
due ascendency, the danger is still greater
that the Church will be conformed to the
world. The poor, the ignorant, the de-
spised classes will gradually withdraw
from an organization in which human art
is more appreciated. than the Christian
graces.
The worship of God is for the glory of
God. Conscience, therefore, must control
everything in the Christian Church. Our
personal likes and dislikes are nothing in
comparison with this highest principle.
But it is obvious that the suggestions of
good taste are worthy of consideration on
the part of those who administer the af-
fairs of the spiritual kingdom. The tares
should not be rudely torn up by the roots,
lest the wheat itself should suffer.
j. A. w.