New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-11
PERIPATETIC CHRISTIANS.

this year that the whole social world was early
agog. Everybody is shifting his base. Eastern
people scatter to Europe, to the sea border to
the great West, and Westerners are cIowding
into the baking half depopulated cities they
have left Neighborhoods and families fly
! apart ike the bits of pin-wheel when the
match Is applied. Church members or that
class technically called Christians, 20 of course
with the rest, and as THE TRIBUNE follows
them everywhere, while their pastor does not,
it proposes to give them q hint or two as to
what outsiders will expect of them in their holi-
day.
By this time, no doubt they have found
out that it is not their lvers or lungs alone that
are affected by the change of ground. That IN
visible flame or essence, which they are used to
call soul or conscience, does not exhibit quite
the same symptoms that it did at home, or per-
baps they do not diagnose its case quite so
often. 1t is singular indeed how a slight change
of ground shakes us up in character so that we
hardly recognize our familiar selves. The
reason is that we have left not only our houses
behind but that SOLID ground of routine which
underies and makes up more of a mans life
than he knows, particularly if he have not much
original force-the daily habits of thought, of
petty duties and incident. Now il the Chris
tianity of these church members has come to
be a matter more Of habit than an actual moving
force, If it is a going to church, a making set
prayers, giving to missions, an incessant out
pouring of a piOus wash of platitudes which
has not drop of the water of life in it for any
thirsty soul, now is the time when they will
find it out. Nobody in these strange places
4J,c.r III fhoxr ha~ IN
prove IT, They cannot do it, as a home, by the
place they hold in Doctor Blanks church, nor
by their yearly subscriptions 1t will be done
by their behavior at table, by their temper,
their manner, their talk.
Or, ii may be that they belong 10 that vast
number Of professors who are not used to bring
their faith down to ilumine these petty, every
day matters, Religion is an affair with them of
reason, of high doctrines. They are devout
Presbytcrians, Catholics, Churchmen. They
will find that they have little opportunity while
travelling to disclose their sect, but every look
OF word betrays their spiritual condition. You
may live months with man and not know
whether he believes in Pope or Presbyter, but be
cannot speak to his dog without showing You
whether he is q Christian or not. Church mem
bcrs think they are only going to the Branch
or farmhouse for their health but they really
are putting themselves before the bar CT public
opinion. and they viii be apt to hear the vcrdiyt
in some shape or ether before the Summer is
over. Wives, children, even uCigiibors, are
partial Judges. II leading member of the
church is peevlsh tyrant at home or a mig
gardly fellow, if he has paid 1.-THE of the mint
and anIsa of public prayer and pew-rent, and
o,loo yoJ h. i,rb+ flor Of law
Judgment, mercy and truth, he may still keep
his place as deacon OF yostryman among his
owa people. But every stranger, though n
sham himself, knows the sham Christian at Il
glance.
Not only will the traveller be startled by the
effect which he produces upon Others, but by
the effect which his holiday produces upon
himself. One of the first and most singular re-
suits of his change of ground will probably be
that from a somewhat silent man he suddenly
develops tremendous talent for talking.
There is more talking done and less said in the
months of July and August than i'll all the rest
of the year. The whole nation is afflicted
with the talking fever, partly because every
man is out on n holiday, and every man has
new audience. The old stories the stale opinions,
the dogmas at which wife and children yawn,
are brought ont to win applause. 1t is q mighty
temptation, and the traveller will be apt TO yield
to il. 4 man Is wiling to own that he cannot
draw. cannot carve a turkey, cannot write IA
book but every man knows that he can talk;
give him the right audience and he is a master
Of expression on any subject whatever. If
the church memJer once joins the wordy con-
test like the others. he will end by throwing
open every door of his mind until everybody
can see how vacant il is. Verbiage has its usual
demoraizing effect on him. The first day he is
voluble but good-natured, the next COM
placent. the third conceited and malicious So
the devil comes in and takes possession. 1t
viii not do only to fight him back at the great
portculls gates; he Is no less in when he
sneaks through drain or a leak.
Neither must the Christian visitor neglect his
opportunities for hearing sermons, prayers. and
praise such as are not to be had at home. Eric
ton with other people is an active lesson of
charity and breadth of thought such as no cler-
gynan can preach. He has always been reused
to devotion by the beauty of the church build
ing at home, the cOlored glass windows, the
carved pulpit, the organ and choir. Now he
comes into the great temple where David and
Job and the Master Himself wor shipped. He is
alone with God in the woods. The birds hymn
His praises, the sea answers, and all the morn
ing stars sing together. He feels guilty if he
stays away from service and sermon at home.
How can he turn his back on this great church
which God has built, and on all its summons to
new and purer life than he has known
Alone with nature, once in the year, it is the
time beyond all others TO salute himself, and
see what his soul doth wear"
THE STARVATION COMEDY
1t may be safely predicted that starvation
matches against time will never be highly popular