The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-01-12
For the Central Presbyterian.
The Slavery of Fashion.


MeSSrs. Editors,-I have read with
great satisfaction and high appreciation
the forcible and pointed articles that
have appeared from time to time in your
editorial columns, setting forth the folly
and sinfulness of worldly conformity in
several of its phases. The cogent reason
ing and the home thrusts of these articles,
sometimes very brief, have'been we'll cal
culated to reach the conscience. Allow
me to add few words in this same gen
eral line of thought.
The tendency of the age is to increased
expensiveness in the style of living. Peo-
pie want finer houses than formerly, and
these must be garnished with the most
expensive and snowy furniture. Costly
dresses are bought; expensive jewelry is
worn; and the appointments of the house
demand large outlay. Christians are
so dazed by this glare of the style and
fashion demanded by the world, as to be
led along with the multitude blindly-
whether that blindness be mental or
moral. So complete is their conformity
to the rid in expanding their means for
Selt-indulgence and vain show, that reli-
gion seems scarcely to mark distinction
IN this phase of worldliness between them.
selves and those who are not Christ's.
Look at few of the glaring evils that
result. Many more suggest themselves.
Mind and heart are diverted from,
noble Christian aims to that which is de-
grading. Ii Christians ape the world,
with its ever changing fashions its dissi-
pating style of life, its extravaganza out
Iou net -
the energies of mind and heart which
they have solemnly consecrated to God,
to be employed in his worship, in spirit
ual elevation, and in active usefulness.
Even though child of God may have
means ample enough to meet these de-
mands, he can not comply with them,
without having his thoughts turned into
this channel and his affections enlisted
He can not move in this poisoned murky
atmosphere, and draw the breath of life
from higher and purer region. That
they who have their position in this life
should devote themselves to the world
is not strange, however wicked it may
be; but how humiliating to see Chris
tan, whether rich or poor, striving to
comply strictly with the demands of fash
ion, or to take leading position in what
is called, by perversion of the word
society" Such slavery is destructive
OF noble Christian purposes, and is de-
grading to child Of God and an heir of
glory.
Many are induced to Ave beyond their
means. The demands of the world ex-
coed their income. The man who has
five hundred dollars year wishes to live
like his neighbor whose income is a thou
sand, or to crafty his family in their
wish so to live; he who has thousand
aspires to the style of him who has two
thousand; and so on to the millionaire
Their tastes for worldly style and their
habits of luxurious indulgence exceed or
out grow their fortunes. Many thus be-
come seriously burdened with debts, and
are harrassed in devising ways to meet
or it may be to avoid their obligations
Not unfrequently reckless and ruinous
speculation is the fruit of thirst for the
means of extravagant living.
Some become bankrupt, leaving their
debts unpaid Not every failure in for
tune is sinful; but surely we must so
characterize that which results from fol-
lowing the world in a mode OF living too
expensive for ones income Every such
failure brings reproach upon religion.
Moreover it. causes loss to confding
friends. and often suffering to the needy.
The substance Of the poor dependant,
the money due him, has been wasted in
fashionable living, and he is left to suf-
fer for ordinary comforts. The professed
Christians vice has defrauded his neigh
Dor.
He does not pay his debts aOhen he be-
gins to recaperate his fortune. He who
has failed from the cause indicated lie
rarely willing to come down to the posi-
ton of poor man. A plain house, plain
dress for himself and family, plain style
of living, are not consistent with the
vicious tastes that controlled them be-
fore, and they have not been throttled in
their downfall, but still hold the mastery
What is now made by labor and skill,
instead of going to the honest payment
of debts, is used to keep up appearances.
The moral nature has become degraded
below that point, at which men have the
independence to live according to their
circumstances
Many are practically ercJuded from the
house Of COL What is neat and becom-
ing in dress, does not satisfy the fashion
able world even in the house Of God
where by act they confess themselves
worms of the dust cravin0 rnercv Fvan