The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-04-10
VANITY IN CHUkCHES.
Choice Seats for the Wearers OF Jew
eiry md Fine clothes.

cry nhO Fine tIOthes.
Philadelphia Times.
"The influence OF jowelry and fine clothes
in the seating Of people in churches was the
subject of an interesting sermon delivered
in Ebenezer church, Christian street, near
Third, last evening by the pastor, Rev. VIII
liam Downey. The speaker began by say.
ing that many men were raised up in their
own estimation by the worldly goods they
possessed, but poverty or wealth makes q
man neither base nor noble.
There are so.caled christians in church
es who show particular respect and
great attention to people simply be.
cause they wore broadcloths, silks aud Jew.
els, but do no. pay the slightest attentoa to
persons who are more hLmb.y clad. Even
in the early days Of Christianity rich man
in fine rament WAS handed to the best seat
i'll church, while poor man was PLACED in a
back seat on his wealthier brothers footstool.
This is not uncommon to-day in many
churches | have seen so much attention
paid to richly dressed people in church, and
80 little courtesy extended to the poor tina,
my hair has fairly risen It is often forgot
ten tLst poorly dressed man may be intelli.
gent, wise and good, while the rich one has
no higher ambition than to stand before d
looking glass or twirl his cane as he sauners
along Chestnut street. My soul has often
been kindled by this wrong attention to an.
pearsnces in Gods places of worship. Some
men who have Gods houses in charge are
70 hn rin hat ~, lo
come sycophsnts and slur over the evil
of worshipping broadcloth and jewe.ry. In
this age many ministers do not like to
accuse the rich members of their congreg,
ton Of sinfuiness and consequently their
sinfulness is in great degree passed over.
Oh, that the day will come when the pulpit
will be free from such influences! There
are not few young men who depend upon
their tsilors to make them noble and there
are not few young women who expect
same for them; but warn them all that o
soul can never DO made noble by means.
Some young men think they can only he
noble by wearing the latest Q yle hat or the
mos: fa. 'nnably cut coat and many young
wome ace the same dependence on
handsome dresses. Such people will never
BIO truly noble and yet am sorry to say the
church in many respects helps TO propagate
this false and evil idea of nobility by paying
too great attention and reverence
to fine attire. Then this evil of
dress and show breeds discomfort,
for poor man on going to church
cannot help noticing tina! the rich have
specisl attention psid to them, while he is
neglected. 1t is not natural that this should
make him merrier. Many father Is kept
working and slsving from Monday morning
until Saturday night barely taking time
enough to eat his meals, in order that hs
daughter may wear dress like some ore
else. Another man slaves all the week in
order that his family may make a good sp-
pearance on Sunday. Oh, am afraid many
man ia bankrupt trying to dress his children
and family AS we'll as tire relatives of some
rich neighbor. From all this it may clearly
be seen that fac clothes and jewelry have q
tendency 10 keep many people out OF church.
Go among the poor in the snaler streets and
alleys and sec their condition. jesus died
for them AS wei "a for those who are richer
in worldly possessions. What can DO done
with themg Some will say, open mission
church, where they Can worship with them.
selves and feel comfortable. But that is not
the doctrine cur Saviour taught. On, may
the spirit # Christ take hold of Ill men and
women, rich aud poor. 'waled aud un.
jeweled, aud msy they all u treated alike in
OiIr phurrhpa