Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-09-10
MEMPHIS APPEAL
:: SEPTEMBER 10, 1ss:
MELANCHOLY RELIGION.

MELANCHOLY RELIGION.
Less than half a century ago man was
not considered religious unless he looked as
solemn as the obelisk in the country grave
yard. Piety was thought to be much nat
ter Of looks-a bundle of emotions cemented
with tears and sancti6ed by groans. Melan-
choIiness made people orthodox, and cheer
fuIness was rank heresy. The exuberance
Of youth was regarded as total dePravity,
and & cold, .sanctimonious cruelty was prac-
ticed in the name Of religion. Sunday was
shut down upon the youthful reprobates
like an extinguisher on an old-fashioned tai
low candle. All light was squeezed out OF
the heart. Men attended church as they
would funeral. The sermons plunged into
the birthstone fires of bell, and the congre-
cation resembled q convention OF undertake
ers. All kept their eyes on the lat deacon
in iron spectacles and puckered their faces
into all sorts of shape in trying
to assume his awful solemnity, and
when the bewigged man who car
Tied the tuning-iork in his vest POCKET
sounded the keynote for the choir, composed
Of creaked and cracked voices, many re-
garded its use az wicked and sIntul.
In those days the besrdless apostles
thought that piety consisted in cant, and
monkish solemnity and severity. In the
zeal OF new converts and tyros they forgot
that vice, and not the innocent smusemenis
of life, is the proper object OF pulpit criti-
cism. Ii is as curious as true that among
our aged pastors, men whose years confer
authority. whose whitened locks and blame
less lives and congratulated character
give them right to speak with all The
authority Of experience and virtue, even
then as now presented religion 10 the neauti-
ful and aIIuring garb Of chaste and innocent
viyacity. AS drawn by their pencils religion
eBjoirss no -tripcs or sackoloth, nor call Tor
any sacrifices at her shrine, but those OF
vice and immortality. Experience teaches
tha, mankind must have amusements
or they will indulge vice., and that
by making religion too sad and melancholy
IL becomes irksome. 1t is folly to rail against
all that adorns, embellishes and sweelens the
leisure hours of an existence, which at best
is but succession of lsbors. The world
cannot be made better by looping away its
flowers of cheerfulness. But the old-fash-
Toned religion which consisted much in
solemnity and signs long drawn out has
given place to a rational religion. From the
dungeon doors of intolerance the vines Of
nationality have found light and air through
the cracks and crevices-the roses OF tolera-
ton are budding and blooming, and soon the
world will be perfumed with their fragrance.
Away off on the Pacific coast a leading
minister has caught the progressive spirit Of
the age. In recent sermon DR.. Frederick
R. Murrin, of Portland, Or, said:
There are spiritual thumb-screws in this world |
and Of them is religious austerity, ecclesias
teal melancholy. And still another instrument
Of conversion by torture is the constant threat ana
fear OF peTdition. No man was, or ever will be, |
frightened into the kingdom of heaven. The fear |
OF nell may restrain men from crime ana compel l
outward observance OF all the laws OF morality, |
but nothing short of the grace Of God in the hu- /
man heart Will actually chal5 e the sinner into
saint. never like 70 see melancholy religion; il
Impresses me as barn-door cast upon bed OF |
roses. We want all the sunshine we can have; We /
can never have too much OF it. 1 see christians
with long faces and fearful voices advertising the
gospel as a grleyous athlcuon, a burden ana a
WEAKNESS OF the flesh ! know that all their melan
choly is sheer nOnsense-worse than that-hypocn-
~. What sings the psalmisI: Let them that love
Thy name be joyful in 1hee;" my soul shall be
JOYFUL III the Lord" Serve the Lord with glad !
In Him that made him Let the children of Zion
be joyful in their King let them praise him in the
dance '.Iu the dzncel'' think of that; why, l |
know some christian men and women who regard
dancing about the most wicked thing on earth
you can no more rid their minds of that idea than
you crn take the kink out OF a melancholy chris |
lian' face. Praise God for the sunshine and the
blue sky above US, for the flowers and trees, aud |
for all nature, animate and inanimate; for the |
dear friends who walk beside us, and for the |
blessed ones who await our coming on the other
shore.
This is rational, thinking religion, which
axes a cal and trustfuI view of life and |
duty. There is nothing 10 it inconsistent
With the strong, useful and noble manhood,
,r which indicates unenlightened enthusl-
Ism. Because the jackdaw caws upon the
teeple it is not religious bird, and the
olemniiy and melancholy moroseness OF
nen Is more the result Of misanthropy and
iliousness than piety.