The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-21
TIE RELIGIOUS CLnRS.

THE RELIGIOUS CLUBS.
Mr. Benjamin Williams business manager of
81 Thomns's Church. deserves and will probably
attain lasting fame for the honest and absolute
imnlnoss with which he express cs his views on
the business end Of church management In this
city
Mr.. Williams + undoubtedly truthful in his re.
marks and correct In his somewhat sacrileglous
view that II Christ himself appeared at st. Thorn
ass In poor clothing such as Mr.. Williams cArrcot.
~ says our Lord wore on earh--lIc would be I'M
welcome unless He had paid Insisting In advance.
The truth Is the fashionable churches Of New
York are not churches In the common sense Of the
word, but merely religious clubs to which II Ger.
tain number Of rich families belong. TO secure
pew In such churches implies close scrutiny into
wealth and social position, and to hold It implies
almost NJ heavy assessments as 10 secure and hold
an opera box.
THIS Is All right by what right rs Mr. Williams
Justly observes, do people who cannot pay market
rates for salvation expect reserved seats for which
Others have pnid2 What difference does II make
that these seats are cmpty'two Sundays out Of
three? How can church more than thcater be
expected TO give TO othos seats which may be
wanted by patrons who have paid for thom7 But
while the rights Of religious clubs must be sus-
tanned, even AT the expense Of Christianity why
should these clubs claim exemption ms churches
from taxatlOn2 Genuine churches, open alike 10
rich and poor, should not De taxed. But oil So
called churches which sell their pews aud form
locnl religious monopoly should pay as high rates
Of taxation ~ does any other business or club.
llerc IS chnnce for some legislator to distinguish
himsciG-NO0 York Hrdd
II the cold-boodcd business.like state
mcnt Of Sexton Williams, thus so Justly
commented upon, was read and explained
to a Musselman, whose religion is in.
corporate in his being, and who every
day turns his face TO the east, no matter
where lac may be, at the hour Of prayer,
and, knocling, makes his acknowledge
mcnt to God, what would lac say-what
could hc2 II the Buddhist, to whom his
religion is an incorporate part of his con-
science, had this read and explained to
him, what would he, what could he, say2
lie TO whom the templcs-as the mosques
10 the Moha mmcdan-are freely opened,
and TO whom worship is largely the act
Of contemplation? These could not
understand an exclusive place Of worship
No more could the Greek or the Roman
Catholics of continental nations. 1.-THE
groves were Gods first temples" Christ
alwayspreached in the open air lie wasnot
exclusive. Far from it, The only in.
stances in his ministry when IIs
made any nllusion TO class was when
lie snid 'the poor yo always have
with YOU" and when lie delivered
the parable IN TO the difficulty the rich
man controlled by sclfshness and worldli-
ncss) WIS 10 encounter in attempting TO
enter the Kingdom Of Heaven. The con
grcgation Of st. Thomas's, as described by
their sexton, seem TO be Of this category
OF the seldshly rich, puding themselves
first ON their wealth. since he eonicsscs
that they are governed by appearances;
that clothes with them make the man or
the woman, and that oven Christ Himself
would not bo welcomed in His poor
apparel unless lie paid for Ills pow in
adyance-thnt Is, purchased II through q
second person whose appearance satisfied
the congregation or their representa-.
tiycs. Nothing Is 80 calculated TO
bring Christianity into contempt "a this.
The priests Of the Church militant
are constantly giving out assurances that
II was intended to be, and should be or.
ganizcd after the model Of the Church
triumphant, wherein God is no rcspcctcr
81 persons. hut here We have a division
or section Of that Church, organized aud
conducted after the most worldly and
arisiocratic fashion, the principal require.
mcnt being social position money and
good clothes. What a travcsty Is this
upon the religion Of the meek aud lowly
man who cautioned Ills disciples not TO
concern themselves about scrip ~ ralnicnt,
aud who described Himself as mo-, having
a place to lay Ills head. st. Thomas
Church, New York, Is evidently merely
holy clubhouse, the members OF which
take stock In salvation as they do In rail-
roads, rolling-mlls or banks. Il is, aud
all churches similarly Organized are mere
mockcrics Of the Church called Christian.
They are not even likcncsscs, they are Of
the world worldly. Their architecture. fur.
uiturr, decorations, allan,, carpets, music
and service being 10 many appeals to the
cultivated eyes and cans Of congregation
that Is dead to the one great tenet Of
Christi "lhc brotherhood oi man aud the
iathvrhood Of God"