The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-07-11
SUM MER RELIGION.

The suspension of church activities
for the summer has already begun, and
many of the church members who are
most promi2 emily identified with these
activities are scattered far and wide.
There is, of course, some loss to the
churches involved in this summer va
cation for not only is the vacation
season lengthenIng every year, but an
increasingly large number IF people
leave town in the fall, winter and
spring for the south and elsewhere.
The clergy in the large city churches
ieel the effect of this constant move
ment, and they are now obliged TO con-
centrate the work # the year within a
very short period. The pleasant and
intimate relations OF parocnial life that
have obtained in country parishes are no
longer possible in the city parish,
where everything is done un1er sense
of feveriSh unrest and hurry that al
most results in making the church a
collect on OF strange and unrelated
units instead of a united band of
brethren.
1t is not, however, OF this feature of
the summer vacation that we desire
especially to speak now, but OF what
may be called the summer religion of
church members. The complex organ
ization OF the modern church is un-
doubtedly one of Its sources of
strength. The organization conserves
energy, and makes the most effective
use of individual effort. 1t brings the
otherwise aimless enthusiasm of the
members TO bear on certain well-de-
fined objects in sucn way as 10 tell
in the growth of the church. But
organization has its serious drawbacks.
1t fosters an unconscious belief in ma.
chlnery as an end rather than a mean
to an end. But most of all, it tends
to deity routine, that most deadly of
all the foes of true religion. The re-
suit of this is that when church men,
bers in summer give up for time their
connection with the organized activi~
ties OF their church they are likely to
imagine themselves freed from any
serious responsibility as religious men
| and women. We do not mean to say
that they begin to indulge in the COM
mission of any great sins but they re-
sign themselves to the more or less
| vapld life of the summer watering
place, with the consollng thought that
they are taking much needed re-
.hgious rest. They have worked hard
all wlntel in the many activities of
their church. These activities are now
suspended; perhaps the church is
closed and the pastor is enjoying a
well-earned vacation. Why should
they not do the same1
Now, it is hardly the province of
secular journal to preach a sermon,
but it does seem that few words of
suggestion are here in order. If re-
lgion means -nythIng at all, 1t means
| lifelong profession, a constant warfare
against the powers OF evil, daily ex-
ample of cody life. And no church
member can lawfully leave it behind
him in the deserted city church of
which he is a member. 1t is not
simply optional with him to put him.
self in relation with the local church of
the place where he is temporarily 90
journing it is his bounded duty to do
so. Nothing is more saddening or
more calculated to provoke the sneer
of the unbelever than the contemptu-
Gus way in which so many city church
members hold aloof from the little
country church Of the locality where
they chance to be summering. Good
men and women, who at home are
models of religious zeal, will not hest.
tate to sheer IN public at the crude
worship OF such churches and the poor
preaching of the pastor. Even to at
tend the services, much less to iden-
tify themselves with the church in any
way, outrages their 9 ithetic sensibili-
ties and so they spend their Sundays
on the hotel piazza, telling their neigh
bors what splendid preacher their
pastor is, and what fine singing they
have in their home church.
But going to church is not all of re-
ligion, either in the city or country
Religion is life, and it finds its only
adequate expression in conduct. The
Christian of the city church has a
golden opportunity to prove this in the
summer vacation, not perhaps in any
great or striking way, but in the little
matter of courtesy and consideration
for others. But alas he does not al
ways make full use Of tie opportunity
Life at the average summer resort
could be made much more beautiful
and tolerable by the infusion into it Of
, the brothtrly kindness which Christi
anlty teaches. And instead of taking
[ any part in the petty jealousieS and
, scandals and chickering's of watering
, place life, as they so often do, the city
$ church members should be the leaders
in movement to make real the prin
ciples they SO ardently profess the resi-
Of the year. "To obey is better thar
sacrifice and to hearken than the fat o.
rams."-N y Tribune.
q 1t taxes about three seconds for