St. Paul daily globe., 1893-05-22
SNOBS IN CHURCHES.
A Timely Lecture Read to
Some Of the People You
Know
On the Society Tactics That
Are Undermining the
Churches.
The Difference Between High
Breeding and Lowest Pre-
tensions.
A Tale Told in a Style That
Requires No Naming Of
Names.

whose energies have for years been en-
when they have acquired competency,
awake to the realization of the fact that
the need of social life. which they have
hitherto overlooked is one which must
be supplied. Perhaps they were not
bred in an atmosphere of refinement,
and do not know how to acquire the
position which will enable them to
sstisfy their thirst for society. Perhaps
they may be thrust into world of
which they only dreamed before by al
liances with truly high-bred people.
| The desire seizeS them to make for
themselves place in this new realm
| and nothing so takes possession of
minds of a certain cast as the craving
for social distinction A spirit actuates
them which causes them to value peo-
| pie for what they have, rather than for
what they are. 1t is an essen
TALLY vulgar mind which gauges
peoples social worth by their
worldly possessions, their elegant
appearance, or their fashionable ac-
complishments. rather than by their
true intellectual. social or moral fibre.
| Nothing so locks and bars the doors of
| fine and elevate the spirit. l think
! social scrambler is well described by
word so vulgar as to offend the we'll
| bred, yet which seems to fill want in
| our language created by the existence
| of spirit so base that its very possess
| Ors must hang their heads iD shame to
| hear it described. Webster thus de-
| fines the word Snob: IAN affected or
pretentlous person, especially vulgar
| person, who apes gentilty or affects ln-
timacy with DISTINGUISHED persons"
Thackeray says: "a snOb is man or
woman who is always pretending to be
something better and, especially richer
or more fashionable than they are Let
US follow the course of the class of peO-
pie mentioned above, in their attempts
to elevate themselves in the social scale,
and see ii we are not justified n apply
ing this word to them. AS they
look about them they see no
which they can hope 10 realize
the results sought-Save their church.
Seemingly not thought of the desecra-
ton OF the Holy Temple enters into
their hearts. Christ drove the money
changers from the temple with words of
scathing rebuke. What will He say to
those who turn aside the holy functions
of the church for their selfish. unholy
ends? For it is their plan to use the
positions which wealth or high connec-
ton has given them in the church as
stepping-stone to recognition in general
society to which they would otherwise
not have the shadow of claim. They
begin by attempting to elevate them
selves above their fellow church mem
bers by refusing the ordinary courtesy
accorded by any real lady or gentleman
to their cook or c0achman. The naughty
demeanor which they assume will at
tract the attention of others of similar
procliyities, and clique will be formed,
its members treating with systematic
insolence those whom they wish either
to humiliate or drive from the church;
or of whom they are, for some reason,
jealous; instantly causing antagOnlSm
and spirit OF bitterness where all
should be harmony, and the spirit OF
Christ should prevail.
The members of the club will scan
new members, and if in wealth and
social standing they do not meet their
views they will ignore them ;or if uneX-
pectedly introduced, will give the aston
ished members severe rebuff for pre-
Suming to gain the altitude OF their ac-
quaintance. A perishable sealskin
cloak will do more to install lady in
the good graceS of persons of this
stamp than truly refined and Chris
tian spirit. Without recommends
tion to their favor equivalent to said
cloak, she may find herself beSet with
hold the scramblerS have gained in the
society of the church where she had
hoped to find church home and
Christian friends.
We know of a church whose evident
prosperity and the many good works in
which it is engaged would lead one to
suppose it might be power for good in
the city, if not crippled by the element
described above. Neither the eloquent
and searching gospel sermons of the
pastor, nor the beautiful Christian
spirit OF many of its members seem able
TO neutralZe this evil Influence. which
for many years past has been secretly
undermining the energies of the church.
The persons at whose door the guilt lies
do not appear to know thai their rude
manner stamps them as underbred; for
no true lady will allow higher position
in general society to influence her man
ner to those with whom she is brought
into contact in the church. An estab-
lished social position would render their
manner of asserting themselves unnec-
essary. Such persons have no acquaint-
ance with the spirit of that beautiful
motto. "Nobless9 oblige." 1t is a SEN
timent too high for them. Meat for
strong men, but milk for babes. See the
difference between such and three lovely
women whom the writer we'll remem-
bers in an Eastern state, beloging to
families of the highest social standing,
their husbands millionalres, their in
fiuence boundless. Their high privi-
leges, they appeared to think, obligated
them to the greater kiudneS to all who
came within reach of their influence,
however poor or humble. They used
their position in the Masters service,
seeking the pleasure OF others rather
rather than their own. Not the hum
blest member of the church feared to ap-
proach them, or failed of warm hand
condescention in it. Every one was
made welcome who approached them,
or visited their beautiful home. How
green is their memory in that city Like
a sweet odor are they remembered.
Their good deeds are written in heaven,
and in the hearts of the many recipi-
ents of their kindness.
If the evil spirit in such wide con-
traSt to that which characterized these
three noble women cannot be quenched
and eXtirpated from the church in
which it sows dissension. rather than
that this dead weight should continue
to swerve it aside from its true mission,
it would be better to sift it out. even if
millions of money and social pretenders
went with it. They might thus be
brought to see the awful brink upon
which they stand as regards their
eternal wqlfarn For If 10 writtap. NOf.
by whom they come"
Preachers may preach never so elo-
quently, and labor in the Masters vine
yard. and Gods word will not return
unto Him void. But in the church
where this spirit prevails no lasting re-
YiYal can be eXpected while it is toerat-