The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-28
A Vulgar Device.

The device OF a Presbyterian minister
| Of Brooklyn to draw young men to his
church by employing young women as
ushers may be artful, but is IL proper and
| consistent
In tho earlier centuries Of Christianity,
the fourth and fifth for instance. the Church
| repressed the display OF feminine beauty. as
| q sinful provocation. Women were kept
| apart from men in the houses Of worship;
| they were debarred from holding offices in
| the Church. unless as sisters of mercy; they
| were admonshed to conceal their physical
charms from the sight Of men. and they
were compelled to hold their peace in tho
assemblies Of the faithful. So too in recent
times some preachers have warned them Of
the danger to their own souls and to the
souls of their brethren involved in their
instructive use Of their attractions; but in
general this insult to womanhood. and this
contemptuous treatment OF the greatest
blessing Heaven has conferred on man.
have lost all religious sanction. The major
ity Of the worshippers at the churches are
women. and usually they are in their best
array on Sunday.
1t is also true that in the Protestant
churches. moro especially. the attendance OF
men is very largely induced by women.
Husbands go to church to please their
wives, and lovers TO strengthen themselves
in the esteem Of plous swcc.hcarts. After
service. there is often line OF young
men ranged along the cUrbstone in front
of n house Of worship. all deeply interested
in the procession Of feminine beauty us it
issues from the doors OF tho temple. and
all hopeful of awakening responsive emo
tions in the breasts OF the fair ones. In
the country. the motive which induces very
many young fellows to so to church is the
hope of getting u chance to walk home
with pretty girl after the season OF
prayer. The Same incentive will lead them
to teach in Sunday school. and more espc-
ciGlly to join the choir. for tho evening re-
hearsals afford delightful opportunities in
tho going and the coming.
The only social organization in many
rural communities is the village church.
and its vitality depends on women. II they
abandoned it. it would fall into speedy de-
cay. The church fairs, the camp meetings,
and the religious summer schools could not
exist without feminine support. and the
consequent attraction Of masculine inter- |
est The Christian Endeavor movement |
gus ltS liipulSo from young women. II |
they dropped away from the army. it would |
be disbanded: for the young men would be |
bound to go with them. The torch OF re-
ligious zeal is kept lighted by feminine
faith and devotion.
The employment Of girls rs ushers at a
church for the avowed and premedltated
purpose OF attracting young men by the
force OF their natural charms Is another
matter. 1t is like having pretty barmaids
and pretty waiter girls to stimulate the
custom Of saloons and restaurants and is
not intrinsically different from the theatre
cal displays of feminine grace presented
Tor the attraction OF men. It is making
confession that the church cannot stir
masculine religious emotions. and must
resort to tricks. and make use OF the power
Of feminine beauty as the magnet. 1t may
hot be sinful. it Is not sinful: but it is not
,ongruous with a church which should
appeal to the spiritual part OF man. 1t is
vulgar. and consequently injurious to tho
pretty girls who are put to use as dccoys,
With the distinct understanding and tho
published announcement that they are en-
,loyed for that purpose. 1t is degrading
he influence uncOnsciously exercised in the
hurch by feminine picty.