New-York tribune., 1896-05-15

cor fifteen miles In another direction. I'll venture
..to saw that the congregation would not fall on
"in numbers" In this house it Is proposed 10
have n short. attractive service specially suited
TO the wheelmen The nature OF the ritual ls
not revealed. but If the Rev Mr. Ford's example
were TO be followed. a stationary bicycle might
be substituted for the bishops seat, the chor
boys might be clothed in knickerbockers ana
sweaters and in place Of crosses ana alpnas
and omegas the stained-gass windows might
be adorned with symbolic saddles, pedals anu
brakes. Then there is the chance for appropri-
ate adaptations Of the hymn-book. John Henry
Newman's splendid hymn could not fail to touch
the hearts Of wheemen If sung:
Wheel, Kindly Light. along lfes cycle path,
Wheel Thou me on! .
The road Is rough, have discerned Thy wrath
But wheel me on
Then to complete the harmony or the whole
arrangement, let the Church Club look carefully
about for suitable clergyman, and make no
mistake about getting one with wheels In his
head.
Now a bicycle Is legitimate vehicle OF travel
for saint and sinner. 1t Is by no means an In
appropriate carriage to go to church on. 1t Is
as fitting that storage-rOom for wheels should
be provided at church. II that will contribute
to the convenience of attendants, as that sheds
for horses should be supplied. But, in all ser-
business. Is it not bringing Christianity into con-
tempt for church people to be adapting" their
services and their places Of worship to craZes
and sweetenng religion to the taste of indiffer-
ent or unwilling appetites by serving it as q
tibt at the end of a sporting dinner! instead
of having religion for BARRIERS and cyclists and
butchers and blacksmiths, II might be worth
while to have religion for men and women.
The Brooklyn Church Club can do better than
strive to meet the wheelmen half way In their
recreation. 1t can take means to present spir-
itual truth with such force and reality That
whcelmen will leave their wheels long enough
10 listen 10 II. If they now prefer bicycles to
preaching, it Is because preaching does not hold
them by the only means that preaching ever can
really hold men-by touching their. souls and
Quckcnlng their consclences, not by giving them
sensations and panderng 10 their secular tastes.
Imagine Chrysostom preaching to the chari-
oteers Of the circus as they exercised their
stceds. or Peter the Hermit stirring up
crusade at the end Of a hawking ride The hui
man heart is the same it ever was and is
as ready To respond 10 him that appeals to it
with earnestness and insight and spirituality.
But 1t Will not respond TO anything less. and 1t
ought not to respond to anything less When
the Church has no hold on men. whether they
ride bicycles or walk barefoot, it will be when
il deserves to have no hold upon them. Chris
tlanity Is to-day great living force through
the lives of men who have a knowledge of the
hearts of other men and can bring light to their
spiritual darkness, not because 1t makes itself
n convenient stopping place for pcasure-serk-
ers Barber churches and bicycle churches may
bc Of profit 10 mountcbnnks, but they will not
do much TO help the Lord find faith at His
coming.