The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-04
THE SUMMER TYPE OF RELIGION.
Somewhat Relaxed I'm Fervency, but
More Reflective.
New York Observer.

New York Observer.
Religion, like everything. else, has its diff
ferent types. The spirit of the thing is one
and indivlsible, but the systems vary.
Some of these types are natural pecullaIl-
ties explainable on the basis of climatic,
racial or social differences, while others are
mere acquired artificialities of view or
practice which are arbitrarily assumed by
individual or a society at the instance
of a popular whim a popular fashion.
Among those equivocal types, now, which
seem to lack a thoroughly satisfactory eX-
cuse for existing, while yet they are partly
based on reason, may be mentioned what
we will venture to call the summer type or
religion. 1t can hardly be denied that in
the popular apprehension there seems TO
be associated with hot weather a style or
religious living which differs in important
respects from that which obtains during
the winter months. AS a matter of fact,
Of actual practice, what now is to be said
Of this summer style Of religion? In the
tianity. The pressures of the busy winter
time are of, and the excavations of the
langud summer season are on. The phys
ical frame, and. indeed, the intellectual part
of man, feel the effect of the climatic
changes. 1t is then more difficult to be IN
terested in anything, religion Included. AS
the thermometer goes up Christian zeal
goes down. The type of religion thus ex-
hibited is enthusiastically reactionary.
1t is a recoil from the heavy duties of the
preceding winter season. and is thus in part
applicable and even inevitable. And the
practical result is that winter is to many
a kind of a Protestant Ient-that is, a sea-
son lent to the Lord, but which is expected
back again with interest on the arrival OF
the summer months when thought and
interest languidly react from the ideas of a
stalwart. aggressive Christian living.
The summer type, again. is the recreative
type. Attention is thus inevitably diverted
from old habits of devotion and service
and in too many cases the former Zealots OF
the mission halls become the languid
dilettanti of the watering places. Yet it
should in justice be added that the summer
type IS also to a degree the reflective type
of religious experience. There is altogether
too much Of thoughtless activity in the
winter season of incessant work Things
go, but they go with such a rush and roar
for quiet meditation on the how or where
fore of il all. But when the machinery
comes to a dead stop, or slows up, in mid
summer. thought begins and questions arise
in the heart. The summer type of religion,
while on the whole, in the practice of many
believers 1t is the weaker, the less puissant
and militant type, need not in any case be
entirely devoid Of the exercises of faith
and the ministries of Christian service. A
vacation need not be q vacuum Religion
is a thing for the whole year There may
be a summer type Of ii, but it must in one
form or another be characteristic Of the
whole of life. The Christian is never off
duty. Opportunities to serve the Lord may
everywhere be found. SeashOre and noun
tain may be recognized as a sanctuary and
rests for q season become an oratory
where praise. albeit silently. perpetuaIlv
ascends to the great Creator who hath
made summer as well as winter, and who
never ceases to expect and crave the
homage of those who love Him