The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-10-15

OF promoting truth and morality which
are possessed by our religious teachers,
and which unfortunately are systemat.-
calIy neglected. The thousands Of
stately piles that have been erected in
this country at immense cost hy the
liberaIity of pious benefactors are, as a
rule. closed to the public, except on
Sundays. Any day in the week we
may pass 4 hundred Protestant
Churches and find them empty, with
Locked doors. The devout cannot even,
as in Roman Catholic c(lfices, walk in
! to pass few minutes in private devo-
ton.
On the other hand, on every evening
in the week hundreds of thousands OF
Young people of both sexes, after their
work is over, do not know where to 90
or what to do with themselves Their
homes. perhaps, offer no inducements
| for them to pass their leisure time
there. SO they get out INTO the streets,
the lanes, and parks, and are subject
to great temptations. Ifthe Churches
| are closed to recreation, there arc other
places which specially provide it. The
theatres, music halls, and low dancing
and concert rooms, have always an am
pie bill of fare, too often coarse and
sensual, and the tiashy glitter of their
surroundings is calculated to captivate
the young and inexperienced. The
! publc-houses and billiard-rooms are
also in full swing. Everything that
| appeals to our lower nature is placed
before them without stint. But the
means of intelligent and elevating rec
rea,ion are comparatively rare. 1t is
true there are many public libraries
and reading-rooms in parts, and the
usefulness of these can scarcely be real
ized, but after all, young people do not
always want to read or sit in room
| where they must he still as mice.
They like to gather together where
they can see and commune with each
other. And We ask, what places would
he more fitting for tins than our Chap
els and Churches?
There was time when the Church
| was the sole, or almost the sole, educa-
tor of the people, and when her editices
were always open to all corners.
| These buildings were not then regard
ed as the privileged property Of a few,
| hnt the heritage ofall. Nor were they
Invested with any cXtravagant notions
of sanctity. Public meetings were
held in them, the vestries sat there,
schools were taught there, and on
rainy and cold days, the children play
ed at marbles in their aisles and on
their smooth iag-stones. In the dawn
of the drama, it was almost confined to
these conscrrated buildings. Passion
plays held the people in awe and
taught them scriptural incidents. AS
these uegcnerated in character, they
were succeeded by ''moralities" or NOR.
al plays in which the passions of man
kind, good and evil, were personified
and played their parts upon the
| Church stage. All these taught the
people to reason for themselves, and
prepared the way for the Reformation
Civil Freedom, and liberty of thought
For the writer's of these dramas were
frequently men of great intellectual
power and, rs such, were enemies OF
superstition, and employed all the art
they dared to enliyhten the people.
1t was not long ago that it was the
custom for the congregation to give
audible expression of their approval OF
disapproval of the preachers senti
mwnts Thisy however. has been sup
| pressed by Act Of Parliament. A E,lst
notion of sanctity has minim,sed thu
usefulness of these buildings, and the
efforts Oh the Clergy. The only re
mhlanct to the past is in the matter
OF Sunday schools, and even these are
4 being confined to secular places whel
possible. In the meantime, tn,
Churches are either gradually becom
ing defunct, or are rcverting to Catho
licism.
Why then should we not initiate TIN
practical wisdom of our forciathrrs
and throw them open freely and gra
tuitousiy to the wants of the people
What more suitable places could b'
selected for lectures and concerts o
sacred music and Christian gathering
and every sart of innocent recreation
f thln those houses which have beer
r,n spcratcd to the service of God
The early Christians f.asted and hat
their ".rre and-easies in their meeting
. in : hau 'as; why should we be NOR
slueamis.i than they? Do we serv
l our Maker better by giving Him lip
f service and chanting meaningless
: hymns, or by purifying orr minds o
t Ignorance and expanding our souls b,
5 a better knowledge of His works. lie
t those who are in authority be wise il
: time and arouse themselves to under
stand wherein their true strength lies
Let them realize the dangers that be
| set our youth and their need of rescu
, from the numerous forces OF evil. Il
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