The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-02-03

fnd the usefulness of these can scarcely
pe realized, but after all, young peo
PIE do not always want to read or sit
4a room where they must be still as
lIm1ce. They like to gather together
where they can see and commune with
faeh other. And we ask, what places
are more fitting for this than our
ishapels and churches?
There was time when the church
Was the sole, or almost the sole, edu-
rator of the people, and when her edi-
ices were always open to all corners.
Yhese buildings were not then regard
ed as the privileged property of few
| hut as the heritage of ALL Nor were
they invested with any extravagant
n2tions of sanctity. Public meetings
We're held in them, the vestries sat
2 Il are. schools were taught therev-and
/ on rainy and cold days, the children
played at marbles in their aisles and
on their smooth flag stones. In the
dawn of the drama, it was almost CON
fined to these consecrated buildings.
Passion-plays held the people in awe
and taught them scriptural incidents.
As these degenerated in character.
they were succeeded by "moralitiesn
or moral plays in which the passion of
mankind, good and evil, were person
flied and played their part upon the
church stage. All these taught the
people to reason for themselves, and
prepared the way for theReformation.
Civil Freedom and liberty of thought.
For the writers of these dramas were
frequently men of great intellectual
power and, as such, were enemies of
superstition, and employed all the art
they dared to enlighten the people.
1t was not long ago that it was the
custom for the congregation to give
audible expression of their approval
or disapprOval of the teachers senti-
ments. This, however, has been sup
pressed by Act of Parliament. A false
notion of sanctity has minimized the
usefulness of these buildings, and the
effort OF the Clergy The only resem-
b]ance to the past is in the matter of
the Sunday schools, and even these
are being confined to secular places
when possible. In the meantime. the
churches are either gradually becom-
ing defunct, or are reverting to Cath
olicism.
Why then should we not initiate
the practical wisdom of our forefath-
ers, and throw them open freely and
gratuitously to the wants af the peo-
pleY WHAT more suitable places could
be selected for lectures and concerts
of sacred music and Christian gather
ings and every sort of innocent recre-
alton, than those houses which have
been consecrated to the service of
God? The early Christians feasted
and had their 'free-and- -easiesn in
their meeting houses; why should we
be more squeamish than they? Do we
serve our Maker better by giving Him
lip-service and chanting meaningless
hymns, or by purifying our minds of
ignorance and expanding our souls by
a better knowledge of his works? Let
those who are in authority to be wise
in time and arouse themselves to un-
derstand wherein their true strength
lies. Let them realize the dangers
that beset our youth and need of res
cue from the numerous forces of evil.
In every district will be found educa-
ted and intelligent laymen and wo-
men whose talents lie buried, but who
will gladly cooperate in any possible
manner with the clergy in promoting
the education and moral improve
ment of those around them. And in
what number of ways might this be
done if they would only divest their
minds of false sentiment and reso-
lutely organize all the forces of Good
to overcome the Evil