The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-09-30
CHURCH OF HAPPINESS
Merriment Features In Evangelist
Theodore vaIiant's Project.
MUSIC TO MAKE CONVERTS.

WOOJV ~ MINNIE en- ! D.
Hades to Be Discredited by Sect That
Will Establish New Church In
Neutrality-suspicious. to Dance and
sins-WouId Abolish Blue Laws.
Declaring that the laws of most
churches are p%uritanical in character
and the Sunday observance regulations
Of the District Of Columbia too strict
and that this situation is driving
many good citizens to dens Of iniquity
and vice." an attempt is being made
by the Rev. Theodore Valiant, an
evangelist, to found a new sect In
washington, to be known as the Hap
piness church. Behind the movement
are a number Of members of the Per-
sonal Liberty league.
At an open air meeting at Luna Park
the other night the principles Of the
new denomination were set forth.
One Of them, according to the Wash
ington Post, is to overthrow the "blue
laws" now in force in the District Of
Columbia and permit the people to en-
gage in sports and other recreations
on the Sabbath.
It was announced that the new sect
will apply for articles Of incorporation
early in the autumn and that services
for the members will not be held in
any particular building. Out of doors
pulpits will be used as often as pos
sible. The meeting recently held was
the second Of a series to be given this
summer.
The Rev. Mr.. Valiant was the princi.
pal speaker, and his structures upon
conditions We're closely followed. His
audience gave him especially close at
tention when he predicted the death
Of the "blue laws" and declared the
church Of the future will offer its men,
bers such attractions as are to be
found in amusement parks such as the
n in which he spoke.
"Music, merriment and smiling faces
will be important features Of the re-
ligion Of the future" the Rev. Valiant
said. Gas in the olden times, men and
women will be won back to God from
depravity and crime in just such gath
erings as this. There will be the
dancing women, the cymbal players,
the singers and the games, just as
there We're in the days of Moses and
Solomon. Morbidity and solemnity are
the twin children Of mother evil.
Crime Is Matched where mirth is not;
depravity f1ourishes in the shades of
s~ecretiveness.
"The old hell of the old religion, with
its flaming fires, its dancing imps in
leather hides, it's catacomb of dead
hopes and it's fumes of sulphur, Is a
thing Of the past. 1t was adroitly en-
ployed to brighten people into the
church. Today the modern religion
does not prey upon the fears and ig-
norance Of the people. 1t says God
Is love, God is light, God is happiness.
1t bids you come to church with ac-
claims of JOY. 1t presents a church in
which you may smile and from the
portals Of which morbidity and fear
have been banished.
1.-THE church Of the future that will
make the most converts for Gods
cause and the betterment of humanity
Is the church that will offer it's men,
bers such attractive features as we
find in the park this pleasant July
Sunday morning-music and light and
harmless games and the laughter of
jo%yousness.
"My friends, be not deceived. Our
Father does not want us to approach
him with long faces and downcast
eyes. Go to him with happiness beam
ing from your countenance and over
flowing from your heart. Take a les
son in happiness from his creatures,
the birds with their songs Of praise,
the glittering fishes as they hirt about
like flashing sunbeams in the silvery
waters or the animals as they gambol
on the greensward. Crime and de.
pravity are unknown to such of Gods
creatures. 1t is left for man to be
morbid and sorrowful-and sinful.
"There is no crime in the enhancing
strains Of music, no sin in the simple
means of enjoyment called games, no
secretiveness o wrongdoing in this
bright and cheerful glare Of Gods cleo
tricity.
"Blue laws and fanaticism will find
no place in the religion Of tho future.
There will be more recreation parks in
the new order Of things and very much
less Ignorance, sorrow and crime. In
the good book it Is related that Gods
smile is reflected in the happiness Of
his people. Such being the case, God
must be smiling most benignly on this
gathering. where all Is Joy and happi.
ness. Those Of you who profess to
be Christians. I beseech you, do not
seek to take away the Joys Of the PEG.
pie by imposing fanatical conditions
upon them. Do not waste your ener-
gies upon that which does no harm
except you regard happiness as harm.
Rather go ye as God has commanded
out into the sin darkened highways
and into the gloomy hedges and seek