The Washington herald., 1908-07-06

A new religious creed was formed last
evening.
/ At Luna Park Theodore Valiant. son
Of the late Bishop Valiant, founded n
religion CT which happiness is the basic
principle The birth OF the creed was
announced through a megaphone by
| Evangelist Valiant TO an audience OF
pleasure-seekers in the open-alr theater.
The creed will be known as the Hap
piness Fraternity" Associated with him
in the work OF saving men and women
through joyous methods-with music and
other forms OF amusement-will be Sam
uel II. Reeder, OF Alexandria, Va. and
members Of the Personal Liberty League.
Played Lively Airs.
While the big organ on the "merry-go-
round" played lively airs and the shouts
OF the people dipping the dip" or shoot
ing the chute" resounded through the
park, Evangelist Valiant preached his
sermon. He said:
Music. merriment smiling faces in a
daylight OF electricity-as we see them
here at Luna Park-will be important
elements of the religion Of the future.
''As in the oldep times-the Bible days
men and women will be won back to God
from depravity and crime in just such
| gatherings as this. There Will be the
dancing women. the cymbal players. the
singers. and the games. just as there
were in the days Of Moses and Solomon.
What an ideal place is this tonight,
with its joyousness, TO give thanks to the
Father for the blessed privilege Of being
| happy and enjoying the gifts He has
given us! Morbidity and solemnity are
| the twin children Of old Mother Evil.
/ Crime Is Matched where mirth is not. De-
pravity fourishes in the shades Of secret
| iveness.
THE old hell Of the old religion. with
| it's flaming fires. its dancing imps in
| leather hides. it's catacombs of dead
/ hopes, and its fumes OF sulphur, is a
thing Of tho past. II was adroitly en-
| ployed 10 frighten people into the church.
| To-day the modern religion does not prey
upon the fears and ignorance Of the peo-
4 pie. II says God is love. God is light, God
! is happiness 1t bids you come 70 church
with acclaims Of Joy. II presents a
| church in which you may smile. and
! from the portals Of which morbidlty and
/ fear have been banished
Church of the Future.
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 members such
attractive features as We find in the park
this pleasant July Sunday evening. Music
and light and harmless games and the
laughter OF joyousness.
/ MY friends. be not deceived. Our
Father does not want us 10 approach
Him with long faces and downcast eyes.
4 Go TO Him with happiness beaming
from your countenance and overfowing
from your heart Take "A lesson in hap
piness from His creatures-the birds
with their songs OF praise; the glitter
/ ing fishes as they fiIrt about like flash
| ing sunbeams in the silvery waters, or
the animals, as they gambol on the green
swsrd. Crime and depravity are un-
| known to such OF Gods creatures. II
/ Is left for man to be morbid and sor-
rowful and sinful
There is no crime in the entranc-
! ing strains Of music: no sin in the simple
/ means OF enjoyment called games; no
secretiveness or wrongdoing in this
I bright and cheerful glare Of Gods cleo
tricity.
/ Blue laws and fanatics will find no
! place in the religion Of the future. There
/ will be more Luna Parks in the new
order Of things, and very much less Of
! ignorance sorrow. and crime. In the
good book II is related that Gods smile
is reflected in the happiness Of His peo-
! pie. Such being the case, God must be
smiling most benignly on this gathering
out in the pretty park where all is joy
and happiness.
Joys OF the People.
Those Of you who profess to be Chris
tians, beseech you do not seek TO take
away the joys Of the people by imposing
fanatical conditions upon them. Do not
waste your energies upon that which
does no harm. except you regard hnp-
! piness as. harm. Rather go ye. as God
has commanded, out into the sin-dark-
ened highways and into the gloomy
hedges and seek poor, downcast. sinful
! humanity, and bring them TO the light.
Search not here. for II We do. ye
will not find the sinful and the unhappy.
but the contented and the happy May
Gods brightest blessing be upon you
ALL"