New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-24
"a RIDICULOUS VICE"
Vanity Assails the Church on Every Side,
Declares Bishop Pigou.

Preachers have always had a good deaf 10 say
about vanity from the time Ecclesiastes was writ
ten and before One or the latest clerical utter
ances on the subject is that of Dr. Pigou, Dean of
Bristol England, who asserts that what Adam
smith calls the most ridiculous and contemplate
wee pervades the Church TO such an extent that
from Sunday schools to funerals nothing is free
from It. The seeds Of vanity are sown in the Sun
day schools he says. The teachers-aN who can
afroro II at least-appear before their classes in
tho Safest fashion OF Directoire dress and costly
and elaborate hats. got up in style for an
SION upon which they ought to be simply attired.
children are quick to notice and ardent to initiate.
ana the clerical critic Gays he has frequently OBJ
served that their comments after Sunday school
two on the teachers appearance to on the les
son they've had. And the pastors wives and
daughters are not che least of sinners In this
spect."
Mothers make the confirmation of their girls an
opportunity for tricking them out in flnery~ Sell
dom does priest see that uniformity OF dress
which should be the rule at confirmation. The
length OF the parental purse can be judged by the
rows Of trimming the veil. The service IN city
churches attracts less interest than the fashionable
parade on the avenue that follows. Women dress
ing for church lay themselves out. that they may
be seen of man.
AS 10 weddings to say that marriage is "sol-
emnized is mostly mockery nowadays A good
many marriages turn out happily, but that isn't
because the bride and bridegroom are thinking of
the solemnity OF the marriage service The bride is
thinking of her dress. Those who assist AT the cere
nony make it an opportunity for a display of fash
ion, and the buzz of conversation before and after
tho ceremony is chiefly about the gowns. Funerals,
even. are tainted with vanity and osentation. DR..
Pigou tells OF one leader of fashion who summoned
the dressmakers when she was dying that she
might direct the making Of her satin shroud Widows
are intent on having their mourning in the latest
fashion, ana there is one fashionable London shop
for mourning where the clerks always ask els &c
Or for Tod
Preachers are not without vanity, either The
dean tells OF succeeding clergyman who had the
hymns heightened to give him time TO prInk before
ascending the pulpit and who had in the vestry
Iserfumed toilet and mirrors studiously
arranged for the due inspection OF himself before
delivering his sermon"
Vanity leads to such rivalry among fashionable
churches in London on Hospital Sunday" each
trying 10 get the biggest Offering that persons
call it the clerical Derby" The most lowering of
all the forms in which vanity taints religion says
Dr. Pigou. are those that come in the name Of
charity!
1T would seem IL nothing nowadays can be
done without a charity dinner, charity ball. car
nival fancy fair. bazaar. theatricals, bridge or
whist crystal gazing fortune telling or some kin
dred device; 1t is by these that money is raised
for the sick. the poor, for debts churches, for
any and every call on charity.
Think says the dean, "of a bazaar with its
bats and lures. Of them OF doubtful legality
in connection with the house of God Think
Of a fancy dress ball to raise money for a hospi-
tal-here the dancers in their absurd costumes,
there the sonbre building in which lie men and
women and children fighting for life. What
an unscriptural prostitution of the great grace Of
charity
Dr. Pigou quotes one clergyman. the Rev Angus
tine Briggs, of st. Nicholas, Rochester, who pro-
tested publicly against being made a Snowman"
Prove" he SAID in letter TO his parishioners
that the restoration Of one church, at least can
Ia ~ bIs
time in organizing merry-go-rounds, cocoanut
SHES crystal gazing performances and cIrcuses
l was not ordained to be manager Of a
third rate palace OF varieties"