Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1911-07-20
God of
FASHION
By Rev. George r. Lockwood
psstor Of Cienoid~n Courrerstionsi
Church. Philadelphia.

There has never been period in the
worlds history that humanity has not
worshiped some sort OF idols You
can't read the Old Testament without
having your heart panied. when you
see how Israel was continually turn.
ing away from God. and placing some
thing In their hearts that ought to
have been occupied by God himself
Well. now exactly the same thing has
been true In every age and amongst
every people. There is a strong ten
dency in the mind and heart OF hui
mainly to reach out and lay hold upon
something and put It In the place
that belongs only TO God.
The first strange god that is
amongst us is the Fashion" This
whole subject OF dress is a very inter
esting one always claim that II
takes more brains TO build dress
than It takes to build house-and 1t
takes brains to build n house. What
| mean by that is. II takes brains to
build n dress that. in n certain sense,
BELTS the individual that is being
clothed. 1t doesn't take any brains to
reach your arm across to Paris and
lug over here some fashion across the
water-anybody can do that. But
there are comparatively few people
who seem to have the happy faculty OF
building a dress that Just meets their
own individuality. Such dress as
Just fits you in every sense Of the
word-a dress that is the expression
Of your own mind and your own soul
that is an exceedingly hard thing
What is the result Of this thraldom
that is in our midst this present day?
There is a decentralization and de-
moralization that is going on in our
American life; II is enough to pain
anybody deeply. | can't quite under
stand why America should reach
across the ocean and bring her fash
ion from Paris.
II there is ore city on the face OF
Gods earth that is any lower down in
perdition than another. It is Paris
And why should We be enslaved to
Paris for our fashion? In every other
respect We claim to stand on our own
feet: why cant America stand on her
own feet when It comes to the subject
Of dress? II seems to me there are
brains enough In this country to ere
ate a fashion for ourselves and 10
break loose from the slavery OF for
eign country.
But that is not the sad part OF II all.
wonder IL you realize the terrible
extravaganza that is associated with
this one phase OF our American life7
wonder II you can bring before your
minds the untold number OF homes
that are simply wrecked: or. picture
the hearts that are broken because OF
this terrible slavery. namely-the
slavery Of America to this god OF
fashion,"
Let me illustrate Here is 4 girl
she is brought up in a comparatively
poor home. she has not had any ex.
perience In holding money In her own
hands: she marries a comparatively
poor young man, and they go and start
home for themselves. When he
comes back from his first week. he
puts his wages in her hands. She has
had no experience in the use OF mon
ey: and what does she do? Almost the
first thing she does is to rush out into
a great city. lose herself in one OF
these big stores and instead OF bring
ing home something that is going to
make the whole atmosphere OF that
house rich and beautiful she brings
home something that is absolutely
worthless to herself.
She spent her money foolishly, and
because the money is simply thrown
away the home is wrecked and hearts
are broken.
The second strange god to which |
desire to call YOUR attention is the
idol OF education" What is the ideal
education? Some people say IL Is
knowledge: some say it is success;
others say character and personality.
In the eyes OF great many people
education is that which fits one to
make success in terms OF money; but
that is not my own ideal OF education.
II Is that which fits US to serve our
God and TO serve our humanity. and
anything that units us for the service
Of God and humanity-call it by any
name you will. but don't call II edu-
cation
One Of the perils of the east today
is that education is being translated
in terms OF dollars and cents. instead
Of In terms Of character and personal
ity. What is one OF the secrets of
the great success of the west? II is
education. and education of the right
sort, too
The third strange god that want
10 speak about is the god OF "amuse.
ment." Amusement is a good thing
IL is a safety valve. don't know
what we wo4.i 90 with our nervous
temperament. here in America, IL 1;
were not for amusements | love 70
see people enjoy themselves. especial
ly after a strenuous week OF hard
work. But amusemeits ought never
TO be an end: IL ought always to be a
means to an end. and that end must fl,
into the purpose Of God and the vel
fare OF mankind.
The real test as TO whether an
amusement is right or wrong is this
II IL creates in our hearts a distaste
for the things OF the spirit is is wrong
II II units US for Christian service II
is wrong. And II it doesn't do any Of
these things. but prepares us for tn,
real and deeper enjoyment OF life
then 1t is right. and the more amuse
ment the better 1t will be for us.