The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1911-07-20
God Of
FASHION
By Rev. George R. Lockwood
Pastor Of Glenolden Congregational
Church. Philhdelphia-

! can't read the Old Testament without
having your heart panied; when you
see how Israel was continually turns
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 1t
takes more brains to build dress
than it takes to build a house-and it
| takes brains to build house. What
mean by that is. it takes brains to
build a dress that, in 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 a dress as
| just fits you in every sense of the
worda 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 decentralization and de-
| moralization that is going on in our
| American life; it 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 one city on the face of
Gods earth that is any. lower down in
perdition than another, 1t 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:s why can't America stand on her
own feet when 1t comes to the subject
of dress? 1t seems to me there are
brains enough in this country to ere
ate a fashion for ourselves and to
break loose from the slavery of a for
eign country.
| But that is not the sad part of it all.
| wonder If you realize the terrible
extravaganza that is associated with
this one phase of our American life?
| wonder If 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 2"
Let me illustrate. Here is girl.
she is brought up in comparatively
poor home; she has not had any ex-
| perience In holding money In her own
hands; she marries comparatively
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 1t is
knowledge; some say 1t is success;
others say character and personality.
In the eyes OF a 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.
| 1t 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 it 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? 1t is
education, and education of the right
sort, too.
The third strange god that | want
| ~ cpoak about is the pnd 0f aaut1so.
ment.'' Amusement is good thing;
1t is safety valve. don't know
what we would do with our nervous
| temperament. here in America. II 1t
were not for amusements. | love to
see people enjoy themselves, especial
| ly after a strenuous week of hard
work But amusements ought never
to be an end; it ought always to be
| means to an end. and that end must fit
into the purpose OF God and the well
fare OF mankind.
The real test as to whether an
amusement Is right or wrong is this:
II it creates in our hearts distaste
for the things of the spirits is wrong;
II 1t units us for Christian service it
is wrong. And II 1t doesn't do any OF
these things. but prepares US for the
real and deeper enjoyment of life.
then it is right, and the more amuse-
ment the better 1t will be for US.
Who Walks In the Light.
The man that abhors evil and injus
tice; the man that would do good If