The Penn's Grove record., 1911-07-21
God of
FASHION
By Rev. George r. Lockwood
Pastor Of GienoIden Congregational
Church, Philadelphia.

1t is a strange thing that humanity
can't seem to get along without idols.
There has never been a 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
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
manity 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 a dress
than it takes to build a house-and 1T
takes brains to build a house. What
l mean by that is. 1t takes brains to
build a dress that, In a 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 a 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 n 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 a de-
moralization that is going on in our
American life; it is enough to pain
anybody deeply. | cant quite under
stand why America should reach
across the ocean and bring her fash
ion from Paris.
If there is one city IN 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; why can't America stand on her
own feet when 1t zones 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.
l wonder If you realize the terrible
extravaganza that is associated with
this one phase of u 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,"
Let me Illustrate. Here is a girl
she is brought up in a comparatively
roor home; she has not had any ex-
~perience in holding money in her W
hands: she marries a comparatively
poor young man, and they go and start
a 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 it is
knowledge; some say it is success;
others say character and personality.
In the eyes of a great many people
education is that which fits n to
make success In terms of money; but
that is not my own ideal of education.
It is that which fits us to serve our
Cod and to serve our humanity, and
an vthfng 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
;ty. 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
to speak about is the god of amuse-
ment." Amusement is a good thing;
II is a 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
lv after a strenuous week of hard
work. But amusements ought never
TO be an end; it ought always to be a
means to an end, and that end must fit
into the purpose Of God n 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 a distaste
for the things of the spirit is Is wrong;
If II units us for Christian service 1t
is wrong. And If it doesn't do any Of
these things. but prepares us for the