The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-07
SPIRITUALITY OF CHURCH
is AFFECTED BY RELIGIOUS
ERRORS AND COMMERCIALISM
BY REV. NATHAN MAYNARD

moments reflection will convince
that the abnormal features of social
Indulgence are the children Of an
over emphasized sensuality in our
pleasures. In the popular mind ths
test of value in social amusements IL.
Does 1t crafty the appetite for mere
pleasure? Does il satisfy the demand
for the spectacular? The eye ana
palate are imperious in their demands
for pleasures regardless or the effect
upon the mind and the heart Wit
ness ragtime music that first startles.
then amuses. then enthrallsA Witness
the spectacular slit skirt and its cling
ing. suggestive. 9iaphanous sister.
Witness the debas.ng sensual forms
the dance has taken. which is arous-
ing the protest even OF the civil law.
Are not all Of these voices clamor-
ing for that which ministers 10 tho
vitiated and lowered morale? This Ia
humanity run into mere animality. and
crimlnailzed by lust: beautiful dress
for the sake Of fitting ornament 10
a vtrtHous and charming womanliness,
music that expresses the emotions and
artistic sense of a pure mind and lofty
soul: amusemenfs that arc az least
consistent with purity and wholesome
ness n manhood and womanheod--
these are the true tests of proper So
cial forms.
linen II VIII re seen tFlSf the aA~
verse spiritual influence Of modern
social tendencies is twofoid. First.
there IS individual spiritual suicide
with gross amin alfsm as the cause, and,
second a powerful influence through
example 10 lead the weaker The ef-
feet on religion is To make Il a de-
spirituailzed. sensuous Journalism.
As Ia religious errors. It wtll suf-
fee In say they destroy spirituality by
"A lie sr n14Pp truth
Wholesome spiritual life can only be
nourshed on truth. ut is the en-
trance pf truth that giveth life" The
/ whole course OF human history is
married by defunct religious systems
that sprang up from errors sown IN
the name OF religious truth, Pagan
ism. Romanism Spirirualism, Nor
monlsm Theosophy. Christian Science,
MHennial nawnism and the Ike are
synonyms for this fact. They Illus
trate how faisehood sown for truth
blights and destroys spiritual life Of
man and creates heathenism wher-
/ ever they prevail
But there Is an evil OF n practical
/ nature, the result OF a peculiar heresy
I which I mention because Il Is grow
Ing such immense crops Of spiritual
[ deaths. That is the tendency TO sub
/ stitute form for the spirit in our re-
| liglous life Multttudes have no con-
ception OF tho necessity for the con-
/ trolling influence of Gods spirit In
F.! their lives. Other multitudes know
/ nothing Of religious life founded
\ upon and nourished by Gods word
/ They have a manufactured spirituality
I based upon expediency and compro-
! mise with the worldliness. Witness
how the rich who have no leisure for
! worship or service attempt to do their
/ religion by large gifts of money. They
I do not seem to know that money is
no real substitute for self. The only
acceptable gift is self.
| Witness no wthe worldly who have
no time from social life attempt to
( do their religious duty by contributing
/ to esthetics of church services, etc
/ Prayer which means communion with
4 God In spirit is becoming more and
\ more a lost art. Worship that In real
a; alteration and praise because OF an
| appreciation. or experimental knnwi-
/ edge of God and his grace in the life,
| is passing away
There are churches that are no
1 longer temples Of God or hoNses OF
/ PRAYER. There are forms Of service
1 that are no longer the expression OF
4 the souls worship. Let us return
/ unto God and he will return unto us:
let us draw nigh unto God and he win
draw nigh unto us; let us feed upon
| his word, and we shall have life in
I our souls