Untitled article | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, November 5, 1867

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXX, No. 21

Fashionable Intelligence.

Fall Opening in the Churches of the Metropolis.—We have given in the Herald the opening of the fall seasons among the milliners and theatres, and now a similar opening in the fashionable churches claims our attention. The fall programmes of these churches will serve as an interesting supplement to our amusement column. The pastors have been training all summer at the watering places for the great contest between them and Satan this winter. But while our worthy parsons have been away from their flocks the arch enemy has been at work in terrible earnest and pipe-laying for the coming campaign. He has been stirring up the muscle of the metropolis and preparing them a la Morrissey as candidate for Congress, the qualifications of which, he announces, are to be a light or heavy weight champion of the prize ring. His Infernal Majesty has been also caucussing with some of the theatrical managers with a view towards shortening the dresses of the ballet dancers, and thereby rendering Black Crook exhibitions more attractive than ever. Hence it will require all the skill and energy of our clergymen to combat the cloven-hoofed champion this winter. There used to be, eighteen hundred years ago, a dozen poor fishermen in Galilee, who went forth as apostles to the whole world, and their divine Master said to them: “Take nothing for your journey; neither staves nor scrip, neither bread nor money; neither have two coats apiece.” The pastors of our fashionable churches sadly neglect this command at the present day. Fine lawn and broadcloth, a head done up in the latest style of the fashionable hair-dresser, a handsome salary, fat horses, and an elegant establishment, are a few of the distinguishing characteristics of some of the apostles of the nineteenth century. The churches are so many mirrors of fashion, and the latest styles of bonnets, cloaks and dresses adorn the pews. By the way, why not call these pews, boxes and dress circles, as there are reserved seats in each, and the audience is mainly made up of people who go to church to see and be seen? We know not yet of any definite changes in the programmes of the managers of the churches, but doubtless they have plenty of religious novelties on hand. The grand opening of the churches took place in this city and Brooklyn before crowded audiences. Even the steps of the pulpits were invaded by crinolined and chignoned worshippers, and the blooming faces of the preachers were received with delight by the various audiences. There will be, probably, many debuts made in the pulpit this season and the ladies are already making extensive preparations in the way of bouquets and slippers for the expected aspirants to ministerial honors. We wonder very much what one of those earnest, devoted apostles of the olden time would say if he were to visit a fashionable gospel establishment of the present day ostensibly devoted to the worship of God. The wrath of Moses, when he came down from the mountain with the Commandments and found the Israelites dancing around the golden calf, would be a mild comparison with the spectacle of the wrath of the evangelist.—N. Y. Herald.