p. 154 | Modern Churches

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Mar 25, 1875

Modern Churches.

THE Rev. O. B. Frothingham, in speaking of modern church temples, says: The rich may worship there; the poor cannot even do that. They are not for the people. They are not houses of prayer for all nations; for none but the special believers enter. Hardly are they houses of prayer at all; but houses, rather, where fashion worships fashion, and wealth pays homage to wealth. In these edifices, science has no part, neither has philosophy, nor culture, nor literature, nor thought. They are not temples of the mind. Social reform rarely comes in there; and never, except on sectarian terms. The causes that concern the people are seldom presented. The interests of the class to which Jesus belonged are feebly considered. They who assemble are not one in a spiritual, moral, or even social sense; one they may be in a dogmatic sense, as fellow-believers—not one in a human sense, as fellow-men; one as excluding doubters, skeptics, heretics—not one as comprehending all who have wants to meet. Prejudice may enter; bigotry may make itself at home; the spirit of a narrow proselytism may take up its abode and be undisturbed; but the lowly spirit of truth has no welcome.