Form of Godliness by A. M. WEEKS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 8, 1873

Form of Godliness.

By A. M. WEEKS

How sad it is to view the low standard of piety now existing in the popular churches of the land. The facts are so plain that it is impossible to close our eyes to them if we would. Take the following from the Detroit Weekly Tribune as a sample:—

“A ‘piece’ jubilee was held by the Congregational ladies of Pentwater, netting $50. An unabridged dictionary and a quilt were sold by ticket, that is, there was a (we don’t say lottery) drawing. The Congregational ladies of Ovid gave a similar festival on the 12th, and there was offered a quilt, with tickets at ten cents each, a fish-pond for another chance game, and to the handsomest lady was given a mop, while the handsomest gentleman received a boot-jack, the persons entitled to the articles being decided by ballot, the votes costing ten cents each. At St Joseph, the Herald says, ‘the most enjoyable hops (polite for dance) of the season are those of the Episcopal sociables. The last was at the Hoyt house. The toilets of the ladies are recherche, the attendance, young and old, unexceptionable, and the attractions of music, dancing, and social intercourse, unsurpassed.’ ”

If a person wants to have a grand time in the world, making no preparation to meet his God, I know of no more appropriate place than in the popular churches. There is no limit to worldly enjoyment there. They virtually say “The dead rise not.” I Cor. 15:32. Are not the words of our Saviour true of them, “They have their reward?” May the Lord help us to strive to enter in at the straight gate.

A. M. WEEKS.