Fashionable Churches

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · May 7, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 18.

Fashionable Churches.

THESE significant words in a recent issue of the English World, "Many professed Non-conformists, when they rise in the world and social standing, leave our chapels for the established church, not always for more interesting sermons or better services, but for a higher class of society," show that human nature is the same both sides of the water. The desire to get into the fashionable church in city and village is apparent enough in this country. It is one explanation of the loss we have sustained in many quarters.

It is not an infrequent occurrence to see those who come into western communities determine the church question in the above spirit. They ask which church has the most wealth and social power, and where will it be most to their material advantage to worship, and make their choice accordingly. This sort of regard for the external selfish benefits of church attendance and connection has been the animating motive of not a few, moving from the East to the West. It is a species of trimming indicative of a purpose to make of religious worship a gain, when persons thus act.

The largest, richest, and most fashionable church may not prove as religiously helpful as one less pretentious, and it is certain that whoever turns his back on the church of his fathers, because humble and weak, will not be spiritually blest. If we would have the world despise the church, let it be seen that men make of it a handmaid to their social ambitions and worldly success.—The Advance.