DISGUSTING by T. | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 8, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 19.

DISGUSTING

By T.

At a church in one of the suburbs of New York City there is to be a church social, so the New York papers advertise, at which the principal drawing feature will be a contest of girls for a prize for the one having the smallest feet. The notice of the entertainment says that “the judges will be three staid married men, pillars of the church. They will measure the dainty feet submitted for their inspection, and duly record and announce the results.”

Another paragraph of the announcement says, by way of explanation and commendation, that the particular church in question “has held many unique entertainments, including a roller-skating reception, a Trilby social, and a ghost party.” The “Trilby social” is much akin to this small-feet contest; possibly it is a little more disgusting.

Now, in the name of reason, what part can such things play in advancing the cause of Christ? How can sober, sensible, full-grown men and women engage in any such disgusting nonsense, especially to call it after the name of Christ, a name that stands for everything that is pure, and noble, and uplifting, and for nothing else?

If one should peep into the back yard and see half a dozen children measuring their feet in a contest of the kind, it would cause a smile to steal over the countenance, and afford a moment of pleasure at the thought of childhood’s pastimes. But what shall we say of persons who have come to the years of manhood and womanhood and will descend to such childishness, and say that it is for Christ? It is shameful, it is disgusting, and you may add every other adjective of the same general class that you can think of.

When the census-taker is on his rounds, the persons who are engaged in such things as these stand up to be counted as Christians. But is it not true that such things are a disgrace to the name of Christianity? What right has any one to call himself a Christian when he has no higher ideal of the Christian life than to think that he can represent Christ while calling the young ladies of a community together that he may measure their bare feet and decide on their virtues (?) of littleness? And those who will approve of such a thing to the extent of looking at it without a protest, do not sense the elevated and elevating character that is in the Christ-life.

It fills one with sorrow and shame to think that such things stand before the world with so little rebuke, and are thus allowed to pass for the ideals and equipments of Christianity. Such being the case, can it be that we have reached such a high order of Christian civilization as we boast of? And is there not a glitter and glamor about the numbers that belong to our churches that is delusive? In reality are not the real Christians, as they always have been, a comparatively small company? Christ addresses His followers as a “little flock” (Luke 12:32), and it must be evident that He who is the Shepherd of the flock is the best capable of saying how large the flock is.

The Master tells us plainly: “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt. 7:21-23. It is well that we study the Saviour’s words, so as to know how to represent Him rightly, and not bring disgrace and reproach upon His cause; for in reproaching the name of Christ, we not only bring our own souls into danger, but we are jeopardizing every one that our influence might reach. T.