A Modern Church | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 4, 1872

A Modern Church.

What exhibition of apostate Christianity in the darkest ages, or what description of a fallen church given us in the word of God, goes beyond the following picture which a so-called church presents in our own day, and in our own country? It is the copy of a handbill, advertising a benefit for a church in New Orleans:—

“Benefit of Christ’s Church Parochial School.—Near the dancing platform, a splendid booth and a large canvas tent, with seats reserved for the accommodation of ladies and children. The patrons of this church, as well as the public, will here find a soda-water stand, and confectionery, a restaurant filled with everything to satisfy the appetites of Epicureans; and, also,

A SPLENDID BAR,

stocked with the choicest kinds of liquors, cigars, &c.”

The N. Y. Observer copies this, and adds:—

“This is a copy of a handbill conspicuously posted in New Orleans at the present time. The church for which this splendid bar is to be opened is called Christ’s church; but our private opinion is, if Christ attends the fair, he will come with a scourge of large cords and drive out every man and woman who dishonor his house and name with such things as these. Call it a church, if you will; but for Christ’s sake, O New Orleans people, don’t call it Christ’s church. Anything but that!”