Grace Church's Costly Reredos Criticized as Worldly Display
“A REREDOS.”—The Golden Rule is slightly “sarkastikal,” as Josh Billings would say, in the following. Hear it:— It is so encouraging, in these days of scientific skepticism, of impudent reforms that assume to do the work of religion, and of struggling churches that haven’t the delicacy to conceal their poverty, to learn that “the cause of Christ” is so prosperous in New York that not only has another $750,000 temple been recently dedicated, but Grace church is to have a reredos of “exceeding beauty,” at a cost of $30,000. A reredos, unsophisticated reader,—if we have any such,—is a screen or background for the “altar.” One that costs thirty thousand dollars can hardly fail to advance the kingdom rapidly,—and it will be “so sweet!” Even a casual study of the life of Jesus the Nazarene and his band of disciples, cannot fail to show the appropriateness and importance of a reredos in a house dedicated to his service. We are surprised at the moderation of these marble-temple worshipers. Sixty thousand dollars would be nearer the mark. But the poor and the needy? Oh, those we have with us always; give them a six hundred dollar chapel, and plenty of crumbs.—Religious Intelligencer.