Church Building and Church Amusements.
By Editor
THE Interior, the Presbyterian paper of Chicago, makes the following just remarks upon fashionable church building and its appendages—sociables, grab-bags, &c.:— “The prevailing style of church architecture is a broad and ambitious beginning and an inglorious bobtailed ending. And during all the time, from the infant class up to the Trustees, there is a stew and frenzy of grab-bags, fairs, and festivals, to keep the wolf away from the altar. And all this in the name of Jesus of Nazareth! This thing is an incubus and a disgrace to Christianity. It is time a reform began in the house of Israel. Hostile to the spirit of Christ and his gospel, damaging to the business of the church, and fatal to the influence of religion on the better-thinking men of the world, the church debt mania should be choked. “The fact that this mania arises from a silly pride in the church itself, is a sad thing. It is an evil spirit which only fasting and prayer can cast out. It is the parent of endless mischief, false religious taste, bad religious principle, dishonest living, and general hypocrisy. There can be no genuine, honest worship among those who are living in perpetual dishonesty, who affect to give a house to God, which is at the mercy of Shylock, and who keep up a religious style which is either a hollow advertisement of mammon, or a monument of worldliness liveried in the garments of godliness.” By this we plainly see that the public mind is becoming somewhat aroused to the existing state of things in the popular churches of the day. We also find in the Philadelphia Christian Standard the following paragraphs which need no comment:— “ A few years ago I read a notice in the secular papers that Signor Blitz had been engaged to give a performance for the benefit of a Methodist Sunday-school, and I said, Well, what next? But sure enough ‘what next’ has made its appearance in a large placard nearly a yard square, now extensively posted in the southwestern part of this city. Just read it:— “‘A grand Annual Excursion of Pitman M. E. Church to Greenwood Grove, June 17th, 1875. Beautiful prizes and novel games. 10. A. M. Base Ball; prizes, a set of batts and balls. 2 P. M. Archery for lady contestants; prizes, a set of ear-rings and breast-pin. 3 P. M. Sack race; prize a gentlemen’s bosom pin. 4 P. M. Foot ball and quoits. Air gun target practice; prize air pistol, battledore and shuttlecock, jumping rope, grace hoop, &c. To be interspersed with music and singing.’ “ 1. Will the exercises be opened with prayer?
“ 2. Is it the legitimate work of the Sunday-school and the church to ascertain who are the best players at ‘base ball,’ ‘archery,’ ‘sack races,’ ‘foot ball,’ ‘target practice,’ &c.
“ 3. Can the church find no better investment for her funds than to buy for presents ‘batts and balls,’ ‘beautiful set of pearl ear-rings,’ ‘gentleman’s bosom pin,’ ‘air pistol,’ &c.?
“ 4. Why not extend the list and offer prizes for the best players at cards and billiards, and then have a dance and offer a prize for the most graceful dancer?
“ 5. Will Christian parents take the risk of having their children accompany such an excursion?”