An Address from Ephesus to the Apostle Paul.
BRO. WHITE: Although the following is written in the style of irony, when applied to fallen Babylon every important idea is literally true. May this description of the fallen churches, written in the form of a letter to the apostle Paul, be the means of opening the eyes of some.
MOSES HULL. To the Right Reverend Paul, Traveler Plenipotentiary, from Jerusalem to Illyricum, Greeting: Your gracious epistle, inculcating every virtue, and deprecating every vice, was duly received by your Christian acquaintances in this place. Our souls are filled with emulation by your touching appeals to us to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ. About the heavenly armor you are truly eloquent; many of us think you surpassed yourself in the conclusion of your epis-tle. We imagine that we see you in the "school of Tyrannus," where we heard you deliver your "regular course" on all the distinguishing doctrines of theology. Many of the citizens who worship at the "temple of Diana," retain a pleasing remembrance of you, and say that your eloquence was near converting them to the Christian faith. Our elegant ladies say, that if we had the benefit of your preaching here, they should on your account (and especially if we would construct a temple after the fashion of Diana's) attend your place of worship. O, it would delight our souls to see the fashionable community turn their steps of grace and taste toward our Christian meetings! When you were with us we asked you if you knew anything about Apollos: have you learned where he is? If you could persuade him to come and take the "pastoral charge," we could support him in a very genteel manner. Our sisters would exert themselves in every way to make him comfortable. Several have said they would sell their superfluous jewelry to decorate his pulpit. O, he looks so handsome in the sacred desk! His voice is so melodious; his manner so winning; he sings, too, most delightfully! The sisters think that many of the idolators would subscribe very liberally toward his support. They like the idea you gave them about Dorcas and her good works; they have therefore established a Dorcas Society, and each seamstress lends her hand. The proceeds are to be appropriated either to the support of "the ministry," or to the education of young men of promising talents, who may drink at the fountain of eloquence, and be able to eclipse the orators of the Areopagus itself. Young men should study Socrates, think with Plato, be emulous with Cicero, and thunder with Demosthenes. Most charitably do we acquit you of any neglect in not calling our attention to these things in your beautiful epistle. Nothing but the fact that Nero called to give you a ride in his chariot could have made you send us so laconic a letter. We made this excuse for you to our friends, and one of our fashionable ladies said she should have been delighted to have seen your cloak floating on the wind, for Nero is the most furious charioteer of this age. We try as much as we can to make a favorable impression on the people of this great city. To this end we decorate our daughters with all the fashions of Rome; and such is the gallantry of the young men of this place, that they accompany our "fair ones" to meeting, though they should sleep and dream about "the great goddess" all the while our services are performing. It has been insinuated that you were opposed to the ladies' things in one of your polite epistles, but we are sure if you did say so, it must have been in a church living and meeting in the country, where it was useless to display taste, and where if the ladies put on fine clothes or costly array, it might all be spoiled in a shower of rain. We rely upon what we have heard you say ourselves that you "become all things to all men;" and, of course, we say, to women too. The church of Jesus Christ is a city set on a hill, that it may see all that is around it, and turn to its own account all the movements of this world. There is a custom among us which answers admirably in raising money for all benevolent purposes. There are a great many institutions called benevolent societies, of which we cannot speak particularly; suffice it to say, that money is raised to buy sacrifices for the poor, to furnish destitute families with silver shrines of Diana, &c., &c. The people of the world were living long before the Christians were born; and, therefore, as the Scripture says, "the elder must serve the younger,"—that is, give them the benefits of their experience. The institution we have in our eye is of the following character: It is an old and unrefined manner of proceeding to go right to persons, sine ceremoniâ, and ask them for money toward rearing a temple of religious worship. In order, therefore, to feed the taste and tap the pocket, we advertise that there will be an exhibition of articles at a public place, at such a time for such a purpose. The articles consist of what is curious, fanciful, and entertaining. At the time appointed we fix the tables and display nicknacks, and select all the beautiful belles of our politest class of society. These beautiful, fascinating, and captivating young ladies invite the visitors, and especially the gentlemen, to buy the wares provided for the occasion. On such occasions they display their charms to fine advantage; and thus, while they playfully and innocently serve themselves by the display of a little coquetry with young gentlemen, they also minister to the support of our "holy religion." It is customary, too, for them to make cakes, and divide them into twenty parts, and to deposit a gold ring in one of the pieces. The parts are then sold, each for a piece of silver, and he who buys the cake with the ring in it, has it. Besides, some of our older sisters, who know the world, write letters, and fill them with flattery and professions of love; and as the young gentlemen come into our assemblies their names are put on, and the letter handed to them with the charge of postage. These are some of the innocent ways in which we make money. In yours to us you say, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather, reprove them." By this we understand you to mean that we are not to do anything in the dark, but to do all in open daylight, or by candle-light. We thank you, brother Paul, for that word "unfruitful." Of course you do not condemn such institutions as the above, for they are very fruitful. If it were not, indeed, in our power somewhat to gratify the taste of the people, we should never become popular in the world. Fine houses, accomplished orators, a tasty and fashionable flock will always succeed, and the gates of poverty will never prevail against them. There is one annoyance, however, to which we are subject, under the present arrangement of our meetings: the mechanics of every description, with their wives and children, mix up with the merchants and all the genteel part of our society. This is a pity; for very often our well dressed ladies have to be seated by a poor mechanic's wife, who is unceremoniously familiar, and who is very apt by vulgar movements to mangle a costly veil, or mash the richest robe, or soil their splendid fashionable stages. However, we can turn all this to good account by and by. The church is not able of itself to erect a "stately edifice" without the assistance of the citizens. We intend to build one which will surpass every public building in the place for taste and ornament; and then we shall sell the privilege of sitting in the conspicuous parts of the house, to the highest bidder. This will effectually place the poor under the galleries and behind the door, to themselves; for the carpenters smell so strong of shavings, and the blacksmith of steel filings, that you will agree with us that it is a proof of our refinement to put them by themselves. The poor, as is natural enough, tell us that there is no difference between the rich and the poor in Christ, and they quote your language to prove it; but we tell them you mean in heaven, not here; we show this from your own words, "Condescend to men of low estate;" that is, the rich are to condescend to meet in the same place of worship with the poor; the rich on velvet cushions, the poor, to keep them humble, to stand or kneel as they can behind the door. The rich are to condescend once in three months to bow to them at the breaking up of meeting, on a wet Sunday, when none of the world are there; and once in a year to shake them by the hand to show them we are yet in fellowship. Another thing we would not overlook, for we wish to show you that we are progressing in every good work. Many of our sisters have husbands who are idolators; but though they may approve and sustain idolatry with their heads, our sisters make them help with their pockets. They try to please them in every thing to get money from them, and then they faithfully place it in our treasury; and besides, they have a tender regard for many of our members, which they have not, they say, even to their own husbands; this feeling is especially manifested by them to the preachers of our denomination. They understand exactly that elegant injunction of yours, "Do good to all, but especially to the household of faith." There have been some splendid exhibitions in the amphitheater lately. Several gladiators have won everlasting laurels. Some of our young sisters attracted universal attention at the exhibitions. We would write more, but we have to attend a sacred concert to-night, which is to be supported by all parties. Some splendid performers from Corinth and Athens are here. One of the best singers in the world will sign a "solo" to the "immortal gods," which we expect will be very fine. Accept, dear "father in the faith," the thanks of the church, and be assured of their unceasing regards. By order of the church.
DIOTREPHES.