The State of the Churches

RELIGIOUS GAMBLING

“A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? Jeremiah 5:30, 31. SOC 15.8

Obtaining money by games of chance, at church festivals, fairs, and donation parties has become quite general in the churches of the day. Church lotteries are common. Of its tendency, the Watchman remarks: SOC 16.1

“A member of a church went to his Pastor and entreated his personal intercession with his favorite son, who had become ruinously addicted to the vice of gambling. The Pastor consented, and seeking the young man, found him in his chamber. He commenced his lecture, but before he concluded, the young man laid his hand upon his arm and drew his attention to a pile of splendid volumes that stood upon the table. ‘Well,’ said the young man, ‘these volumes were won by me at a Fair given in your church; they were my first venture; but for that lottery, under the patronage of a Christian church, I should never have become a gambler.” SOC 16.2

The World’s Crisis quotes and endorses the following: SOC 16.3

“To pay the preacher, a donation party is held, and the old and young, professor and worldling, devote the evening to feasting and merriment. Festival, picnics and excursions, oyster suppers and lotteries, are resorted to, for the purpose of replenishing the funds, or reviving the flagging interests—not religious—in the prosperity of the church.” SOC 16.4

SEYMOUR, CONN., JULY 13, 1865. SOC 16.5

“Messrs. Editors: The town of Seymour is alive this summer. Picnics, fairs, festivals, and the like, are the order. The last was an ice-cream festival, given for the benefit of the Congregational Society, Rev. Mr. Quick, Pastor, in the basement of their church. There were present, ‘lots of fair women and brave men.’ and as at all festivals, cream disappeared, and fun and frolic prevailed. The church made money!” SOC 16.6

DANCING FELLOWSHIPED. SOC 16.7

Of the wicked, Job says: “They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God. Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.” Job 21:11-14. SOC 16.8

David danced before the ark, but it was with holy, religious rejoicing. There is no proof in the Bible that among God’s people the sexes ever mingled in a dance, as they now do in ball-rooms. SOC 17.1

“‘Tis not for man to trifle: life is brief, SOC 17.2

And sin is here;
Our age is but the falling of a leaf,
A dropping tear.
We have no time to sport away the hours;
All must be earnest in a world like ours.” SOC 17.3

Says the Methodist, when speaking of the ball given in New York to the Prince of Wales: SOC 17.4

“Ministers of the gospel of several different denominations—men who ought to be the nearest representatives of the Saviour of sinners—were there, as if to give the sanction of Christ’s authority to the most monstrous earthly vanity. What now becomes of wholesome Christian discipline? What becomes of the line so clearly drawn by Christ between the church and the world? What of his command to deny ourselves of all ungodliness and worldly lust, and live soberly, righteously and godly in this evil world? May the Holy Spirit himself intervene to restore the broken bulwarks of sacred discipline, and to trace again the fading line between the aggressive world and the invaded church.” SOC 17.5

“The dancing clergy.”—The Western Times, an English paper, records the names of not fewer than ten clergymen of the Church of England as being present at a fashionable ball recently given at Newton, in the south of Devon. SOC 17.6

The Unity Magazine laments as follows: SOC 17.7

“Christianity is indulging in fashion, and giving away to the spirit of the world. Dress, amusements, entertainments, fritter away its time, secularize its spirit, and eat out its soul! At watering places, in the theater, and among the mazes of the dance, you may find Christians (?!) even among the foremost, and the most frivolous! And can their profession be anything more than a name.” SOC 17.8

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.”—Paul. SOC 17.9

A corresponding editor of the World’s Crisis, says: SOC 18.1

“An astonishing instance of a church lowering its standard of piety to suit the perverted tastes of the pleasure-seekers of the age, has lately come to our knowledge. A large and influential denomination, having an organized existence of sixty-four years, experienced an outpouring of the Spirit, followed by a revival. More than one hundred persons shared in the blessing. The whole community was powerfully stirred during an entire winter. The period drew near when ninety-four persons, who had professed conversion, were to be baptized and admitted to full membership. Of these, more than a score were young people, who had followed the custom of attendance at balls and dancing. This pastime, the rules of the church for two-thirds of a century had strictly prohibited its members. SOC 18.2

“The converted dancers were bent upon joining the church, but how were they to meet the prohibition. For they were determined to dance on, whether connected with the church or not! A concerted plan was formed. They would answer the official questions affirmatively, and openly promise not to dance—but with a mental reservation. The dodge which was decidedly jesuitical—succeeded. An official, leading member overhead the words. The rulers of the church were instantly summoned in secret convention. The pastor was in the chair. The official member who had got wind of the plan, stated the young converts’ scheme (!) to the assembled leaders. He then demanded that to save the young people about to join from directly lying, on the day of their admission to membership, the prohibition against dancing should at once be stricken from the rules of the denomination. ‘He believed in dancing, and should his request fail to be complied with, he would join another religious body, whose members were not forbidden to dance. SOC 18.3

“The deed was done; the obnoxious rule expunged; the dancing converts won the day, received the ordinances and the hand of fellowship. Which to them has the greater fascination, the prayer-meeting or the ball-room, we have not learned. And the pulpit of that same church warned the community not to go and hear the Advent preachers! Alas, alas! no comment but this is needed.” SOC 18.4