THE CHURCH AND MONEY.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 368, 24 June 1884, Page 5

THE CHURCH AND MONEY.

A writer in one of the American Reviews; a " Non-Ch;urqhrgo,er,,"y disguising the reasons for non-church-going,, aligns, among others, the expensivenes of chiCTcn' ratlendance. "He says : — " Religion has become the luxury of the rich, for the Church to-day is a beggar, not; humble and meek in its demands, but greedy, persistent)'' and also impudent. Our seeker for sustenance and l&spiration for, his better nature finds himself in a congregation of daughters off- the horse-leech, ever crying,. ' Give, give !' and he flees in weariness and., disgust from' 'their importunities. And yet, ii is not his pocket alone that is sensitive. His self-respect and pride are hurt. He . thought) perchance, that among the professed followers of the meek and lowly One there, mighji be a sort o -equality of position, as among' joint-heifs ±©u_ a common inheritance, compared with which earthly: resources are said to be insignificant. ißufcihe fiijds.that the continual calls for contributipqs,and for aid in the entertainments and charitable side-shows of the Church,, Serve, the purpose of gauging a man's worldly means, aud he is relegated to his place in the social grade of the Church according^to his ability to" pay for it.' 8 -•• i\ V; ,. •