THE MOCKERY OF MODERN PROTESTANTISM.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 10, 27 June 1884, Page 23

THE MOCKERY OF MODERN PROTESTANTISM.

(San Francisco Monitor.') Outside the Catholic Church that species of fervour hitherto known as " religion," has come to be recognised as a regular sham. To illustrate the truth of this statement it is only necessary to study the assertion made by preachers themselves— at least such of them as are honest enough to admit that Protestantism has lost its grip upon the masses, and is now laughed at when it tries to command or to coax its adherents.

A number of preachers met to consider the temperance question laifc week in New York city, when ifc was suggested that religion might be a forcible factor in staying intemperance. This suggestion, however, was met by this forcible rejoinder : ' " Why, we have only the ghost of religion left," said Mr. Elderkin. •' Men don't go to church. Women go, and men pay for it, and they build churches where they own property." Just so 1 II is considered " respectable " to have a church in every Nob Hill neighbourhood, but— like mansard roofs— they are far more ornamental than useful so far as any service they are to the cause of Christianity. Sectarians sometimes boast of the number of churches the sects build every year, but we opine there are many of them like the church alluded to by a " colored brother " at » meeting of black Methodists held recently, in which the following funny scene transpired. :—: —

"One church reported that ifc had eight stewardesses, and a member rose to express his astonishment at the large number. 1 Why,' said Brother Bean, ' the Book of Discipline says not less than three nor more than nine. 1

The objector insisted that as three and nine are odd numbers, tho number of stewardesses must also be odd. llt don't make no difference, anyhow, said a brother, " for stewardesses ain't responsible.' ' Ain't they, though ?' quickly came the reply. ' They're just as responsible as stewards, for a stewardess is a female steward.' Presiding Elder Cooper said he would not undertake to decide the question, but leave it "for Bishop Brown. Toe church at Pennington reported ten trustees, and immediately it was asked how it could have so many. ' Keep cooi, I've three churches,' said the brother from Penning-

' Well, how can ten trustees be divided between threa churches ?' The Presiding Elder explained that one of the is a church only in name, having but a singla member." We fear— if the truth could be known— that there are a good many sectarian Bible buildings of the same class as that alluied to by the colored brother at the above meeting— where one member comprises the whole congregation 1

The Pope is about to circulate an Encyclical against E'reemasonry His Holiness asserts that the Order is equally hostile to civil society and religion. He declares that various other sects of Socialists and Communists are, if not formally united to Masons, yat of a similar nature, equally pernicious and equally partaking of the nature of secret societies.