used and misapplied them so as to make them without meaning. But few
sects that practise the lifting up of holy hands, and the greeting with a
holy kiss.

The humble ordinances of feet-washing and greeting with a holy kiss are
very repugnant to the generality of proud-hearted sectarians. They look
upon these ordinances as being degrading to morality. They call it an "act
which public decency abhors." Here they are mistaken: it is not public
decency that abhors it; it is a proud heart. A holy kiss is not indecent,
whether it be public or private.

Proud, sensual hearts have very depraved ideas of what is true decency. We
will here give an authentic newspaper account of a scene which all the
pure in heart consider a public indecency, moral degrading, Christian
disgracing and soul damning.

"Buffalo, Feb. 4--A lively row is in progress at Burns, a little town about
twenty miles from Buffalo, growing out of a new money-making scheme,
introduced at a church social held there in the Lutheran church parlors.
The church is heavily in debt, and the ladies advertised a social in the
church to raise money to pay the preacher and buy some coal. The men of
the congregation had all been seen and informed that the women had a big
surprise for them.

"Across one end of the room was a curtain. For an hour the guests chatted
after the old-fashioned church social style. Then the curtain was suddenly
withdrawn. There in a row stood six of the prettiest women in the
congregation, blushing and smiling, each bearing upon her bosom a placard,
on which were the words, 'You may kiss me for 25cts.'

"It was fifteen minutes before the device began to work; but when it did,
the silver quarters fairly showered into the young ladies' circle. Old and
young rushed eagerly to the front to exchange coins for kisses. The show
lasted only a short time, when the curtain was drawn. Then the storm
burst. The women were jealous of their husbands, and a dozen or more
family fights were started at once."

Similar scenes, and still more degrading ones, are occurring daily in the
aristocratic religious denominations. The sect parties and socials, the
fashionable balls, the obscene theatrical performances, are enjoyed, and
admired, and applauded, by thousands so low in morality that they feel no
shame. Their hearts are so naturalized and inclined to lewd ways that sin
can scarcely bring a feeling of shame. It is only holy and pure things
that are repugnant to