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with but little restraint. Rich dinners and late suppers are partaken of,
consisting of highly-seasoned meats with rich gravies, rich cakes, pies,
ice cream, etc.
Professed Christians generally take the lead in these fashionable
gatherings. Large sums of money are sacrificed to the Gods of fashion
and appetite, in preparing feasts of health-destroying dainties to tempt
the appetite, that through this channel something may be raised for
religious purposes. Thus, ministers, and professed Christians, have
acted their part and exerted their influence, by precept and example,
in indulging in intemperance in eating, and in leading the people to
health-destroying gluttony. Instead of appealing to man’s reason, to
his benevolence, his humanity, his nobler faculties, the most successful
appeal that can be made is to the appetite.
The gratification of the appetite will induce men to give means
when otherwise they would do nothing. What a sad picture for Chris-
tians! With such sacrifice is God well pleased? How much more
acceptable to him was the widow’s mite. Such as follow her example
from the heart, will have well done. To have the blessing of Heaven
attend the sacrifice thus made, can make the simplest offering of the
highest value.
Men and women who profess to be followers of Christ, are often
slaves to fashion, and to a gluttonous appetite. Preparatory to fashion-
able gatherings, time and strength, which should be devoted to higher
and nobler purposes, are expended in cooking a variety of unwhole-
some dishes. Because it is fashion, many who are poor and dependent
upon their daily labor, will be to the expense of preparing different
kinds of rich cakes, preserves, pies, and a variety of fashionable food
for visitors, which only injure those who partake of them; when, at the
same time they need the amount thus expended, to purchase clothing
for themselves and children. This time occupied in cooking food to
gratify the taste to the expense of the stomach, should be devoted to
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the moral and religious instruction of their children.
Fashionable visiting is made an occasion of gluttony. Hurtful food
and drinks are partaken of in such a measure as to greatly tax the
organs of digestion. The vital forces are called into unnecessary action
in the disposal of it, which produces exhaustion, and greatly disturbs
the circulation of the blood, and, as a result, want of vital energy is felt
throughout the system. The blessings which might result from social