Something of this story reminds me of the famous Ozymandias poem. In a very real sense we are surrounded by the artifacts of a kingdom that no longer exists.

I think it is easy to feel the shock of massive and violent cultural revolutions like the ones that took place in some communist countries. It is another thing to watch the slow death of our own cultural heritage. Nothing is being forcefully taken from us and so it is hard to register that there is any loss happening at all.

What I can say personally, is I have no desire whatsoever to join an elks club or odd fellows or anything of that sort. I find it hard to imagine any kind of institution that could replace the multitude of activities that constitutes a church.