Chapter 17

Babbitt attends a committee meeting at the Enthrone mansion. Enthrone is a wealthy patron of the church. He makes his suggestions regarding improvements in the Sunday school, but Babbitt thinks most of them are old and out-dated. Babbitt presents his own ideas, which are modern and slightly irreverent. He starts by persuading Kenneth Escheat, a reporter for the Advocate Times, to write articles on Dr. Drew and his Sunday school class. Secretly, the reporter is being paid to write the articles, though it will appear he is simply reporting the facts. Babbitt's plan works; Sunday school becomes popular. The church commends applauds Babbitt as a hero and the reporter becomes friends with the Babbitts. Babbitt's daughter Verona is particularly fond of the young reporter. Babbitt borrows money from the wealthy Sunday school benefactor.

In this chapter, Babbitt makes new acquaintances and earns popularity. In his obsession to acquire power and position in society, he involves himself in activities that he does not really believe in. Though ignorant in matters of religion, he becomes a member of the Presbyterian Church committee to improve Sunday schools. He undergoes the ordeal of sitting through the dull lectures of the school and reads enlightening articles from journals to gather information about the methods of reform. Equipping himself with innovative ideas, he repudiates Eathorne's views and advocates modern concepts like advertising and attractive contests. Since he puts forth his ideas with confidence, they are accepted by the committee and adopted by the Sunday schools. So Babbitt earns recognition from the church. Once again, Babbitt is less interested in the ideas of church than the appearance of involvement and belief. Like everything else in his life, the church is symbolic of what Babbitt wants others to see in him.

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