X-Delivery-Notice:  SMTP MAIL FROM does not correspond to sender.
X-Mailer: QuickMail/SMTP interface.
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Mon, 14 Dec 1992 16:51:57 EDT
From:         Leo W <Leo_W@QM.CIRCA.UFL.EDU>
Subject:      SofT, Aug. 1895

Quoted from "Things to Come," a monthly periodical edited in the very late 19th
and very early 20th centuries by Dr. E.W. Bullinger:

Things that have come are signs of "things to come," when they are part of a
movement foretold in Scripture.

The distinct aim of the present day is to "please the people."  The Gospel, the
first and true effect of which is to produce repentance and sorrow for sin, is,
at the instigation of its great enemy, to be made "pleasant," so that the point
of its sword may not pierce, nor its edge cut.

There is no logical end to this downward road till we reach the great apostacy
itself.  Hence we are not surprised at anything we may hear.

Even The Daily Chronicle (July 8th) regards the following as one of the boldest
steps yet taken.  It gives a long notice of it under the title of

"THE PIPE AND THE PREACHER.

"... Manifold and ingenious have been the devices resorted to in order to
obviate what is regarded as the chief impediment to success, but probably no
bolder attempt was ever made to render matters mutually satisfactory than that
repeated weekly and publicly advertised under the auspices of the Rev. J.H.
Scott, M.A., Rector of Spitalfields, who is responsible for the religious
services held at Christchurch Hall, Hanbury Street, Whitechapel.  The following
printed notice is said to have been plentifully distributed in the
neighbourhood for a week past: 'If you want a smoke (free) come next Sunday
afternoon, at three o'clock, to Christchurch Hall.  A free cup of tea, if you
like.  Tobacco gratis.'

"Some time before three o'clock the congregation began to muster pretty
thickly, and it became apparent why the line on the invitation, 'tobacco
gratis,' was so conspicuously displayed.  The men were the poorest of the poor.
 Hanbury Street is in the midst of registered common lodging-houses, and
unmistakably it is for the most needy of the lodgers that these 'pleasant
Sunday afternoon services' have attraction.  A few were smoking when they came
in, others carried a pipe in their mouths, but with the bowl inverted to denote
its emptiness; while from many a ragged waistcoat pocket a protruding pipe-stem
proclaimed the owner a candidate for the gratuitous distribution of the weed.
They came trooping in to the number of 200 or more, of which two score or so
were women, who occupied side seats; and when it seemed that there would be not
many more arrivals the gentleman who was to conduct the service, and who
himself 'blew a cloud' from a briar-root, commenced to distribute tobacco.  It
was done economically.  A quicker way would have been to hand to each smoker a
half-ounce packet say, but the commonest 'shag' costs 3s. 6d. a pound, and, it
was stated, the fund for the purpose is at low ebb.  The supply was contained
in a bag, and each recipient was given enough to fill two pipes ...

"By the time all were served and plentiful wreaths of blue smoke were curling
roofward, several ladies who were to assist in the service were on the
platform, and the religious part of the proceedings began.

"First, there was a prayerful exhortation, and though apparently it was
attentively listened to, it was curious to see pipe-bowls and tobacco smoke but
half-screened by the hand, while the eyes were reverently covered.  Then there
was a hymn, in which the female portion of the congregation joined, but not
many of the men it being difficult, no doubt, to smoke and sing at one and the
same time, though it must be said for them that they were as quiet and orderly
as could be desired.  But after that came what they evidently enjoyed more than
all, and that was a hymn sung solo with much sweetness by a young lady who
played as well.  Probably they would not have ventured to applaud it, but on
the chairman (who still puffed at his briar) clapping his hands they all
followed suit with great vigour, their faces testifying as to how much they
were in earnest.  Then a chapter was read from the Bible, and the chairman,
taking up the theme (it was the miracle of the six barley loaves and two small
fishes), delivered a simple and excellent discourse on it that lasted half an
hour ..."

We fear that it must be said of such a service, however "pleasant," that it all
"ended in smoke."  But why stop at smoke?  Why not introduce drink?  It would
be still more "pleasant" and would attract people in far greater numbers!  And
why stop at that?

[I recall the recent "free Condom" services in town.  Some so-called
"Christian" ministers don't stop at smoke. - Leo]

Yours in Christ Jesus,
Leo
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU