The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-03-18
Church Fairs.


adequate expression did we read the fol-
lowing bill in country post office:
"FAIR! The Ladies of the First
Presbyterian Church of--will hold
a Fair to aid in the erection Of parson-
age.
"They would cordially invite their
friends and the public generally to be
present and enjoy the festivities and help
the cause.
"The late train will stop on signal for
those nights, and THE THEATRE TRAIN
To- stops on Wednesday nights"
It is presumed that the said church
has a minister, and that he will be pre-
sent in the enjoyment of "the festivities.
If he should have any scruplcs about
such scene it would not do for him to
oppose it, or if he oppose it. to be abb
sent. lie is expected to be present. and:
to help the people enjoy themselves.
Itseems that the people Of this fair
do not intend to close their fair very
early, since the theatre train is expected
to bring them some patrons. Alas If
one of their church members on that
train should speak to a theatre goer about
his souls salvation, how quickly might
the latter say, he could not see much
difference between worldly person en-
ioying festivities and saint getting up
another kind to save few dollars- turn.
ing the people of God into traders when
they should be offering prayers. And
perhaps some of the theatre-goers are to
attend. For what? To get their souls
saved2 No, to help along the cause.
But they tel, US, the church is poor.
So far good, SO we're tho early race Of
Christians, for the most part. But is
there not some hand large enough to give
them outright all they would make?-
And are tberenot Presbyterian churches
enough in the land to help this poor and
struggling church to its actual needs?
We may be told again that this fair Is to
be held in strict propriety; that there
are to be no grab bags, no ring cakes, no
post Office, no lotteries of any kind
They have not told us this much in the
bill, but since lotteries are against the
law in New Jersey, SO much may In
charity be supposed.
Our objections to fairs, and all such
means of raising money by the church,
arc as fo!lows:-
l. They Tar from the line of the
church's mission to the world, and d9aot
gre the word ihe idintcst idca -e'- 5r she
sriSritfstii lnasal9 Of .hasalarch.
2. But they do just tae oppos;tes The
facts are legion. They greatly help to
amalgamate the world with the church,
union which is indescribably hateful to
God
3. There is nothing said in the Scrip.
lures which in the least encourages them,
but everything to hinder the occurrence
of any such thing.
4. They are especially opposed to the
genius of the New Testament dispensa-
ton. Its enjoyment is spiritual, its rich
es are found in its poverty, its costly
temple for God is found in the exertions
and struggles of the tried rather than in
the external appearances of prosperity.
External prosperity, if we are to be
guided by the examples of the Apostolic
age, the age of Inauguration of the Holy
Spirits Work, is no longer q sign of
Gods special favor to the Church.
S. They are an unworthy means of
raising money which ought to come easily
in more appropriate way.
Dye believers in Jesus, why will ye
ask the world, and that in the very way
of the world, to help your Master? O ye
ministers Of the Lord Jesus, why SO de.
pendent on the will of the people that ye
cannot resist such worldly appliances !?
At the cost of everything to yourselves
we entreat you to rise against the present
tide Of worldliness in the Church
"Suffer the loss of all things" rather
than pile up "wood, hay, and stubble"
to burn up at last, when you yourselves
also may only be saved $50 as by fire."
New York Dry Goods Reporter.