Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-09-19
THE AGRICULTURAL BXHIRI-
TION.
Eds. Independent:

cultural Society Is over and past.
II nownumbered withthe things
that were. Not so with its effects
and influences. They must and VI i'll
live as long as time lasts, ar cterni-
~ endures And now that the tour
davs of hurry and excitement are
past,it becomes us, as rati nal men,
to stand and look back and then
look forward and find out if we can
see the effects and Influences The
fairs have and will have on our
permane peace and prosperity.
DO they, as they are now conduct
ed, tend TO elevate us in all that Is
higi and noble? Do they bring us
up 70 where God intended lis TO
stand, as regards this lifo or the life
TO pns Do they improve and
bring up the moralsofthe people ?
DO they bring peace Of mind, and
do they lay a foundation for our
young people to build upon? Do
they furnish the means by which
many of our young men will take
hold that may lead them far away
from all that Is high and holy -
Cannot these exhibitions be had
and the doors closed to all that de-
m0raliZes or destroys? Can we not
have a fair free from racing. gam
bling, drunkenness, and all such
like? We can and should. And
are we not responsible in good
degree for any that may fall aud
{ fill a dishonorcd grave? Christian
fathers and mothers, and all that
love and practice morality, / ask
you to look at the tendency Of fairs
as theyare conducted In these days.
DO they not tend to loosen the NOR
ais of many? Why, such has been
the excitement and whirl Of the
last four days, that good many
good people, men and women, have
been caught and brought into the
! popular current, and have aided
/ by their presence and seeming APP
+ probation, in furnishing TO those
they love most dearly the means
of their overthrow for time and
eternity. | appeal to all and to any
who do possess and do follow
Christ, to answer to their own con-
science and to their Master, If af-
ter they have participated in the
incidents and scenes ola day at the
fair,and when they lay their weary
heads upon their pillow at night,
after the excitement of the day is
past, if they have no misgivings of
the propriety of their being pres
ent at the fair that day. And Of
you ministers of the gospel Of Jesus
Christ, / would inquire were you
about your Masters work when a.
tending upon the fair, did you
speak a word for morality or reli
gion at that time and place, or
might not your presence there
have been the cause ofsome one
weaker to 60 astray, and, perhapb
loose the spark Of grace out of
their souls and finally be lost. The
great Apostle Of the Gentiles says
in one place, All things are law
full to me-" but all things are not
expedient. 1t may be lawful for
you and all christians to attend
fairs, but Il 1t expediont? Does
your presence there add to you re-
ligious influence ? Are you 4 better
man? Are you better prepared to
reprove sin after you have been at
tending one of these fairs? These
are plain questions; answer them
to your own hearts and to God,
whose ministers you profess to be.
And as you looked upon the scenes
enacted at this,and / suppose at all
other fairs, gambling drunkenness,
swearing, racing, and q great many
more violations of the word and
law Of God; ask is ii place for
child of God to be. And as we
look upon the many young men
going about the streets staggering
from one side of the street to the
other, then think Of the sad
hearts at home, when their boy the
idol of pure parents hearts, sh all
be brought home in q state OF In
toxication, or when they shall hear
that their boy is drunk In Jail.
Now, people of Martinsburg and
the surrounding county, don II say
this is an overdrawn picture, or that
ii is too highly colored. The half
has not been told.
/ do not say that all that attended
our fair committed sin, but / do
say that their presence there en-
couraged some to wander off from
good and may be lost to all that is
good and lost forever. And such
is the influence surrounding us,
that a man nor a minister Of the
gospel, as ! am advised, has raised
his voice publicly againt these
things, that are carried on daily at
our fair. Why, is it? Are we as
professed christians. compromising
with sin and the dew ? If
we are stSod forgive us. and put a