The Grange advance., 1874-02-04
A Lay Sermon.
BY A SISTER.

l DO not wish to make excuses, al
though | believe that is the way an un-
announced sermonizer begins his dis
course; but being only a sister: and
my effort only lay sermon, suppose
I may be allowed to have two or three
texts to atone for my lack Of strength
Of argument.
My first text is, Given to hospitali-
ty," and as all my hearers are supposed
to be Bible readers, it is needless to
give book, verse and chapter. We
will in the first place consider what is
hospitality? Is it to give the best din
ners, and invite the largest and wealth.
lest crowds to partake? I think not.
Is it to keep in our buttery and cellar
the finest assortments of sweetmeats
and pastry, and to have our china
closets filled with the extra table ware,
and our linen presses with the finest
damask, all to be paraded for the
qualification of our own vanity and the
pleasure of our visitors? That is not
my idea of its meaning. We are told
that a " Bishop must be lover of hos
pitality," "Given to hospitality" but
it is not said that he must be man of
wealth; therefore I conclude that he
must be generous, not expecting a re-
ward, not because he is a Bishop, but
for conscience sake. We are told also,
to "Use hospitality one to another with
out grudging," which infer to mean,
set plate for your neighbor when he
comes in at meal time, and ask him to
eat with you, though you may have on.
ly potatoes for dinner. If the only
clean plate in the house is cracked,
do not let that disturb you, offer him
what you have and offer it without
grudging, maybe if you are liberal with
your mite that you will have roast beef
to offer him the next time he comes in.
"There is that scattereth, and yet
increaseth,' &c. I know there is u
great deal in the way We have been
taught, but in this land of plenty there
is no excuse for penuriousness. It is
easy to be liberal to those in whom We
have an interest, but our hospitality
must not stop when only our friends
have been partakers, for We are also
told to "Be not forgetful to entertain
strangers, and I remember to have
seen, years ago, in the Book that lay
on. the little round table with crooked
legs, something about having respect to
one wearing goodly apparel, and I sup
pose that was meant for our time as we'll
asfor the days Of St. Paul, so l conclude
that We are to entertain kindly feel
ing for all, friend and stranger, rich
and poor; those in authority and those
who serve; perhaps not to take all
alike to our heart and our confidence.
but to do good to all as God has pros
pered US, not only with our goods, but
also to extend to them that charity
which sutfereth long and is kind
And this brings me to my second
text which wanted to have read d-Not
to speak evil Of Magistrates and Minis.
ters, but as do not find just that in
my Bible, l will have to- give it, "To
speak evil of no man," which will Ger.
tainly include the ministers, and per.
haps also the magistrates. Nov. as i,
would be taking from us one of our in
.lienable rights, to deprive US Of tht
privilege Of mentioning the shortcom
ings Of our neighbors, which Of cours,
zoe a1'oeys do With all charity, We mus
conclude that is not evil speaking, Al
though it is not exactly doing q Y,
would be done By, serious thought .,
the subject is otf''ih' s,dasa = put
* & p,