Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-04-13
Religious Reveling.
BY R. ]. S. MATTHEWS, ESQ.

received from -, inviting the
Sentinel to attend O masquerade
ball or hop, given under the aus
pices of the Presbyterian Pipe Or
gan Society of that city. The
Sentinel recognizes the compli-
ment, and thanks the young men
for the occasion it affords to dis
cuss the question evolved in this
method of sustaining church en-.
terprises, and supplementing a de.
fcient treasury. Without enter
ling upon the discussion of the
subject Of popular amusements,
per Sc, this argument only propo.
ses to consider the propriety of
raising the revenue of church
by such means.
The Sentinel is aware that the
churches of all denominations are
in the habit, at times, of securing
funds for ordinary and extraordi-
nary expenses by resort to fairs,
socisbles, festivals, shows, tab
leauX, concerts, charades, oyster
suppers, clam.bakes, Thespian per
formances, fish fries, spelling
matches, railroad excursions, raf-
1es, lotteries, and, as in the pres
ent case, by balls and gatherings
of kindred character. In them
selves these things may be inno-
cent or otherwise, proper or i'm
proper. The Sentinel does not
propose to decide these points or
discuss them in that light, but on
ly to examine their appropriate
ness as a means of sustaining a
church organization, and the chris
tisn morality of accepting such
funds as gifts to the Lords house.
The dignity of the. church itself
forbids the association OF ideas nec-
essarily brought together in the
church's becoming the patron of
such methods of securing money.
The church is not an institution
dependent for its existence on
charitable contributions. 1t is
not beggar that it should appeal
here and there for that which will
sustain it's life. In the ordination
of the church, other means were
provided for the expense Of sus-
tanning it. This is clearly set
forth in the Scriptures, and the
church itself is to receive q spec
tial benefit and blessings in using
the appointed means. Those who
give to the church in a gospel
way will receive gospel blessing
for their deeds. Giving is clearly
pointed out as a christian grace.
If that grace is not cultivated,
there will not be found symmet-
rical christian character.
The Almighty, whose are the
cattle upon a thousand bills, and
the very earth and the fullness
thereof, could have fed his servants
as he did Elijah, if he had chosen
that way, but for the benefit Of
the church, to cultivate grace,
he permits and commands the
christian to cultivate the gift of
giving. Bringing the tithes into
the storehouse brings with it the
blessings. These are simple Bible
truths, that must be admitted by
all who are guided by its teach
ings. This view will at once do
away with all these extraneous
methods of helping to fill the
church treasury, and it would
seem unnecessary to proceed fur
ther in showing the incongruity
of this semi-commercial and social
way OF getting money. But per-
haps slight ventilation of these
methods may deepen the impres
sion OF their improperly, and
lead some at least to stop trying
to serve the Lords purposes by
festival exhibitions, strawberry
suppers, or oyster stews. Those
who attend and take part in these
gatherings do not do it from a
sense of duty, but because they
like it. Hence, the profit arising
from them is no gift. A sense
of duty would rather put the hand
down into the pocket and take
out the money and pay it over as
the Bible directs. These things,
instead Of appealing to duty, Of
tener appeal to the stomach, to
social proclivities, to pride, and,
not seldom, to sensuality. An or
dinary church fair is productive,
on an average, of from three to
six family feuds that will last for
years. They are usually attend
ed with large amount of extor-
ton, producing dissatisfaction and
disgust. They lay heavy tax
upon pride, and frequently wiring
from the pockets of those who at.
tend money that should be paid