Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-05-29
CLEARFIELD, Pa WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1878.

great multitude of dark lives. The
point we make is, that the alternative
of reform through popular excite
ment is no reform at all. And we
make the further point that man
who will not sympathize with reform
because Of the excitement that accom-.
panies it, is, ninety.nine times in hun.
dred, man who does not sympathize
with the reform on any ground and
the hundredth man is usually an i'm
practicable ass.
Let us take this matter of paying
church debts by what has become
known as the Kimball method A
church builds house of worship. IL
costs more than the original estimate,
or some important members have fail
cd in the expected or pledged sub.
scription, or worse than oil, debt has
been incurred with the eyes open and
by intent. Ii has been carried along
for years, the whole organization
groaning with the burden To few
il has become intolerablo. They see
the church dwindling. They see stran.
gers frightened away by this skeleton
in the closet they see their pastor
growing gray and care-worn or utter.
ly breaking down and knowing that
nothing stands in the way Of the use.
fulness and happiness of their church
but the debt, they cast about for help.
We will say that in most instances the
church is able to pay the debt, provid-
ed every man will do bis duty; but 1T
so happens that every man will not do
his duty, except under some sort of
social excitement, which MIR. Kimball
or his helper supplies Now, it is sim
ply question between paying debt
and not paying 1t at all. 1t is not
practically question between paying
in one way or another
This method has been tried many
times with the most gratifying success.
In one brei hall day, by means of
everybody doing his part under the
influence of eloquence and social ex.
element, debts have been lifted and
churches made tree. Churches and
congregations have sung and wcpt over
their success, and with the Joy that
came OF duty done and sacrifice made
for the Master. Just here steps in the
critic. He has known nothing of the
burden that the church has carried.
He knows nothing of the happiness
that has come from the sacrifices made,
or of the hopes that have been born
Of them. He only knows that il is
probable that men and women, under
the excitement of the occasion, have
subscribed in some instances more
than they could afford 10 subscribe.
Therefore, in the opinion of the critic,
public excitement fdf the purpose of
securing the payment Of a church debt
is wrong. The critic does not take in
to account the fact that the willing
part of the church has been most un |
Justly burdened with this debt for
years, and that nothing under heaven
but an excitement will stir the unwill- |
ing part OF the church to do its duty,
OF course be does not take into ac-
count the furthur fact tha. no sacrifice
that has been made for him, and for
which he can only make poor return,
at best.
To the critics Of this method of pay
ing church debts, who object to il on
account Of its proclamation of the Sab.
bath, no better reply can bemade than
that Of one who found occasion to de-
fend himself in. their presence. "We
are told" said he, shat il was permis.
sible in the olden time for a man to
relieve his ass on the Sabbath day
when the animal had fallen into q
ditch, and | am only trying to relieve
a multitude Of men and women who
have been asses enough to stumble
into a church debt" The answer is a
good one, and jnstifics tsclf.-Dr Hol-
land