Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-04
OPPOSED TO CHURCH FAIRS.
No One Accepts Miss divers Chal.
lenCe-AlI On HE Sa me Side.

NJ Shc accepts Miss Ohver,s Chai.
ienEe-AlI ON the Same Side.
When the Rev. Miss Anna Oliver took charge
OF the Willougby- avenue Methods Episeopa
church, In Brooklyn, two years ago, she an.
nounced IN her opening sermon that she was
utterly opposed to the. holding of church fairs
and similar projects TO aid Christian
churches financially, and that her chlr,h
t would get along without money gaiued
tod bes }be esrc, g9od
without such entertainments. and her friends
gave her one year in which to kill the
churGh. the reverend lady has con-
the church is not yet dead. Some
time ago it was announced that a debate would
De held Is Miss divers church last even
Church Fairs Churches believing IN
such things were invited to take the
a ai1ld,a and the Willoughoy avenue
ing was held In the chapel-room, and was
largely attended. After a number OF Sunday
school songs had been sung Miss oliver invited
any any, ministers that might be present TO take
seats In the altar. No one responded. Miss
Oliver then announced that the simpson, the
Nostrand.A Avenue, and the Park-Avenue
Methodist ehurhes had been specially invited
TO debate In favor of fairs. because they had
Just been holding such entertainments, aud it
was naturally supposed they upheld them. But
when committee was sent TO the auJnOrieies
OF the N0Strand Avenue church they were Ia
formed that that church did not believe Ia fairs
and could not advocate them, although they
were holding one. Very much the same an
sWer was received from the simpson church
ana the Park-avenue church, all dec,in-
ing TO take the affirmative Oh the question to
be DEBATED, The Willoughby Avenue church
vas greatly astonished 10 find fair holding
churches declining TO support their own prac.
tees and heSitated about having the debate.
But as the newspapers had announced the de
DaIe, and as II was TOO late 20 send out contra
dlction, 1t was decided to go ahead and see
what would come of 1t. snow, continued the
pastor, Il don't see a single one OF our side
VINO agreed to take part IN the debate tonight,
like to speak In the affirmative on this Dues
ton, they have fair field and not single
prepared speech against them. But we believe
we are III the right and are ready TO meet any
arguments In favor OF fairs. We will have n
Tree discussion, but will take no vote so that
each one may form his own conclusions from
tne arguments. l ought to say" added Miss
OlVer, after long pause. ''that ii ws have no
lengthy debate we will have a spelling bee and
give prize to the best scholar. We have had
several Such bees In our church and they have
greatly improved the spelling OF our yonng
rolks.'
Miss Oliver sent young man out to get q
dictionary, and then renewed the Invitation 10
any one desiring to support church fairs. 10
one responded. at ought to be understood
said the pastor, after waiting some time, s'Ehat
we Include, under the term fairs oyster Sln.
pl ers, festivals necktle socials, leap year par
ties. charades, tableauX, cantatas, wax works.
theatrlcal entertainments, and the like Ia
churches-in churches only. Now, any one In
the a1ffmalive, don't hesitate to speak" There
was another long season or silence. Miss Oliver
went about in the audience and whispered TO
several gentlemen, but each one shook his
head; Finally, an elderly gentleman, who
Dutch Reformed church In Twelfth street,
rose up. Il think" said he, "we're pretty
well united In thinking our sisters side Is
correct, and, If our sister has no objection,
| think we had better slug the Doxology and
turn this meeting into prayer M citing. /
want to bless God that there are so many here
10 Brooklyn who haven't bowed the knee 70
ton to the audience, but Miss Oliver INTERRUPTED
him. Before we sing the D0xology," she said,
i want TO ask again II there is no one on the
affirmative side. Is there any one? II there Is
only one present we would like to helr him. for
II the fairs are right we want to be convinced"
This invitation was greeted With the usual
silence, and then Brother Montignanl or the
Park-avenue Primitive Methodist church, asked
permission to talk against church fairs, and did
So. He argued that such fairs did not promote
hoIness; that they drew young people away from
hechurch, AID drew the church into such world
illness that it was hard to distinguish between
GOds house and places of amusement. Ibid
Christ Ole, said he, leaving us the example
OF fairs, ice-cIeam parties and tea parties to
poem against fairs, and then the Rev Mr.
Woodruff, OF the Free Methodist church. said
the word OF Gcd settled the question, for It
said: "Ye cannot serve God and mammon =
A fair was just the same whether 1t was got UP
to serve the church or to sell rum. II we loved
these sensual fairs We could not be ChrIst's
disciples. Fairs fed the carnal heart and
worldly mind, and We're antagonistic to God
and His work. Mr.. Brown held that churches
ought 10 have faith In God for money to run
them. and then Miss Oliver said she was glad
they were all opposed to church fairs, e"
have given my reasons so many times"
said She, THAT it Is not necessary to repeat
them now. We will sing the DoXology, and
then we viii have our spelling bee" The spell
n nr
the audience as the discussion had 6een.-N. Z.
Times.