The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-01-22
DIR. EBONY ON CHURCH FAIRS.
THE VIEWS OF \ BROTHER OF THE AFHI-
CAN CHURCH.

THE VIEWS OF BROTHER OF TIE AFHI-
CAN CHURCH.
As there is at present a little ripple of
excitement on the subject of church
fairs and lotteries. the views of Rev. Dr.
Ebony. as reported in the Newark On.
j. Cal, will be timely rs well as edify-
ing:
| shell. my dearly belobbed bredderen.
parse ober de text and buckle right down
to what | has TO say in VERY short
metre.
Am church dc right place for holiin'
anything in de 'musemcnt line? Dis
am question dat Our white brudderS are
continually in hot water about. Now.
what agitates the white Christian also
shakes up de colored Christian. For
does not Shakespeare. in de play of de
Dry Goods Merchant of Venus. say, by
de lips of dc Jew, Are we not fed wild
de same club, crippled by de same corns.
healed by de same cod libber oil and
warmed by de same kitchen fire as de
white man am ,"
Darefore, what am sass for de white
goose am sass for de black gander.
Don't we hab de same troubles raisin'
stamps to run dis church as de white
congregations do? De cnss of debt
weighs down de roof Of de whitewashed
edifice Of lie poor as it does de high tow
ers of de synagoges of de wealthy
Dere am no distinction in de visits of
impccuniosity: it am as democratic as
the measles. \ cherch gifts in debt as
natural as Wall street broker. De
only vaccination dat | knows to keep it
from spreadin' am strict economy.
Now, how hab we raised much of de
desired stamps to keep dis gospel mill
agoin? Why, by de same means as de
white folks. Amt we had our straw
berry festivals in Summer an our ladies'
fairs in Winter, to say nuthin of con-
certs, an readins, an steeriSkops. an PAN
nyrammers. Now where hab ebbery one
of dem shows been held? Why, right
in here. down in dem pews yonder. up in
dose galleries. Indeed, bredderen, some
parts of dem :tainments hab wandered
up to this VERY desk at which am now
standin. Many night hab desc church
walls echoed an answer to some soprano
sisters comic song, an de laughin' voice
of some aged sister turnin' scream
freezer hab rang out merrily under dat
quire loft.
Darefore, my belubbed. can we chuck
de brickbat of correction around reck-
lessly and cry shame at dose uddel
churches who do desc VERY things >
Not muchlv.
LAWN made it plain, beluhbcd, to de
thickest head among you dat we have
been tightin' our church debt wild de
same artillery as de white folks, next fol-
lows de thought, was it dc right ting to
do?
'Gor,lin' to de trustees report Of de
pas year. which | hab before me- dis
church am now out of debt. Shout glory
for dat and lie good Lord help us from
ebher wanderin' into dat ditch agin.
Well. bcin' out of debt we kin now
be independent of shows and fairs, dare
fore we'feel more courage at calm EN- a
dissertation of dis buildin to hab had EN-
here. 1t am wonderful how strong NOR
ally man feels when he parses hen
rooSt wild big turkey on his back dat
he has won at a rattle.
Fustly, belubbed. let me take up dem
church fairs dat we hab had so numer-
ously. Do you tink now dat dey were
altogcdder de cheese for to take place in
yere buildin?
say most 'fatically. belubbed, dat dey
were not. And why not? Because
hab preached to yo'1 time and agin OBJ de
sin oh playin' 4-11-4i Yet at de las
fair did not see Brudner Ephram jun
per runnin round amongst We holdin' up
one of Sister Elmyras big lasscs cakes
an he yellin "Chances only five cents?'
He was small sized Louisiana lottery
agent-it was gambollen. Dere am 4
State law gin dat sort of business. &c
to East Newark an ask dat conundrun
of de folks dat smashed de Frelmghuy.
sens lanterns in de las lection.
Den dere was anudder scene at dem
church fairs dat to dis day makes me
feel uncomfortable when | comes into dc
fold of de lams Ob de Sunday school,
You'll remember dat when dc little pic
carinies cum to de fair holdin tight to dc
few pennies dat de fetched wild EN-. did
ask, dem small fry. dem innocent little
ebony cherubs, lab fair show in de de
posin of dere coppers? If dey did VIII!
does Sister Hannah Duzenbury. in de
| front seat below me. blush So red? Mus
| tell you de truth? | will. 1t am IN,
| dooty as pasture. Dc moral STANDARD
Of dis cor gregation kin only be histcd b,
sch unpleasant means. You see SHE
was bossin de grab bag. She jist laiC
| for dem innocent children. and she gath
cred 'em to her. Her little game wa
dat she had big boy shown off iacl
| knife. and she says. will de little dear
try dere luck too? 1t is Il penny, IN,
little critters oh. it was de voice o
Syreen-''try and see if you kin git
big jack knife fora penny Little Mos
Inkstand tumbled at once And wha
got Nose for his penny investment >
Why, a peppermint lozenger done up il
fourteen newspapers. Mosey told Jack,
Slaussen dat his grab felt so like pal
Oh skates dat he froze on to it at once
Oh, my belubbed, hear now de sorrow
Aunt Judy SHOWS table droppin his sal
tears into de MANILA scream lie wa
turnin. Brudder Clampson will testif
dat | told him at de time dat if on
church fair couldn't get alang widou
dem swindlin' grab bags dat We had BET
ter close up shop and move into de ne,
village. And tell you, belubbed. dat
had no heart to come down on little Mos
| when | seed him lateer in dc evenil
when Aunty Shows back was turned
slowly hist de kiver of her freezer a
him measure for dat mouth Of his cuoug
strawberry and MANILA to set up a youn
restaurant in business. But Moses mus
nebber do SO agin. Dat amt de RICH