Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-07-14
Outlines of a Sermon on the Mod
ern Agricultural Exhibition
preached in the First Methodist Episco-
pal Church, Sabbath evening, July
9Th. 1893, by the Pastor Rev George
Y Leecb I

ceeded:
"The latter text is an exhortation to
diligence in husbandry. as superior to
other forms OF wealth, even that OF roy-
atty. 1t is confirmed by history. A
people, strong in its tillers Of the soil
whatever calamities may come, never
loses its power to rise to strength.
The attempt to organize q new Agri-
culture Association in our midst. pre-
sents a good time to examine the
methods and results Of these so called
A gri cultural Associations, which
abound throughout the land. | have
little, indeed. to do with the mere finan-
cial ends. But when they pass, by
their methods, into the sphere OF morals !;
when they become transgressors on
good morality, and educators of the
people in the violation Of law, then Il
faithful ministry may not shrink from
pr0nouncing upon them. Should it fail
to do SOFT would soon fail to be respect
ed. Not simply private morality but
national and municipal and associated
morality come within its sphere. As
the herald Of a God Of purity it is to cry
| out against such evil.
First, then: The theory underlying
these associations is a laudable one.
Agriculture must always rank rs :. no.
Bile calling. From the giving Of Eden
to Adam to dress and keep, to the pres
ent, the most exalted characters have
| adorned its walks. The possibilities of
this God-given vocation should be bet
ter known. Behold in India woman
yoked with the OK, to rude stake for q
pillow! Go to the field of old, and see the
rude sickle with which they painfully
saved their yield! Go to the threshing
floor where women and cattle sweat to
Gull the grain. Then come home; wit
ness the gang or steam-ploW, turning
its widths of s0dded wealth; or the
modern Binder" with beautiful meas
ure, laying its sheaves as serried ranks
resting upon their march or the mod
ern vibrator with its music, picking
| and cleaning and bagging ready for the
mill, while in yonder mansion Woman,
queen OF mans affections, hears its
blessed anthem celebrating her own
emancipation, and her empire of love.
My friends, it is right that machinery
should be exhibited and compared: that
our animals should be improved; that
our products should be enlarged. so as
to our arts: our applied science. All
this adds to the comfort of man and
gives him leisure to bestoW on his high
est good.
These exhibitions are as vivid object
lessons to attain this end. As the cere-
monies of Judaism lifted men to the
spiritual, so through the senses in this
matter, men are exalted.
The method of these exhibitions is
admirably adopted to attain this. A
few DAYS spent in such examination
will teach some men more than the
study of years.
Thus by observation and practical
study art has ever been advanced. The
sculptor, the painter, the engineer thus
obtain choir treasures of knowledge
and skill.
| bear then, cheerful testimony to
the value of the right working of the
great ideal The eXpostions at Chicago,
| of railway material and methods; at
| Atlanta, of the cotton king; at Cihcin-
natti, of general industry and art: at
Paris, of electrical methods, where our
| own Edison and his compeers seemed
| to have called in the spirits of Franklin
and Galyani to help them harness the
| fairies of the poles TO allrOral cars for
the benefaction of the human race
who can over estimate their good! So,
the glory and benificence Of our great
Centennial at Philadelphia, the expo
sitiOns at Paris, Vienna and the Crystal
Palace.
These affairs increase Intelligence,
quicken inventive genius, sharpen and
civilization to throb in answer to the
beatings of common heart. They
teach the brotherhood OF humanity;
start in new and blessed channels the
industries of mankind.
Every man, then, who wants t. ele-
waite his race, u lift up the poor, to
benefit the Workm IN, and is see the
rich led from selfish aggrandize-
ment to sympathy with the people who
produce, should feel noble pride in
the right maintenance of local eXhi-
bition.
Second: Unfortunately in the man
agement of these local affairs the origi-
nal ends dwindle to insign ficance,
while perverted ends rise immense, so
that the time has come when all inter
ested in the preservation Of the morals
of the community should cry aloud
against the evil. Note some objections:
/. These exhibitions, as suggested
are largely perverted in their manage
| ment
,. Doubtful and often vicious features
are made first in Importance.
3. Agriculture and the arts are treat
| ed at them as secondary, unimportant.
L. Moral distinctions and these be-
tween good and bad citizenship are
broken down, by throwing around I'M
| lawful and degrading practices the bla-
zonry of public gala season, and an
apparently quickened public spirit.
s. That education in solid industry,
which is the basis of all true husbandiy
| and the arts, is powerfully antagonized
| on these occasions by the vices permit
ed and encouraged before the assembled
people.
6. Our youth are educated, Father.
at these times, to live by their wits and
| their vilest wits at that.
:. Pauperism is fostered and society
debased at these exhibitions by unus-
ual temptations to habits of intemper-
ance; temptations especially debasing
TO our country youth.
\. All this peryersion of right is car
ried ON for the purpose Of securing the
tlashy but false success of attending
crowds and of reaping dividends on the
monies invested.
Note one or two notorious particu-
lars