The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-09
Church Fairs.

At the Second Christian Church
Baltimore, recently, Rev y. Z. Wilkins
preached on the methods OF raising
money for Christ, and took for his
text ! Tim, iii. Is; But if l larry long
that thou mayest know how thou ought
est TO behave thvself in the h0nss OF
God, which is the church Of the living
God, the pillarand ground of the truth.
Christ said that Moses, because of the
peoples hard hearts, suffered them 10 do
that which was not intended from TIE
beginning. / believe to-day that there
are great many good preachers who
feel that the present methods Of raising
money for Christ by the church are sin
ful an4 disgraceful TO religion; bat Gus
/ tom and circumstances forbid their
/ protest and command them tn 90 for
/ ward and to do as others, TO which they
/ feel bound TO render obedience. Il Is
my purpose to notice few of the dis
/ graceful feats OF the church in raising
4 her needed cash. | notice first that VI
begging. The church, which should be
/ the most independent institution or
earth, has become constitutional
habitual beegar, and more time Is t2sel
up in begging the congregation foi
I money in some churches than in actua
worship. Children who desire to d,
/ something for the churches are taught
that the best service they can render tbs
church is to take the jug and 90 on
begging, and the greatest beggar wiat
the prize Young and modest ladie
are sent out to beg of allsclasses suppose,
a have money, and are often grossly
nsulted by the wicked. We do no
,ow our member TO gamble orplay-policl
fhis is right But some very bad gam
ding and policy-playing are done 70
the church and by the church, to rails
money, under the name OF cake walkin'
''iish-p0nds, gold ring in biscuit,
"the most popular lady" "the pretties
girl" etc. Look at our brUom-drili-
wherein our modest young ladies ar
made to prance up and down the hail
ike so many knights at the command O
some sharp tactician who Is too rel giou
to dance. At our festivals and fairl
where the Christian get down to busine
for his church, candies are bought for
and l2f cents per pound and sold at
and 10 cents, and other things on tn
: same scale. II we catch member o
the streets or markets at this bushes.
we rightly brand him as dishonest. an
shun him as an adder But what shall! b
done with the church? Aud this a
, in the name of the Lord. We cry aIou
for laws to preserve the sanctity of til
: Lords Day; and when the church want
: money VIC grossly violate those laws wit
r our Sunday excursions, compelling raj
: roads and steamboat employees, to whot
we should go with our bibles, to iabo
hard all the day; with our camp-mec
q ing tables. etc Shame Shame. Shame
, on the church; shame on the ministry
aud pity the people But W. have
/ new thing under the sun. The churrhe.
n am told, are swinging wide their sacre
! doors to the world, and are making til
i house of God l5-cent museum. III
: wonderful frog baby is now being exhil
= tied by some of cur churches in Oh
Q churches for money for the churche
: II the Christian can be saved after tn
!. fashion, where shall the sinner a1d th
r ungodly appear? The churches mu,
reform, and the question Is, Who
strong enough to lead off!