Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-07-03

PULPIT AND PEW PAPDRa.
"Noe Social


"Noe social"
1--WE are In for il again, my DEAR" said
the minister 70 his faithful coadjutor and
counsellor, a. he returned from . round
Of calls one Afternoon.
"'It,' le. me remind you," she replied,
''is most indefinite and general express
sion. What may this particular it bel"
"Well, Mrs. Mover, on whom I called
to day, says it is time for tho summer
festival, and when Mrs. Mover speaks,
you know, the rest Of W must listen and
obey! But I wish this whole abomin.
able (the minister felt that in the bosom
Of domestic privacy he could use strong
language with comparative safsty] bust.
ucss of fairs and entertainments, yes, and
SO called sociables too, might be abolish
ed!"
"But, my dear husband, where would
be the sociality Of the Church in that
caseF" queried the wife.
at would be in a better condition than
it is now, you may be sure Of that. Be-
sides, the Church was not made for the
purpose Of social culture. It was made
to spread religion. This whole social
business in connection with the Church,
as an end in itself, il great mistake.
The social feeling that comes incidentally
through fellowship in service amounts 70
something. This is artificial and good
for very little."
"You will have hard work to persuade
our ladies into the adoption Of such ideas
don't know that I believe in them my
self, though you have been preachin,
them ut me for some time" said the min
ister's wife, who sometimes took littl,
comfort in stirring up her husband I,
argument, though, loyal soul that she was
she generally agreed with hin to the full
II know it, and that is just one Of tn.
troubles. The women Of the Church
bless them, mean well. They want to d,
the very best they can; but they are mis-
taken in their methods. Mrs. Mover
wants to have u festival party, as shs
says, to promote sociability in the con
gregation Don't l know just how il
will work? Mrs. Movers set will all keey
together; they will not have asythin,
special to do with the set that Mrs. Car
penter and Mrs. Smith are in. They vii
be distantly polite, but there will be NJ
minyling Of the two sets. The fact is
my dear, that so fur as society is concern
ed, there are social grades and distinction,
that must be observed. They are growths
not artificial productions. But wher.
genuine Church work is concerned, thes.
distinctions ought 10 vanish, generally d.
vanish"
Perhaps you are right" said the wife
but don't you make distinction with
out difference? Is not Mrs. Mover,
festival Church work?
The good woman spoke With littl,
air Of triumph, though she felt secret,
afraid Of her husbands logic. 1t woult
never do to let him see that thought
"Ms. Mover calls it Church work, ant
has persuaded herself that it is such,
said the minister, "but it is not what
call genuine Church work. If this wcr,
a frontier community, with no social op
portunitics, the case would be very diff
ferent But a. it is there is no occasion
at all that the Church shall provide socia
entertainments. They do not, to any grea'
extent. promote sociab,lity, and they de
occasion some inielcites If not evils"
"Wcll, what would you have then?'
asked the wife, who began to catch /,
glimpse Of her husbands meaning.
"Let me illustrate, aud 20 bring tn.
matter to the level Of your understand
ing" said the minister. "You have Of
ten remarked that there was very pleas
ant social spirit in the weekly gathering
of our Sabbath school teachers"
"Yes," interrupted she, "thosc meet
ings are genuine sociables."
"Precisely, my dear. And the reaso1
is that the teachers are engaged in genu
Inc work, and they are intent on that.
is not a question with them Of social stand
ing, but simply Of aptitude for the work
They are in that meeting not on socia
grounds, but for service. 1t Is case ol
true Christian fellowship, Of brother
hood, and the sociability takes care Of
ITSELF"
81 have noticed the same thing in ou,
womans prayer-meeting," said the wife
honestly. though she saw where her hus
band was leading her.