The Labor enquirer., 1885-01-10
THE FUNNY THING.
"zeno" Has ! Rap at the Religio.
comical Editor Of the Monthly
Cleaner.
For The Enquirer

For The Enquirer
The managers Of religious monthly,
published in Chicago, have abandoned
orthodox decorum and hired a funny
editor. This is a new departure, but of
course the religious press must keep pace
with our progressive age. Ill
Judging from the last joke. which is
entirely original, the humorous depart
ment. of the Monthly Cleaner will be- a
success. The main element in the gem
tleman's wit seems to be sarcasm and he
is sinfully irreyerent. I will give the
joke in full:
"Encouraging reports come to us from
several churches on the west side. Many.
souls are being saved and added to the
chuch. Let us thank God that although
the times are hard, there is never any
lack of divine grace. In hard, as well as
in easy times, the blessed invitation is,
ask largely that your joys may be full
Our Heavenly Father never gets poor,
and His treasury never gets depleted
There is still enough for all, enough for
each and enough forever more Our
kind Father may often shut US off from
these earthly pleasures to make us seek
the Heavenly ones. He may deny US
earthly gifts SO that we may seek the
gifts which cometh down from above.
God has not passed us over. While
blessing others We feel that he has been
blessing us. In our ordinary meetings
.t6irty-three nave been converted, yet Ne
are hungering and thirsting for a more
wonderful outpouring of the spirit upon
us. May we have the more plentiful
shower, we are praying for it."
When man has no coal in the house
he needs something to cheer him up.
The monthly Cleaner is distributed free
in a certain district on the west side.
When discharged workman reviews the
last number he will laugh at himself for
being troubled about lack of meal, po-
tatoes, beans, ETC., when all the time
there is mo lack of divine grace" which
he could have had as we'll as not. Some
people on the west side have no taste for
divine grace as substitute for dinner.
but this is true only of the lower classes.
1t proves lack of culture. 1t never oc-
ours to them that their "joys may be
full" without being full themselves gas
Economically. >.
The Butler movement, the anti-mo
nopoly party. trades unions, aud strikes,
all are wicked mistakes. The monopo-
list and the usurer are instruments of
the Father, used to shut US off from triv
ial pleasures like rye bread, butterlne
and cheap soup bones. How dare relief
societies thwart His will by distributing
food to the poor? ..r
Look at the subtle humor in this SEN
tence ... ..-...,.
"Our Heavenly Father never gets poor
and his treasury never gets depleted" T.
He let's his children starve for their
own good. The world will shake with
merriment to hear funny editor call
food and clothing pleasures" which must
be cut off by the Father occasionally to
make the giddy pleasure-seekers praise
Him and name over His good qualities.
In the next number we may expect to
see the Heavenly Father facetiously COM
pared to an earthly father perhaps as
follows:
A man has a large estate, bank ac-
count and half dozen sons. He meets
the eldest and says: :. 4
"Bill, that's sorry looking hat you
have, and your coat is too old and thin
for this weather, but shall not get you
any others for you have not been loving
me very hard lately"
To the next son: "'Sam, you must go
to bed without supper. People viii
never learn how great and wise am, if
l wait for you to tell them4" ~
To the third: mo, l will not get; you
any skates. You have not asked any.
thing Of me in contrite spirit for long
time. There is no grace in you"
To the fourth Walter, do you be,
lieve am three men 2" mo, pa"
Then i shall cut off your circus money
until you seek after the facts. You
haven't faith enough to move hay-
stack
The fifth son was particularly mild
and benevolent. He caught 1t as follows !:
Job. did you see your little brother
throwing the little pigs into the river2"
"Yes, pa, and | saved a few of them.'
II must chastise some one. Wait until
/ get the strap and yon will learn what
yicarious atonement il"
I hope nothing like this will appear in
the Monthly Cleaner for it would be al
most blasphemy. But what are we to