The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-11-21
now snAIL WE snnvEs
LEnANoN. Nov. u. 1890.

l3EBANON. Nov. IA, 1870.
EnlroR LxnASoS ExrRrS
Now that Summer, with It's dust and /
heat, and weariness of toll Ia over, and I
Winter once more calls forth our en-
ergy To renewed life and purpose, the
question arises In my mind, how are
we Christians going to employ this
energyg And In what way can we best
serve our Lord and Master? There Is
work for each and every one OF us, and
there Is abundant energy for the work,
II only That energy be directed Ia the
right course.
Every year, what vast stores Of en-
ergy are expended In the giving of
church fairs, dinners, snppers, etc.
For days, weeks, and even months,
the ladies of the church will he busy
making all. manner OF fancy articles
to be sold, often going TO expense
which they can i'll afford, while they
neglect home duties and the comfort
of those depending on them,-and
too often driving husband and chill
dren farther from the church, instead
of attracting them 10 it. Then come
the final preparations. There are
committees TO be appointed, plans for
making the most money At the least
expense TO be carefully laid and exc
cuted, n vast amount of cooking to
be done, tables TO be arranged, all
manner of salable (and unsalable)
articles TO be displayed TO the best
advantage, many odd bits OF work TO
he finished at the last moment, a host
OF side-games TO be contfived and put
into competent hands, costumes TO
be made,--nnd thousand and one
) things 10 be done, making my head
swim 10 think of the half. Home is
| neglected entirely now. Little ones
are put off with hasty words by
mothers taxed beyond endurance.
There is general hurry and confu-
sion. The eventful evening arrives.
The ladies' are Mt their respective
c posts, with smiling faces.-tired feet
and worried minds. Children are
) running and playing, with no one to
e look after them,-laying up colds and
waywardness for the days to follow
q There are strangers present, with nc
one 10 make them acquainted or tC
render the evening enjoyable TO them
in any wav,-those whose interest i
: of work There are young people
with no one to direct their amnse
s ments; Young men, who, for the SAX,
O of appearance and from fore,
brought To bear upon them which M
!. young man with any pride or sensi
tiveness can withstand, feel obliget
to spend much more than they car
9 really afford (other Young men stay
/ H.,s. II 4.
: church fair, and resorting TO gam,
of cards or some other less expensive
i amusement.) There are bright younJ
misses, with winning smiles an,
r. twenty-five cents" here and twenty
five cents there. There is everything
, from a buttonhole bouquet to
, baby show. Articles are sold ut
price far exceeding their market value
many OF them, too, being useless 4
The purchaser But all this is consid
i cred right, because it is "for tn
4 church"
The festivities may end with al
Il auction, to dispose of cakes, candies
etc, left ON hand; or else lunch i
i given on the following day. Some
~ times even raffiing is resorted to, il
order 10 get half dozen prices fo
, some treasured pieces of fancy work
l. All over,-then comes the cleaning
and putting to rights, the counting Q
J. gains, the headaches, the colds, ba
;empers, vexations, exultations, an
all the rest that naturally follow
such an occasion, including the to
just criticism of the world. o, wha
% a waste of time, energy aud talent
Y We say OF woman, "She is n worKe
: in the church." BY this is mean
e that she is an active worker I'm al
= such money making schemes. Is thi
- work for the Master? Can we consci
!" entiously ask Gods blessing on thes
l. things? Do we engage in such wor
-e with truly consecrated hearts, feeliS
/. hat we are doing all to Gods glor
e and homer, and that by these mean
# we are advancing Christ's kingdom
?, On earth? To me it is clearly eviden
+. hat we do no good whatever, whil
We are most certainly doing n grea
= leal of harm, making ourselves, no
l. lights, but stumbling-blocks. True
oi ny these means much money is gath
p cred into the church; but after al
i 10 we MAKE as much as we think W
n 10? And does God bless money oil
ot | aimed in any such way? o, let u
;, put away this growing evil from on
midst Christ has given us grea
work to do. o, let us be true 10 th
sacred trusti Let us give time, yea
y intellect,-all that we have and are
Is His holy service, trusting in Hir
DC for all the rest. With more of Christ
Il spirit IN our midst, the means for t!
u carrying on of the werK will be freel
nj given, with Gods blessing TO speed
IA IN its mission. Nor would | discyui
+. age seciability. l believe in reaf 81
of liability, and would have more of i,
"a -sociability from a purely disinte
esled motive, with the love of Chri,
ior all III our hearts. o, that we ma
oe more consecrated, seeking in ever
:. | word and act to shed abroad the ligl
: If Gods love, that the whole worl
:, may be brought to the feet of our r,
al leemer,-our King,-and His nam
~ be glorilied ON earth as in heavenl
al II. S. G..