The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-07-25

is now spun out to a great length, but
|, it is late and I am too weary to re.
v write. With best wishes to all in
c Southeast Missouri.
II. C. NoRTON.
Our Churches.
The religious DEMOCRAT true to its
, instincts, has been attending church
OF late, not for the purpose of invidious
, criticism; but rather TO draw the at
, tention of our non-churchgoing popu-
, lation to the pleasure derived from q
proper exercise of that duty.
Life is short at best. and the great,
mysterious, unknown-but hoped for
happy future stares us in the face; and
though like Newman, Il do not ask
to see the distant scene; one step
enough for me-" Yet there is q strong
desire planted in the bosom of every
human being to better their condition
in this life and the life to come, and
if those who make a study of all that
has been written on the hereafter, and
in connection Herewith the maynard
ness of human desire can give us any
information that would guide our
feet, and help make us better men,
better husbands, better fathers and
better citizens, would il not be the
part of wisdom, aye, the exercise of
simple common sense to go hear them,
and CLEAN all the benefits from their
discourses that we possibly can. An
hour or two spent in this way on each
Sabbath day will do much to drive
away the blues and Danish morose-
ness. 1t would have a tendency to
make US more socially disposed, moro
neighborly, more cheerful and moro
contented If nothing else. But we
contend it will do more. There we
are thrown into the company Of our
most refined ladies, and their very
presence tends to soften and purify
mems rough nature, which alone will
pay well for the trouble. But 1t goes
further than that. What more pleas
ant and profitable theme could he
listened to for a brief half hour than
the self-sacrificing works, kind words
and noble deeds of Christ the o of
Joseph, during his ~sojourn on earth.
The most skeptical will admit that he
was a great reformer and laid the
foundation of the present christian
era, which has abounded with so
much beniit to humanity.
With these thoughts bristling in our
mind the question arose where shall
we go and find, if possible, tic most
interesting and profitable place.
Thinking of days long since past,
when we attended Sunday school at
Methodist church: that church
that has done 10 much to c~ivilize and
christianize the human race; that
church that has touched the hearts of
of men and women and filed
hem with gladness and smoothed
heir paths through life and their pill
lows in death; that church whose
methods of worship are better adapted
the wants of humanity than any
we sought the modest chapel
now under the care OF Rev. ii. A.
Smith, and dropped into a Sunday
school which numbered fifty-ive
scholars and teachers.
After school was dismissed we were
surprised at the number of persons
who are communicates here, for when
he church was first erected they
but fifteen, and now the
office is full to overlooking, amongst
whom are some of the oldest and best
antilles In this city and community,
Who come here, as their parents came,
o find that spiritual comfort and
'eace that the world cannot give or
axe away. But what surprised and
LEASED us most of all was the sermon.
t was short, (half an hour,) but full
t sterling truths that a person can
AIRY home and think over " it'll profit
MI. Smith Is none of your sensa-
ional pulpit orators who have no
1ore christianity in their soul than Q
orse; but a deep thinker, clear and
oncise in argument, and withal Q
God speaker and earnest christian
ne well worth going to hear. The
and music was good, but
itched in too high q key which
AIRED the large congregation from
and thereby lessening its
God effect. The deacons of the
hurch will not be offended If We
hat one inch be cut from
back feet of all the benches, which
i'll improve their comfort very
luch.
II would do some of our intellectual
who hunt squirrels ON Sunday,
God to hear Bro. Smith preach q few
80
Lemon Chill Tsnie.
Is so pleasant that children look
to the time to take it and vet