The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-08-08
Our Churches.

"a very poor subject" saws one
Perhaps it is, but there is DO other
that so deeply interests the human
family as their everyday walk in life,
and their states hereafter. In this
world. some men think that fishing or
hunting on Sunday is the ne plus
ultra of enjoyment, while Others go
on foolish excursions and hold picnics,
filling their much abused stomachs
with water favored with hops and
colored with dclctrious drugs, thereby
striving to stifie the cravings of the
mind TO study out the mysteries of
nature and natures god. Thus they
go on from day to day, striving TO
forget the stubborn fact that death is
their only sure portion.
From the many wsnton dissertations
of that day "a day set apart, as ii is by
common consent, TO say nothing of
the edict from the mount-as q day of
rest and ~retleetion) by thoughtless
men who parade our streets with
bands aud other means of annoyance,
that a stranger sojourning in our
midst would think that this was q
rather sinful, coarse community, one
to be avoided, and he would be apt
20 seek a home elsewhere. But, if he
would but visit our churches. he
would quickly find that nine-tenths of
our people are devoted christians, and
bitterly opposed to all violations of
the Sabbath. a few ~thOughtlcss
doubters and scofrcrs We have got.
but how weak and unimportant they
are when compared with the truly
christian portion of this community.
BY some strange and powerful in
fuencc we were led-almost against
our will-to the German Methodist
Church last Sunday, and must confess
that we not prepared to witness
the sincere, pious devotion of the
members, individually and collectively
of that church.
The Sunday School was in session,
under the management of Mr. oclekc.
who was acting for the superintendent
then absent.
Our count showed forty-sevcn
scholars, all neat and tastefully dress
ed, remarkably well behaved and or
DERBY. After lessons and songs, the
acting superintendent delivered an
earnest and instructive lecture on the
morning lessons, and followed it up
with the system in force at our Nor
NAL School, of testing the scholars
memory by questioning them individ-
ually, promiscuously without warning,
on their knowledge of the subject on
hand. Their prompt and correct an
proved them no dolts..
In this church they have set apart
one Sunday each month as nickle. or
missionary Sunday. AT a given time
a hymn is sung, snd the scholars give
their offerings. 1t was really o beauti-
full sight TO watch the little ones, girls
first, then the boys, march up in mil
itary order and deposit their nickles
on the table in front of the pulpit,
then return to their seats.
School over, the congregation,
in family groups. came in.
Here again We witnessed sights we
were unprepared for. The members,
500 as they reached their seats,
knelt for a time in silent
prayer. Oh, We skeptics. Could you
have witnessed those acts of silent de-
engaged in by strong men and
women, unmoved2 then you
are objects of pity indeed. To us it
was proof positive that Jul German
citizens are, in deed and in truth, pious
and devoted christians, followers of
the meek aud lowly Saviour, and sets
at rest with US, once and forever, the
SANDER that -Gcrmans are all skeptics,
and care nothing for the Sabbath day"
This congregation has a new, mod
ern, and from an artistic point of view,
.he handsomest church in the city.
The pastor, the Rev. Froeschle, was
and his place was filed by
Rev. Henry IIaman, who preached an
excellent sermon from Eph. 2, 8 and 9.
Miss Ida Brennecke led the hymns
It the organ, and although the instru-
ment Is too small and weak for the