The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-03-29
AadsrsoH yntslIigeaesr.
EMPTY SEATS.
BY MYRA GOODWIN PLANTz.

ing, Susie 2" asked DR.. Clark, lying back
in his easy chair with the morning paper.
"a doctor who is out day and night can't
be expected"
"No: made jelly yesterday, and I'm
tired. I'm faithful enough to stay home
this cloudy morning." and Mrs. Clark
curled up on the couch with the Bible
she had not opened for week, but it
soon dropped from her hand. She was
aroused by a strange voice saying:
"Now, my good imps, what have you
done to-day to weaken the kingdom OF
God 2"
The voice came from a suspicion look
ing parsonage seated on throne of hu
man skulls. Around him was gathered
crowd of terrible beings, each with a
crown of fire, in which CLEANED some
name, such as malice, envy, pride, hatred,
and kindred passions.
"We have been busy to-day making
empty seats in churches" began one.
Nothing could please me better"
answered their king.
"Ipersuaded one man that he had
headache, and kept him from sermon
that might have changed his whole life, +"
said one.
81 induced one good man to slip down
to his store and fix up. his books" said
another, with a horrid grin.
"Good p said the king. "He'll soon
give up Sabbath altogether"
ri was able to get one devoted young
man to visit old friends" said one imp.
II worried q good sister about her old
bonnet until she decided to stay at home
until she got new one," spoke up the
imp labeled "Pride."
"And 1 made several poor women.
who were hungry for Gods word, stay
home to repine over their trials. lust
said to them, 'Oh, those rich people don't
care for you you can't wear fine clothes,
so I wouldn't 90 where ! was looked
down upon,' he continued "Thst way
l kept many poor people home whom the
rich would have been glad to see."
"That is one of the best ways to cheat
poor people out of heaven, l know of
answered the king, with approval.
II induced a good many men and wo-
men to think they we're not strong
enough to go out" said one called elm
difference" "Of course. all these men
will be at their business to morrow, even
if they feel worse. But they could not
go to church, where they would have no
special mental or physical strain. And
the ladies would have been able to clean
house or go calling but I made them
think they couldn't walk to church un.
less they were perfectly we'll"
s.Very good" said the king, with a
sulphurous grin. "Saeba.h headaches
might often be cured by getting out in
the air, and backaches forgotten by
thoughts drawn to higher things. But
you lying imps must use every weakness
Of the flesh to help make empty seats. "
They all smiled, for in their kingdom
"lyiog" was great compliment.
81 have way of keeping people home
from church, and they feel perfectly
Innocent about it," said one. II induce
people to have company, or go visiting
on Sabbath. Of course, this takes their
minds off sacred things to begin with,
and puts them on dressing and eating.
Hired girls, mothers, and older sisters,
have to stay at home to get big dinners.
Many of the gnests lose church to be IN
time for dinner"
Anything to make empty Seats" ap-
proved the king. "These people cannot
be tempted by Sabbath excursions, but
they miss Gods house just as easily in
this way.%
sTo make ladies feel that their servants
need no Sabbath privileges, is good" J"
suggested one.
every true," said his superior. ."As
long as we can get Christian people to
cause, OF allow, men and women to work
during their church hours, We can keep
many empty seats in churches, and men
and women away from God"
81 am the weather imp" said one
gloomy fellow. II go around persuadipg
people it is going to rain, or it is too
cold, too damp, or too hot, to venture out
to church. 1t is enough to make even
your gloomy majesty laugh to see these
same people start out the next day in
wind and weather. One would think it
sin to carry umbrellas and wear gum
coats to church."
"Cou6dentially," answered the king,
"when I find q Christian who has no
more concern about the weather, Sab
bath, than Monuay-determined to make
as much effort for spiritual gain as be
would for worldly profit just give him
up. It's no use to try to drag back the
man or woman who goes to Gods house
in ell kinds of weather"
''1'm able to do good deal with some
of the ladies of the congregation" spoke
up the imp labeled "Fsshion of this
World" "I can make some people stay
at home because the new hat did not
come, or because their clothes are out of
style, or they have not gotten a new
cloak"
81 have better scheme than that, J"
said another. 'These people you keep
away are generally good-for
nothing folks who are hardly worth get
ting into the kingdom of his Satanic
majesty, but have plan that empties