The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-03-15
EMPTY SEATS.
What Excuse Have You for Not Going
to Church

the benefit OF that class Of people, alas
too numerous in every community, who
absent themselves from church on the
most trifling preteXts. 1t contains much
food for thought, especially by professing
Christians, and while it may not fit your
case it will bear careful reading and
thoughtful consideration. Read and
digest, and then act upon it as it may
apply to you:
Are YOU going to church this morn
ing, SUSIE" asked DR.. Clark, lying back
in his easy chair with the morning
paper a doctor who is ont day and
night can't be expected.
No, made jelly yesterday, and Pm
tired. I'm faithful enough to stay at
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?'
The voice came from suspicious look
ing parsonage seated on throne OF
human skulls. Around him was gathered
a crowd of terrible beings, each with d
crown OF fire, in which G cleaned some
name, such as malice, envy, pride, hatred,
and kindred passions.
eve have been busy to-day making
empty seats in churches began one.
| Nothing could please Inc better,
answered their king.
Il persuaded one man that he had a
| headache, and kept him from sermon
| that might have changed his old life,
said one.
| Il induced one good man to slip down
to his store and fix up his books" said
another, with a hOrrid grin.
"Goodr' said the king. "He'll soon
give up Sunday altogether.
q | was able to get one devoted young
man to visit old friends, said one imp.
Il worried a good sister about her old
bonnet until she decided to stay at home
until she got n new one, spoke up the
imp labeled "Pride'
"And | made several poor women, who
were hungry for Gods word, stay at
home to repine over their trials. | just
said to them, %, those rich people don
| care for you; you can't wear fine clothes,
so | wouldn't go where | was looked
down upOn'' He continued: "That
way | kept many poor people at home
whom the rich would have been glad to
| see
THAT is one of the best ways to cheat
poor people out of Heaven know of,
answered the king with approval.
- [ induced Il good many men and
women to Think that they were not
strong enough to go out, said one
| called Indifference "Of course, al
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 orphyslca
strain. And the ladies would have beer
able to clean house or go calling, but
made them think they couldn't walk tC
church unless they were perfectly we'll
every good said the king, with q
sulphurOus grin. Sunday headaches
mi ht often be cured by getting out il
the air, and backaches forgotten by
thoughts drawn to higher things. Bu1
you lying imps must use every weakness:
OF the flesh to help make empty seats
They all smiled, for in their kingdom
"lying' was Il great compliment.
Il have a way of keeping people home
from church, and they feel perfectly
innocent about it, said one. 81 induce
|
on Sunday. OF course, this takes thei
minds off sacred things to begin with
and puts them on dressing and eating
Hired girls, mother, and older sisters
have to stay at home to get big dinners
Many of the guests lose church to be il
time for dinner"
Anything to make empty seats,
approved the king. ''These people cal
not be tempted by Sunday excursions
but they miss Gods house Just as easy il
this way
''To make ladies feel that their servants
need no Sunday privileges is good,
suggested one.
Every true" said his superior "As
long as we can get Christian people tt
cause or allow men and women to wOrl
during their church hours, we can keeI
many empty seats in churches, and mel
and women away from God
81 am the weather imp" said ON
gloomy fellow. 8 go around persuad
ing people it is going to rain, or it is too
cool, too damp, or too hot to venture
out to church. 1t is enough to make ever
YOUR gloomy majesty laugh to see thes
same people start out the next day il
wind and weather. One would think it {
sin to carry umbrellas and wear gun
coats to church.
"ConfdentialIy," answered the king
when | find a Christian who has NJ
more concern about the weather Sunda,
than MISUNDERSTANDING to make a.
much effort forspiritual gain as he woult
for worldly profit Just give him up
It's no use to try to drag back the maj
or woman who goes to Gods house in al
kinds of weather.
I'm able to do good deal with som
of the ladies of the congregations,
spoke up the imp labeled "Fashion O
this World | can make some stay a
home because the new hat did not come
or because their clothes are out of style
or they have not got Il new cloak
Il have a better scheme than that,
said another. "These people you kee]
away are ndifferent-generally gOOd-fOr
, nothing folks who are hardly wort
getting into the kingdom of his Satani
majesty, but have n plan that emptie
seats OF the workers in the church,
That's Just what | want said tn
king.
Il make these people Oyerwork o.
E Saturday. For instance, get some goo
man the preacher depends upon, or som
deyout Sunday-schoO teacher, to max
Saturday the busiest day in the week
Just keep him rushed with neglecte
things till late at night and then he over
sleeps or is sick the next day, and can
get out, or, if he goes in, is too tired ar
/ sleepy to take part, or even listen
"Splendid nlan!' cried Satan.
|, "les, it works well with delicat
women. If they clean house, or hav
: Saturday night company, they can b
kept home without knowing that the
have broken the Sabbath the day before
4 church party late Saturday nigh
helps with empty seats.
GU are doing finely, my imps," hi
p, majesty said, warmly-for his breat
> was Il flame OF fire. preachers ma
= work and pray over their sermons a
the week, but there will be no results i
s preaching to empty seats. One of tn
, most important things we have to con
|, slider is how to keep people away fror
churches On~Sunday. Your plans ar
: excellent, but | might suggest anothe
:, good point All preachers have huma
lmperfectiOns-sOme fault OF manner c
. speech. Get Christians to criticise thei