The record-union., 1897-01-28
A Sabbath Evenings Experience.

t1on unless so desired, but as a guarantee
OF good faith.-Eds.
A Sabbath Evenings Experience.
Ed. Record Union Returning from
the Folsom excursion and it's expert
ences. l was bent upon finding all the
good side of life possible, as antidote
to the sorrowful side. The first ring OF
the bell said Come" so l went forth,
following up the invitation as it peal
ed forth in vibration, finding echo in
the hearts of men Cor minds, according
to their capacity Some fail-yea, a
great many-to catch the vibration, be-
cause the bell is in too high a steeple
and the spirit-stirring waves pass over
unheeded by the masses.
1t may be the Salvation Army COM
prehend the situation, and SO go about
in bands, sounding the drum and its
sister accompaniments close down to
mother eanth SO as to gather UP the
scattered children and the poor busy
bees OF life's confusing strifes, whose
backs, bent by heavy burdens, get no
time to Straighten UP to catch q
glimpse of spire or the heaven of blue
into which the knell of the bell goes into
and ON, maybe to awaken some whose
earthly conditions the terminal of sell
fish strife prevented, and who now, in
some more restful degree of life, may be
Led on and on
Well, it was dark, SO I did not notice
that the church I entered was about
half spire or 1 would have passed on
TO church that had more good plain
floor. l never object to put in my con-
trlbutfon to help pay for sitting or even
standing room, especially if the good
minister has something good to say,
Which OF course he always has, if he is
not in too great a hurry to make way
for the contribution box to be passed
before the people slip out-a trick
have noticed here.
1t may be that this gives the i'm
preston that there is much sickness in
homes. If each one who goes could
only remain to see how lonely the min
lister looks when the time comes for the
benediction, l think more would re-
main to prevent even if-as I notice
many do-they look the other way as
IL absorbed in some deep problem, often
truly necessary one, as how to give
the dime to pay for a church debt, and
at the same time how to have charity
Begin at home and prevent debt. In
some homes I judged there might be
too much charity, and the sacrifice of
ribbon or feather now and then would
be only the proper thing as compensa-
uon for asserting the personality in ac-
ceptance of church hospitality.
Passing out from this church I said,
Let us go to the Salvation Army Hail.
L like contrasts, they make one Think"
The waves of their music had drawn
along the little skiffs and driftwood and
remnants of wrecked ships, once nobly
grand; some, too, who, weary of the
hne process which, as bakers say of too
tine flour, THE strength is out of it;
coarse flour, containing all the wheat,
Is more strengthening" seek freedom
from too much show externally and
long for more original good, and less
hearing about original evil" which.
looked for and expected, generally, as
the world shows, develops
There was an air of sincerity among
the Salvationists Their experiences
were honest, and they seem to scorn the
conservative bonds which make hypo-
critics through fear. They seem to have
V.
which bows to hidden evil because
polished and gilded. With bright, open
faces they look into the world and saw.
IF we have sinned, we have only with
drawn out of the world of sin, sorry for
having submitted for time And now.
with Gods help and willing hearts, we
go out into the world to save others.
Having been lifted. we know better how
to lift others. With God for our lever.
we hope to move the EARTH
My only regret was when the contri-
button box went around to collect sim
ply 50 80 for hall rent and light. I
had paid too much on the steeple. and
could only give a dime to pay for the
good substantial floor whose surface
was filled away back to the door, and
yet not enough could be collect
ed to pay the rent, etc.
With much pleading dimes came
reluctantly forth, but failed in number
TO make up the sum. When I think
what great sums of money are paid out
for street and city cleaning, I Won
der why it is such terrible hard work
for these earnest life-cleansers to get
enough means to do their work in such
a way as not to detract from their
earnest purpose.
Why will not the well-off church
members and worldly rich ones outside,
contribute as we'll as they do to keep
fevers and epidemics away, that these
good people may do the same work
morally? would they not find taxes
decreasing which now must go out to
keep up prisons, and sometime. when,
the good work is not bondaged by pov-
erty, find the single tax" of prevention
far more satisfactory and less expen-
Sive?
Oh. you who have more than plenty.
don't pull your skirts aside and pass by
on the other side, but go forth with
your means at least, and do good. Let
these willing ones do the work that
churches fail in: then, and not till then.
will your churches increase in respecta-
BILE membership. II you cannot In
numbers overflow out into the world.
make it possible for the good. reclaimed
masses TO overflow into the churches
When praying Thy kingdom come
let us help ii to come. c. CE.J
Scientific Co-Operation.