Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-04-15
Millinery
city. Over two hundred

reach Of the humblest and poorest OF
Christian people, the Female Minstrel,
the Dog Show, the Dance OF the Wood
Nymphs. the Brownie Drill. the Mock
Town Meeting, the Fancy Dress Drill,
Tambourine Drill, Dude Drill, Great
Floral Dime Show, Mother Goose Party,
HuskinR Bee, Blackb bird Ballot, Violet
in Fairyland, Wish Bone Party, the
Mystic Nidgets, the Weigh Social, etc.
In contrast with this the benefcence
Of ih.. New Testament church was de-
v"ti"nai both in method aud motive,
The great motive being, ''F" W. know
thr grace Uf our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though Ia. WAS rich, vet for YOUR
snkr> he tecame poor. that ye through
his poverty might he rich 1.-The
love OF Christ constraineth US, because
we thus Judge that II one died for us
we should not henceforth live unto our.
selves but unto him that died for u.s."
nd hence the early Christians, under
the sway OF this mighty motive, when
crisis confronted them, ''sold their
possessions and goods and parted them
to all men as every man had need
praising God and having favor with all
the people, and the Lord added to the
church daily saved Ones"
Has any form OF church amusement,
not excepting the Bean Supper, the
Oyster Stew, the Hot Turkey Supper
or the Coffee Social, ever commended
the church of Jesus Christ to the good
will Of mankind, or secured such signal
blessings from heaven as the outwork-
ings of the great gospel motives as
witnessed in Gods early church?
Christian contributions are acts OF
worship ir their private origin and in
their public Offering. They spring out
Of devotion to God-His work in the
world-and should be so regarded by
the giver and 90 treated by the collec-
tor. The contribution is a central act
of worship. All else outward is in
word; this ls in deed. Much in re-
ligious meetings is directed toward
men; this is directed toward God and
ranks alone with prayer. 1t is an
Offering to the Lord; see Matt. 6: IA.
Acts 10: 1-3, Phil. 4: Is.
Hence devotional motives of contri-
button need to be sustained and stimu-
lated by devotional methods-not by
enticements. Think of secret PRAYER,
along side of which Christian giving is
placed by Christ himself. being stimu-
lated and maintained by something
that appeals only to the natural man;
instead it is fragrant incense to our
Heavenly Father when we enter into
our closet and find ourselves removed
the farthest possible distance from all
that is secular or sensual. Enticements
provided substitutes for the army, and
withal many times deserters in times
of danger, but motives made the great
est American declare in the darkest
hour of American history, my friends
If this country cannot be saved but by
surrendering this principle, " referring
to the Declaration Of Independence
that document which Gladstone said
was the greatest instrument ever struck
OF at one time by the mind and brain
Of mani was about to say that had
rather be assassinated on this spot"
Let the church of Jesus Christ be
dominated by the spirit Of the gospel
as the immortal Lincoln was possessed
and swayed by the Incompatible senti-
ments of that charter Of our liberties,
and she will never be able to 60 into
the show business nor want for means
to support the Lords cause. Benevo-
lent enterprises will not be sick at
heart for want Of money, nor the king
dom Of heaven on earth languish az it
does today throughout the land.