The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-08-04
Ecclesiastical
Amusements.

I WIN all candOf, his views IN regard to
the subject named. Shrinking from
the idea and responsibility of offending
one of the little ones that believe in
Christ, he will speak plainly, but very
kindly, in reference to the multiplied
Church entertainments, such as fairs,
festivals, concerts, tableaux, amateur
theatricals, and the like, resorted to to
raise money for the Advancement of
| church interests. These methods of
raising money, professedly for the ad-
vancement of the Lords cause, the
writer honestly believes to be contrary
to the precepts and example of Gods
word. Therefore they cannot be pleas
ing to him. They are counterfeit
methods of giving, and cultivate bo-
gus benevolence.
The simple method of freewill offer
ings was approved in the divine econ
omy and all other methods virtually
condemned.
Let the candid reader carefully study
Exodus 35. 5, 81, 90; 2 Corinthians sth
and 9th chapters Luke 6. 35; and
Matthew 10. s.
One-tenth or more, cheerfully and
directly given, was the law of the Old
Testament stewardship, and it is the
privilege of the New. We do not hear
of Moses instituting grand carnival
or bazaar, to draw the surrounding
heather to his camp, to help raise
money to build the tabernacle, and if
we did read it, it would be subject of
scorn and derision. Nor do we read in
any of Paups Epistles a suggestion to
the saints of Corinth, or elsewhere, to
get up some amateur theatricals, or
lsthmian games to raise money for the
poor saints of jerusalem. Nor do we
ever hear of his having eXhorted Lydia
or other women, to get up grand fair.
festival, baby show, or anything of the
kind to raise money for any Christian
or godly purpose. But he did exhort
them to lay by them on the first day
of the week as God had prospered
them, in order to meet the necessary
acquisitions that were upon them. 1t
is thus from the sacred word that we
learn what and how is the divine plan
for the manifestation of our Christian
charity, and we have right to infer,
that no other plan will meet the divine
f, appreciation. The modern plans allud-
ed to above we are constrained to pro-
nounce as belittling to the cause of re-
ligion, contemplate, and sometimes
positively dishonest.
What think you, the Master would
| say, of a bevy of vain and bedizzened
young ladies, facinating and cornering
susceptible young men to sell them
commodities above value and which
they do not want? Or what think
you he would say of the many devices
like grab bags, fish ponds, ring cakes,
and raffies, involving the gambling
principle? Still further what would
he say of people claiming to be men,
bers of his church, peddling out small
wares and fun to the world, or getting
up variety show, rmilkmaid's drill,
to replenish his treasury? Is not all
this belittling to the Church, dishonor-
ing to God, and contemplate in the
eyes of the world? We do not wonder
that an avowed infidel said: ~ think
your God must be in great need of
money by the tricks the Churches
practice to get it for him."
Many, and indeed all, truly pious
men and women grieve over these
things and some of those who aid and
attend these performances do not APP
prove them. Why then have they not
courage and conscience enough to wit
ness against them? No intelligent
Christian can ask Gods blessing upon
such practices, nor expect it to rest
upon money so secured.
A contemporary journal says: "The
primitive Churches had their feast of
charity or love, where social inter-
course of strictly religious character
was enjoyed by the disciples of the
Lord. Instead of these ancient and
pious festivals, we are now accustomed
to class of social gatherings of an en-
tirely different character, which are
inaugurated and perpetuated for the
special purpose of obtaining money.
"When church members are truly
converted to God, and have a religion
that goes pocket deep, there will be no
need of calling in the airts and fops
and loafers of the town to dicker over
rag dolls and rubber babies, and other
tomfooleries, to raise money for the
support of the gospel"
If churches cannot live without
dishonoring the Lord, let them die de-
cenly and speedily. Then there may be
room for Others which will bear good
fruit, and if ministers of the pospel cam