The Portland daily press., 1898-05-24
FLIES IN THE OINTMENT.
lilly Rice Foxcroft in the Boston Con-
gregationalist.)


The more precious the ointment the
more odious the sight of the fly. How dis
tressing, then, presence in the alabaster
box of our religious activitiesl
An entertainment is to be held in the
church The various local tradesmen
are besieged for advertisements for the
fly leaves of the programme. Not one OF
them really cares to take space; the pro-
gramme is not first-class advertising
medium, and the rates are extortlonate.
But none of them like to run the risk OF
offending patrons. The fly leaves are
filled; the advertising has more than
paid for the programmes; the committee
congratulate themselves on their enter
prise But the whole thing has been
really a mild form of blackmaiL While the
church people are rejoicing over the ONT
ment outsiders are feering and sneering
at the fly.
A missionary barrel is to be sent off. The
prominent woman who has 1T in charge
visits dIy goods store, whose proprietor is
unfortunate enough to be one of her &C.
quaintances. He is not member of her
church nor even of her denomination.
She has not the slightest ground for as.
Stunning any interest on his part in her
missionary society. She imparts to him
the plans for the barrel, and asks whether
no will not allow her a discount on her
purchases ''for such a good cause !" From
no regard for the "cause," but to save
himself tbs awkwardness of refusing
favor to Il lady, he tells her that he will
From counter to counter she goes
Henrietta cloth, lining, small wares, leg
gings, mittens, fiannels and all the
rest-and to each clerk she says: "Show
me the best bargain you have; I'm buy
ing for a missionary BARREL" and as the
parcels are tied up, one by one. 81 am to
have ten per cent off on that; it's for a
missionary barrel" And up and down
the store that morning floats, not the fra
GRANGE of the ointment, but the faint of
the fly.
There is to be fair at the church. Gro
GERS, fruit dealers, confectioners and what
not are urged to contribute, quite ire
spective of their church affiliations. If
they attend they see their own wares
ticketed at less than the store price and
themselves undersold. Costumes for tab
leaux are rented with plea for reduc-
ton, because they are for our church. :"
| l1Auid olltOI duA AlI0u du I0"
duced rates in response to the same de-
mand. The weary week is over, and the
society counts up the spoils "We have
made" they say, $475. g.. "Made!'
-extorted rather I he ointment is full
Of flies.
A supper has been held in aid of the
church charities. The lighter part of the
work over, a washwoman is called into
wash dishes, scour the stove and scrub
the floor 1t makes her a lob of two hours
and half, and she has come mile in
the mud to get it. She has been work.
ing for church; perhaps church will
paya poor woman a little more literally
than her uusal patrons. Perhaps they
will even hand her some round sum, a
half dollar may be. But no, the usual
glance at the clock, the usual careful
computation, the usual thirty eight cents.
She hears the ladies congratulating each
other on the evenings success as they
pack away their dainty china. She rolls
up her wet apron and starts for home.
She has never cared much for churches.
She has always thought church people
about like the rest. Nothing has hap
peneo tonight to make her think any
in the ointment, ard-King James's
translators did not apologize for the
word-it stinks.
Let us reflect fol moment. Is there
one rule of propriety for Christian and
another for Christian church? Is that
which is undignified for an individual
fitting and becoming for a church? Is
it contemplate to beg and wheedle and
haggle for ones self and noble to beg and
wheedle and haggle for ones church?
Or is the reputation of the church in the
community thousand times more to be
guarded than that of any individual men,
Der?