The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1898-02-22
MT. STERLING. KENTUCKY. TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22 1898.

teach whether we can prove IL accord
ing to scriptures or not, for 1t might
almost be taken as an axiom, that the
spirit of Christ can not dwell in a
man in whom the spirits of liquor are
found. Such an example as this is in
the highest degree detrimental to the
church and to the cause of Christ,
Sunday papers. The encourage
ment given to these on the part of
church members is highly reprehensi.
BILE. The whole result of the in
fiuenGe is TO indicate to others that a
church member does not regard this
indulgence as sinful. The circulation
here of the leading papers, the Gin
cinnati Enquirer, the Ceurier-J ournal
and the Dispatch on Sunday is unus-
ually large. During the recent cam
paign the circulation was half as
large again. Those who are attacked
on this point stoutly maintain that
Sunday papers are not as bad as
Monday papers, on the ground that
the latter are written up on Sunday.
But the objects sought and gained
are different in each cas-. 9 1t is beg
ging the question to transfer the
blame. The highly wrought senss-
tional Sunday paper, whose volumin-
GUS sheets cover the floor, is bad
enough on week day, to say nothing
of the arrogance it faunts in our
faces by entering the sanCtity of the
home on Sunday.
III. A third topic that demands
attention is the attitude of non-church
members. All will agree with me in
the opinion, that the community of
Mt. Sterling is the poorest church-go-
ing community any of US have ever
seen at least such Is my observation
that fewer people attend church in
proportion to the population than any
community in which I have ever
lived. What is the difficulty? How
must it be met, suggests itself at
once? To find the reason for the con-
ditiog that exists does not remedy the
question. The fact remains that q
great many people do not attend
church. The object of the church is
10 get hold of those who are not in
the fold and try to lead them to the
light. A glance over our churches
reveals the absence of the Young peo-
pie and especially young men, who
frequent the drugstores or the street
corners, They should be reached,
but how shall we reach them is the
question. There are perhaps manv
church members whose influence, if
only used upon many of these young
people, might bring them at least
within sound of the gospel.
~. A fourth and last topic which
is noted is the following question ::
Is it progression or repression? The
old adage, "no steps backward" is a
good one for US to bear in mind.
Surely no one will admit that the
church is making the progress that it
ought. If there is an increase in the
membership of some churches, it does
not indicate that the full possibility
is reached. Our constant prot-acted
meetings reveal the fact that not suf-
flcent progress is being made and
something must be done 1t remains
to determine what that something
shall be. But in reality our churches
will not become as efficient as they
might be until they are purged of the
apathy, Indifference and worldliness of
the members. There is this great en-
couragement, that some day there
may be great reaping of what is
now being sown. There is assuredly
no doubt that If we can manage to
stir up the leaven of Gods people and
cause them to work and warn them
against being the salt without SAVIOR,
the moral and religious tone of our
community will be preserved and the
kingdom of God will be advanced.
But all our efforts are fruitless unless
we seek Divine assistance. May we
approach constantly the Throne of
Grace and pray for our church, our
people and our community, and above
all things for the blessing of the Holy
Spirit upon everything done in his
name.
DON'T annoy nfhara NV unrr con0h