Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-02

The fly leaves are filled; the advertis-
| ing has more than paid for the pro
| gramme; the committee congratulate,
I themselves on their enterprise. Blu
| the whole thing has been really milf
| form of blackmail. While the church
people are rejoicing over the ointmen,
| outsiders are fleering and sneering al
| the fly.
A missionary barrel is to be sent off
| The prominent woman who has it in
charge visits dry goods store, whose
proprietor is unfortunate enough to be
one of her acquaintance. He is not a
| member of her church, nor even of he1
denomination. She has not the slight
est ground for assuming any interest
on his part in her missionary society
She imparts to him the plans for the
barrel. and asks whether he will not
allow her discount on her purchases
for such good cause" From no re-
gard for the cause" but to save him
self the aWkwardncss of refusing Il
favor TO lady, he tells her that he
will.
From counter to counter she goes
Henrietta cloth, lining, small wares.
leggings. mittens, hannels and all the
resat-and to each clerk she says: SHOW
me the best bargain you have: I'm
buying for a missionary barrel" and as
the parcels are tied up, one by one,
Il ann to have ten per cent off on that
it's for missionary barrel And UP
and down the store that morning
floats, not the fragrance of the oint-
mcnt, but the faint of the fly.
There is to DE a fair at the church.
Grocers, fruit dealers, confectioners
and what not are urged to contribute,
quite irrespective of their church
Affiliations. If they attend they see
their own wares ticketcd at less than
the store price and themselves under
sold. Costumes for tableaux are rent
ed with a plea for reduction ''bc-
cause they are for our church." Extra
silver and china are hired at reduced
rates in response to the same demand.
The weary week is over, and the society
counts UP the spoils. I'VE have made"
they say, ''$475.66." "Maden'-extorted
rather. The ointment is full of flies
A supper has been held in aid of thu
church charities. The lighter part If
the work over, Il washWoman is called
in to wash dishes, scour the stove ana
SN4 u' Aiic litpi. II HithtS HtE lDD ii
two hours and a half and she has
come q mile in the mud to get il. She
has been working for a church. per
haps Il church will pay a poor woman
a little more literally than her usual
patrons. Perhaps they will even hand
her some round sum. 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 10
hfr Wet apron and starts for home
Sfa has never cared much for church,
es. She has always thought church
people about like the rest Nothing
has happened tonight TO make her
think any differently of them. She has
seen the fly in the ointment. and-king
James's translators did not apologize
for the Word--it stinks.
Let US reflect for moment Is there
one rule Of propriety for a Christian
and another for Christian church?
Is that which is undignified for an IN
di.~idual fitting and becoming for a
church? Is it contemplate to beg and
Wheedle and haggle for ones self and
noble to beg and Whcedle and hagg!n
for ones church? Or is the reputation
Of he church in the community a thou
sand times more to be guarded than
that of any individual member?-Bos-
ton Congrcgationalist.