The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1898-02-22

ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO., new YORK
tends church once on Sunday. A
mere glance at the Sunday night con-
gregations is an evidence of this fact.
But their indifference is visible not
only in church attendance but in re-
ligious interest manifested. The
question seems to be not what good
has been obtained from the service or
how much spiritual blessing received,
but whether the pastor preached a
fine sermon or not, and in many cases
it seems to be the ardent purpose of
many to comment upon the preachers
effort. Nothing exhilerates like en-
couragement; nothing depresses like
flsttery, and many pastor, no doubt,
has thought if only such a person
would act as he speaks, what a factor
he might be as an aid to conscientious
work.
Second. Another point that is too
greatly overlooked is that of influence.
The Indifference of the church men,
Der has greater influence than is
recognized. Here is another difficulty
the pastor encounters. Il member of
his church is cited constantly as an
instance by one whom he may be try
ing to lead to the, light. This
pronounced indifference on the part
of people is often productive of much
harm. But the greatest influence is
that Of example and here is the diff
Guilty tnat confronts us all. The life
of the people is not as it should be.
Here is one, member of one of our
churches who INDUCES in a quiet
game of cards; while no intent to
gamble is in his mind, yet he is
destroying in a moment what not one
of us could counterfeit in far greater
time. The examples our church men,
bers are setting is matter not to be
lightly passed over,
Examine the matter of amusements.
The theatre is patronized by every
class almost in the city-church men,
bers and non-church members alike
their very presence indicating to
others that their religion does not in
any way prevent their conscience from
remaining clear upon such an indul-
gence. What the opinion of the
members of this conference may be, is
not known to me but speaking from
a close observation and from informa-
ton which is in every way authentic,
1 have no hesitancy in saying that the
theatre is highly demoralizing factor
in our social life. 1t fosters an I'M
natural, highly wrought representa-
ton of life which is not borne out by
facts. 1t creates thirst for dissipa-
ton of that nature and does not in
any belief fulfill the the plea that is
made by its advocates, that it educat-
es, and should be discouraged by
every follower of the Master and by
those who desires to see q return to
pure and simple life.
Another amusement equally demon
alizing is card-playing. This is most
prevalent here among all sorts and
conditions of men and women. The
number of cliques formed whose sole
object is indulgence in this amuse-
ment would astonish us, If we knew
their number. But the worst of it all
is that our church members are
among tie leaders in this dissipation.
1t is not confued to any one class nor
to any particular sex, but is indis-
criminate as to it's devotees and its
popularity. Such things confronting
q pastor prevent unusual difficulties
in his work.
Another matter OF great impor-
lance is the question OF drinking. 1t
seems almost like sscrilege to affirm
that any of our church members
should come under such an indict-
ment and yet the facts must be met
II certainly presents a difficult ques-
tion for each one of us. What course