Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1899-04-20
IS 1T DEvILIsMl
Mr.. Pearson Begs to Differ with
Mr.. Oury.
MEssRs EDIToRs:

Tue last mum Der OF tue NEWS con-
tained an article under the somewhat
startling caption Of "Methodism vs..
Devilism" in which Rev. Robt. II. Oury
discussed the proprlety Of church en-
tergainmsnts and denounced all such
methods Of raising money in terms too
strong to be easily misunderstood. 1t
WAS evident that the gentleman labored
under some disadvantage on account
OF the poverty Of the English language
in the matter OF denunciatory adjectives
and epithets, but all who read his let
ter will cheerfully bear witness that he
did the best he could with those which
wore sufficiently withering to express
his sentiments. respect every mans
opinions and / sm glad that my neigh
Dor has the courage of his convictions,
but cannot agree with him, and / be-
lieve that his article, so far as it may
have a local application, reflects unjust
ly upon our town in general and sever
al of our people in particular. This in
justice was doubtless unintentional up
on Mr., Oury's part, but it is none the
less real. assert without fear of con-
tradiction that those people in Sequa-
chez who are interested in the church
and church work give as much in pro-
portion to their means for the support
OF the gospel, for charity, and for other
worthy objects as the people of any
town, far or near The number OF those
who are able to give to any amount is
very small, and the demands upon them
are numerous; and 80 it happens that
after every cent possible has been rails
cd by subscription and voluntary con-
tribution the sum Is still found insult
fcient TO meet the church expenses.
The truth Of this statement has been
demonstrated again and again as sever
al ministers who have preached in this
circuit in the past will sadly testify.
To enable Owen church to pay its hon
est debts and bear its just proportion of
the burden of raising the minister's sal
ary, several devoted Christian women
of Sequachee have for the last three
years or more freely given their time
and energies to work which has
brought them no reward but the serene
consciousness of = duty faithfully
performed. Taking advantage OF the
fact fhat the social opportunities Of the
young people in this vicinity are very
meager, they inaugurated a series of
entertainments which not only greatly
aided the church in its struggle to keep
its head above water financially, but
gave the young chance to meet in a
social way and afforded them harmless
and agreeable diversion. / maintain
that these entertainments have been
decidedly helpful to the young people
of this community; they have given
them something in which to take an in
terest outside of the petty gossip al
ways rife in small villages, and more
than this they have brought them di-
reCtly in contact with and under the in
huence of those interested in the Sun
day school and thus added greatly to
the numerical strength OF that organic
alton. The money thus earned would
doubtless have been spent by its pos
SCISSORS for their own qualification and
amusement in other ways, which in
some cases might have been far less in
uoCent and harmless. In his character
izatiOn of the evils which flow from
the church social, Mr.. Oury INDUCES in
wildly eXtravagant flight of humor'
GUS fancy fully as grotesque as any
thing ever perpetrated by the late la
mented Bill Nye.
No, Mr.. oury, you are mistaken. At,
tending church socials is not devil
ism" Making and selling ice cream
and dainty luncheons for the benefit O.
the church is not 'deVilism." Ever
the alluring and exciting pastime O.
voting cake to the prettiest girl is moi
'devilism. "Devilism" is the work o
the devil. Not one of these philan
thropic ladies is a devil. Not one o
them is in the employ OF the devil. Sa
tan and his allies do not lie awake night
inventing ways and means to make u
the amount of the minister's salary
At least there is no instance of the kim
on record, Moreover have a suspicion
that Satan feels rather nervous whe
he sees some wild boy take the none
be intended to squandeF on beer or Gig
arettes or Whiskey or penny ante an
spend it at box supper; and he grow
more so II that same wild boy incident
ally gets acquainted with some nice gin
who makes him promise to join tn
Sunday school or Epworth League, an
talks to him so pleasantly that be goe
home with determination that he wi
be 3 man and merit the respect Of th1
girl and other good women. Then
imagine old Mephistopheles growls {
himself: well, that preacher oury hs
hit me some pretty hard licks, and be
hammeriug away at me yet, but theI
! is one thing we can shake bands on.
s we are both Of US dead set against thoi
blamed box suppers"
Il is true that Christ drove the none