Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1899-04-20

! blem lOf LuBlt own BEbbus SUPPOSE WV
Saviour had gone into that temple and
! found a few tired women working with
patient, unselfsh zeal to raise money
for some poor overworked and under
paid minister of the gospel-do you
think he would have scourged them
and driven them forth? No, he would
have blessed them and their work, and
| doubt not that he,would have charged
those standing idly by to see that their
task was made lighter in the future.
Right here / am reminded that two or
three ladies have been made Ill by
/ hard work in preparing these suppers,
and am told that the assistance OF one
or two able-bodied men for an hour or
more would greatly tighten their work
on these occasions, A little help in
cracking the ice and turning the crank
OF the freezer and running errands
would be appreciated far more than a
solid column of denunciation and ad-
monition even when suitably leavened
with scriptural texts and delicately
favored with pungent quotations from
Rev. Sam Jones.
make not my temple house Of mer-
chandise," quotes Mr., Oury. Well,
what is a house of merchandise 1t is
place, is it not, where something is sold
for gainP Who gains anything in pc
cuniary sense at these suppers and So
cialsP Not those who buy; they do not
60 there to make money, but to enjoy
pleasant hour or two in the company of
their friends and neighbors. Not those
who sell; they are giving and not re-
ceiVing Not the minister; he only gets
what is Justly his due and verify "the
labOrer is worthy of his hire" Who
then? Nobody of course. The ques-
tion Of personal gain is the very essence
of the whole matter. The scourge in
the hands of Jesus fell only upon the
shoulders of the selfish, and his scath-
ing rebuke was addressed only to those
who sought to make that which was
holy and pure and true aid them in the
furtherance OF their own sOrdid and un-
worthy ambitions and purposes. II a
man who attends church social and
gives dime in exchange for plate Of
ice cream, thereby transforms the
temple of God into a house of mer-
chandise, he does the same thing on
Sunday when he drops a quarter in
the hat in exchange for the sermon he
has heard, or signs an obligation to pay
a certain number Of dollars in consider
alton of the sermons he expects to
hear. Carried to its logical conclus-
ion, Mr.. Oury's reasoning makes the
contribution box one of the DEVILS most
effective tools and the man who carries
it one of his most faithful servants.
Mr.. Curry intimates that the people of
Sequachee are ruthlessly denied the
blessed privilege of giving, believe
one or two other people have said the
same thing, but it is all a mistake. In
making this statement speak advised
". / have talked with those upon
whom the greater share of the burden
: of raising money for the church rests,
: and they all assure me that they are
willing to receive contributions at all
hours, day or night, and that more cash
+ and less criticism would prove a wei.
l come change. Anyone who doubts this
: can settle the question by Offering one
or more large round silver dollars tc
q Rev. E. w. Walker or one Of the church
= stewards. One trial will convince the
: most skeptical Those who had nc
money to give and could not help in
Il any other way, can perhaps do theil
share by assisting at the entertain
: ments. Thus it will be seen the meth
: cd which Mr.. Oury so bitterly con
demns affords to some a pleasure and I
: satisfaction which could not otherwise
L be theirs-that of helping to supper
q the church. Everyone can give a lit
u tie. Mr.. Walker gives much. He give
Il the best years of his life and the ripes
u fruits of his brain to the care and guild
u ance of those for whom the Man of Sor
u rows died. Let US hope that at the en-
/ of the year he also may be able to Civ
d thanks-that his salary is paid. Tho
! shalt not muzzls the OK that treadet
'S out the corn"
p In writing this article am prom pt
:, ed solely by desire to do justice t
ID those whom believe deserve prais
u and gratitude rather than condemni
IN tion and censure. / am not a membe
y of this or any other church but feel
& keen interest in everything that affect
Id the moral welfare of the community i
vs. which live and would not KNOWING
- ly throw my influence upon the wron
II side. That Mr.. Oury and do not loo
le upon this question from the same poir
NJ of view does not argue that we hay
es not at heart the same object-the grea
~ est good of those about US.
at CLARENCE II. PEARSON,
Sequachee, Tenn, April Is, 1899