Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-02-23
Why CHURCHES ARE EMPTY.

back in his easy chair, with the morn
ing paper. :" A doctor who is out day |
and night can't be expected.
''No. l made jelly yesterday, and |
I'm tired. I'm faithful enough TO stay |
at home this cloudy morning." and |
Mrs. Clark curled up on the couch |
with the Bible she had not opened for |
a week, but it soon dropped from her |
hand. She was aroused by strange |
voice saying:
.'Now, my good imps, what have you |
done today to weaken the kingdom of
God?"
The voice came from a suspicious
looking parsonage seated on throne
of human skulls. Around him was
gathered crowd OF terrible beings,
each with crown of fire, in which
cleaned some name, snch as malice,
envy, pride, hatred, and kindred pas
sions.
"Wc have been busy today, making
empty seats in churches, began one.
Nothing could please me better"
answered their king.
II persuaded one man that he had a
headache, and kept him from a sermon
that might have changed his whole
| life," said one.
Il lDuuceu Oub BOUu udu W sup W
| his store and fix up his books" said
another, with a horrid grin.
GOOD !" said the king. He'll soon
give up the Sabbath altogether
II was able to get one devoted young
man TO visit some old friends" said
one imp.
II worried a good sister about her
old bonnet until she decided to stay at
home until she got new one," spoke
up the imp labeled pride" 'And
made several poor women who were
hungry for Gods word stay home to
repine over their trials. just said to
them, oh, these rich people don't
care for you; you can't wear fine
clothes so | wouldn't go where l was
lboked down upon.' That way | kept
many poor people home whom the rich
would have been very glad to see. )"
s'That is one of the best ways 10
cheat poor people out of heaven that l
know Of" answered the king with
approval; i,
II induced a good many men aud
women to think they were not strong
enough to go out, said one called
Indifference. OF course, all these men
will be at their business tomorrow,
even if they feel worse. But they could
not go to church, where they would
have no special mental or physical
strain. And the ladies would have
been able to clean house or go call
ing; but | made them think they
, couldn't walk to church unless they
were perfectly well. y
Every good" said the king, with a
sulphurous grin. Sunday headaches
might often be cured by getting out in
the air, and backaches forgotten by
: thoughts drawn to higher things. But
! you lying imps must use every weak.
/ ness of the flesh to help make empty
seats. ~
i They all smiled, for in their king
t dom Lying" was great compliment
Y ITO make ladies think that theii
1 servants need no Sunday privileges !:
: | good," suggested one.
Every true" said his superior. "a:
o long as we can get Christian people Il
n cause or allow men and women to worl
Y during work hours, we can keep many
b empty seats IN churches, and men ant
r women away from God. -
"I'm the weather imp" said ON
s gloomy fellow. II go around per
d suading people it is going to rain, o
n it is too cold, too damp or too hot t,
. hellvuIC Oub W Shui'hs 10 CbOhHi
/ to make even your gloomy maiest
J. laugh to see these same people star
IS out the next day in wind an,
IT weather One would think il sin +
k carry umbrellas and wear gum coats t
IS church. -
ID "Confdentially, answered the king
II "when / find Christian who has n
rs more concern about weather Sunda
than Monday-determined to make a
IN much effort for spiritual gain as h
D. would for worldly profit just Civ
Or him up. It's no use to try to dra
20 back the man or woman who goes
TX Gods house in all kinds of weather.
or "I'm able to do good deal wit
Is some of tho ladies of the congregation,
ly spoke up the imp labeled Fashion {
10 this World. Il can make some Poop
IL stay at home because tho now hat di
~ not come, or because their clothes al
g. out of style, or they have not gotten
is new cloak. y
so 81 have better scheme than that,
m said another. These people you kee
away are generally goot
1t. for nothing folks, who are hardly wort
n getting into the kingdom of his Satan
st majesty, but have plan that empti
no seats of tho workers in tho church.. "
,st THAT is just what we want" sa
1t the king
nd II make these people overwork {
d. Saturdays. For instance, l make son
on good man the preacher depends upo
or some devout Sunday school teache
a to make Saturday the busiest day
IS the week. just keep him rushed wi
CT neglected things till late at night, al
me then he oversleeps or is sick the ne
ut, day, and can't get out"
ss Splendid plan ~ cried Satan.
Tor "Yes, it works well with delica
m. women. If they clean house, or ha
lar Saturday company, they can be Ike
In, at home without knowing they ba
mo broken the Sabbath the day before.
.eo church party late Saturday night hel
es, with empty seats"
om you are dong finely, my imps
are his majesty said warmly-for his brea
, OF was flame of fire. preachers M
icil work and pray over their sermons
Is week, but there will be no results
" preaching to empty seats. One Of t
an most important things we have to &C
roy slider is how to keep people away fire
so churches on Sunday. Your plans a
eLn excellent, but might suggest anott
w. good point. All preachers have hum
ite imperfections-som fault of manner
" speech. Get Christians to critic
y q their pastor, especially before tn
ens children. If you can stir up spi
etn of fault-finding against the preach
.eir or among the members, it will h,
WY empty seats. People who get mad
each other do not care to go to chur
together. If the seats are empty,
minisfer NAV ha a saint and nraa