The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-08-17
Among Them is a
Small Dissertation
on Rummage sale
Preacher says Finances are
Placed Ia Front and Divine
Power In the
Rear

ing from Seattle. recently addresse,
the chautauaua. when In assembly a
Gladstone Park, upon the question O
rummage sales. 80 says the Oregon
City Enterprise. This fearless and
sound thinker had the courage TO ex
press his sentiment. He deplored the
churches engaging In rummage sales
because. as he said. "the denomlna
tlons OF the present time have made a
mistake In that finances are placed in
front and divine power in the rear. II
is impossible 10 have a financial deficit
in a church that is spiritually alive.
You can't have an empty treasury
where there Is a full heart God has
promised to guide the church. and will
provide means to do Il with" II ls
refreshing 10 hear this exceptionally
plain talk. The various ungodly means
OF securing money practlced by some
religious bodies are the shame OF the
members and the legitimate target Of
the noating non-church.going The
trayesty ls here. The church profes.
ses TO follow Christ We all know
Christ never carried on rummage
sales whore CASTOR clothing. alive
with germs, which our health boards
are paid TO extermlnate. were offered
10 the poor and needy. While Il may
be argued that times are different, and
consequently Christ would nowadays
have a rummage sale once In while,
yet the argument Is lame, because the
ancient needy and distressed had Just
the same wants and needs as we expe.
rlence today. They were hungry. lame.
naked. So are the poor today. Yet
Christ said when the hungry ones
came. Man shall not live by bread
alone" by ChrIst's preaching the
hungry we're fed. the lame walked and
tho blind did see. The naked we're
clothed. Our needs are the same as
those who sought the Christ. We at
tempt 10 supply the need by sales
wherein clothes are sold that are not
worth the having. Instead OF selling
these iilthy rags. why not give them
TO those In need. II more fttingly be.
comes a great religion 10 give than 10
sell ''roo much finance 10 the front
aud divine power 10 the rear" "a full
heart does not know an empty treas.
nry." When our cause Is In need we
neek 10 raise the needed finances by
Offering our goods for sale. and thus
letting the "other fellow" put up the
coin Jesus said TO the young man 20
sell al he had aud GIVE to the poor
II n very apparent that the present
styles OF religion must stop following
Christ by word Of mouth. and little
more by deed that this klndly.lntend,
ed censuro must b. expected. Ice
cream parlors, fairs. sociablcs. sales.
bargains ane even collections, must
have their day and pass ON before the
churches are ready 70 take on the
robes OF Christ which they teach. The
question. "how are you 20 raise run.
ning expensesG' too palpably shows
the Intense materially Would Chris.
tianity suner In case some brick or
wooden buildings called churches |
should burn or fall downS Jesus had
no church In which 20 preach. We
base everything on our material IN.
vestment We gaze speechless and
awe'strickep az our hlg church. aud
wonder what would become OF rellsion
u anything should happen TO A.
Where. oh, where, Is our Chrlstianityg
We have buildings and temples. but
when We count the aock We ana but
20 and nine one says. III no plate
iu passed. many loving Ia. and wlshlne
for the opportunity OF giving. are De
MED the privilege" Have you ever
seen a crowd when there was some.
hing beirg given away froeg Have
you ever noticed the scramble and
ne push to get In frontf Well. sal
iatiop Is Just as free. Have yon ever
loiieed a crowd where salvation was
'eing given away frees Have yon ev.
q noticed any pushing 10 set out. or
n. ! meant Have YOU noticed how an
q on the from, seatsg What a scram.
Ne when the plate comes byg Wen
hese poor overlooked people who are
asi DYING 70 pat something In the
I'afe don't as a rule have 10 carry
heir offerings 20 church IN a wheel
arrow And, ! also lmagine. that be.
're solng % the extreme of dying
aey would climb over a few benches
set A. the plate, Personal lnconve
lenee . q poor arsament In the face
such . cause and m the name Of the
hrlaI !,