Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1904-02-11
UNCLE JOE'S
LETTER.
Written for the News.

100 written Tor the News.
Mr.. Editor: II you will be indulgent
with old Joe once more will say few
words in answer to st. John and in the
beginning | would have 1t distinctly UNI
derstood that do not claim to be st.
John or a cousin of any saint, and am
just fool enough to bolieve that saints
around Whitwel are about as scarce as
any commodity, still believe there are
as good people here as this old world
affords.
There are some questions | want to
ask ST. John or any one else who would
care to give 1t thought. l. Why do
preachers open service with song and
prayer? ,. Can you find any scri pture
in tho New Testament which teaches
that public prayer is right under any
circumstances.
say it Is not taught in tho God given
laws which we as Christians are adj
monished to obey, that public prayer
is acceptable with God. "Oh," one
says the thief on tho cross prayed au-
dihly." 1t does not say be prayed at
all. II any one thinks so let them read
Mat. 81: 39-45; also Mark, Is: 1888,
Luke does say that one of:then said un-
to Jesus, Lord, remember me when
thou contest to thy kingdom, and Jesus
said unto him today thou shalt be with
me in paradise" John says nothing Of
the kind. just read the 9th chapter of
Mathew carefully and note what Christ
said about prayer
Now few words in regard to charity.
] am with st. John when be said there
were people who wanted the world to
know how charitable they were by Civ
in large congregations to be seen by
men. They don't seem to care whether
God sees them or not. They have a
Sunday religion which they very often
leave off before the day is over. They
wear it just long enough to hear Bro,
Smart Ellie preach, and all he can say
is to tell you about how the heathens
are in need Of the gospel and how
you should should give your mite to
help them. Yes, say so, too, but you
had better send your money by differ
emit route if you want much of it to get
to them.
There are a great many objects OF
charity in this land of ours but there
are more eternal buns than anything
else. You can hardly go to any church
for any purpose but you will be bummed
for quarter before you can get out,
and if the hat comes back with only a
few pennies in it you will see the
preacher sigh, and with curses mingl'
ed with his righteous thoughts, he says
Lets bow in word of prayer" and he
. is so worried over the tuition OF his girl
who is away at college he can't say
l much except ask God to be kind to the
! cheerful giver. He will, guess, with
' out being asked an object of charity, il
0 you call such charity.
! am sick and tired of such mockery
such rot being practiced by SO called
christians Christ said "take neither
script or purse with you. Take nj
thought of yourselves for what yol
shall eat or what you shall put on TO
g the workman is worthy of his hire.
. Well, one says, right there he admit
n that you should have pay. | say so too
" but who are you working for? l diC
}; not hire you, neither did anyone hir,
q the ones he told to go into all the worl'
to preach the gospel and what did hi
promise them If they were faithful?
, He said first seek ye the kingdom o
3 heaven and all these things shall be ad
q ded unto you, Christ caused the raVel
o to feed Elijah; he also fed five thousan
= people with very small ration and al
j. had plenty and more could have beef
served.
They have revised the statute a littl
and have it to read like this: Firs
seek ye fine clothes, gold watch an
some change and look up the kingdOr
later if we don't forget about it.
Oh! ye generation of vipers, who hat
warned ye to flee from the wrath t
come. Bring forth fruits meet for re
pentence.
For fear l will worry the patienc
of our modern Job, (the editor wi
quit until some future day.
Good wishes to the News.