Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-15

preacher thinks people are idiots to stir Out
on such a night! Ali sensible people viii
stay at home and not tempt providence BIZ
exposing themselves In this storm Just Il
go to prayer meeting" and she gathered
the pillows about her as she nestled down
with a magazine
But the husband. quickly turning from
his evening paper. In ill-concealed surprise.
cried Prayer meeting! Why. mean the
recital Jubenk plays tonight" "ohr' said
the wife, IT forgot That is another thing
John, dear. telephone Cor tickets and a cab
OF course little shower like this Is moth
ingr'
second cause for the empty pew is the
growing disregard for the Sabbath. This
has crossed the Atlantic with the hordes
from south Europe which have sought our
Sabbath in the larger cities and many
others. A note OF warning comes from the
lips Of an eminent Protestant bishop whose
name Is a household word In the east TT
the Jew or the Mohammadan to come here,
demanding OF US to waive the custom and
repeal the laws that hallow our Lords day
as that we should surrender our language
to the dialect of the Tiber or our marriage
relation for the domestic usage of the sui
tan" And 1t is prominent Romish bishop
who devoutly exclaims. God grant that
we may never see the Sunday profaned,
here in our own country. as we have seen
it In other lands
This disregard for our holy Sabbath day
makes it the harvest day of the suburban
railroads, and the base ball managers, and
the excursion steamers. and many resorts
for amusements. This sort of third-rate
commercialism is lowering not only its dig
nifty but degrading Gods holy day into one
of unlimited self-indulgence and worldli-
ness. which means the increase of the sa-
loon. OF the cheap theater. OF gambling
and the decrease of moral obligations lit
tie Paris or Vienna picked up and carried
over to this side the ocean. At the expense
of certain editors advocating bill before
one OF the eastern legislatures to Iegalize a
form of Sunday commerclalism. the follow
ing is told:
"Once upon a time there was a negro
mlser, Sam, the only exception ever heard
OF to the heterogeneous characteristics of
that race He loved money for It's
own sake, and was fascinated by
the very sight of It. He could shout
and sing at prayer meeting as loudly as
anybody, but when Farmer Jones held up
a shining silver dollar on a Saturday night
and said. 4 win give you this II you will
work for me tomorrow he always sup
pressed his conscience and broke the Sab
bath. One Sabbath evening his pastor met
Jones and said: I'm afraid you've been
breaking the commandments again 'Fraid
has The Lord will be very much dis
pleased with you. Guess de Lord will
excuse such presumption. such repeated
sin, and I don't know what the church Will
do about IT. The fear Of a church trial
solemnized him more than the fear of the
Lord, and before the preacher was beyond
earshot Sam was on his knees beside his
cabin. praying very much aloud. o. Lord.
you is havin' a awful time with me. I Is
only a poor heather, anyhow. rs been
over to Farmer Jones all this blessed Sab
bath day a rippin' and a tearin' and a
jawin' dem oxen. 0. Lord. forgive me. o.
Lord. if you'll Reuse me dis time I'll never
work for Farmer Jones again on Sunday
unless he'll give me two dollars and a
half"
accounts. very largely for the enterprise
and push of the goddess spirit behind that
low type OF comqnercialism that threatens
TO delude and entrap the very elect into an
utter disregard for Gods holy day.
Another factor contributing to the empty
pew which might be mentioned is the Idea
which possesses the minds of some other
wise good people that the minister Is paid
executive. holding the reins. with unwilling
hands. II may be. but himself held respon-
sible for all that pertains to the church.
And SO. with this excuse. they absent them
selves habitually from the place of wor-
ship.
Others there are. but let these reasons
for the empty pews suffice for the present.
These things ought not so TO be. Dear peo-
pie. may God so lead you that your habit OF
life shall be the assembling of yourselves
together with the people OF God in His
house. Ever remember He wants your
hearts as well as your bodies. The church
needs YOU You need the church, because
you need Christ, its Head. who died that
you might live and who lives In the life OF
every true believer.