The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-07-08
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RExSAnUEl Y. pUE.Yss.D.D.
THE PENNY IN THE CHURCH COL.
LECTION.


xviii, %.
The state makes us pay taxes, the
lodge its dues. the club its assessment
and the rest Of the world it's bills
PAY that thou owest" il demands, and
we must pay or get out, The church
alone let's our contribution be volun-
tary. And because the screws OF COM
pulsion are not put on us we dodge
and hedge. Result-the church has to
60 nmping through the world with
star In one hand and hat in other.
With an apologetic cough she timidly
asks a little aims. When the collec-
ton plate is passed men and women
weighted with excess of luxury. sur
feited with plenty, indulgently and
patronizingly give the smallest coin
of the republics penny-in day
when the most colossal gifts in hu-
manity's history are being presented,
millions for education, for Institutions
for libraries and memorials. millions
for universal peace and the arts of
peace. The Joke of the age is that
after one has spent his dollars for
luxury he must save a penny for
church." II the Lord loves only cheer
full givers there is going to be some
vacant mansions In the sky If every
member of church were to give as he
gives to the world the devil would
soon begin to pull down his flag
Means Defeating Ends.
When a man talks of economy it
must begin Mt the church. He spends
81 for a stag spread at the Buzzards
and gives his wife dime for the
church. possibly cussing her church
extravaganza" Every time an ungodly
man curses his wife for her church
service the devil gives his fire an extra
stir. In an especially good humor he
fancies he buys Gods gratitude when
he buys bazaar ticket At the church
supper, which is mans meanness spell
ed In woman's work, woman serves
her Lord with salty sweat mingled
with torrid tears. Feeding the sheep
In green pastures and at twenty-five
cent supper is not the same thing,
but her altar is the cook stove. and
there she pays her vows. The record
ing angel will have a trying tine to-
write the final eulogy or anathema of
that church Kitchen BY its knife
many a long friendship has been sew
cred; on its gkidiron many a reputa-
ton has been roasted; its teakettle has
! kept many a church in hot water; there
I the fate of numberless sermons have
been preached The kingdom of heav
Z en- Is not meat and drink, but mems
present system of church finance seems
to make the church supper necessary.
The plea is to make the outsider help
to contribute-that u, 1t Is device to
make worldly goats pay for the pas
turage Of the sheep. Christ ate with
publicans and sinners, but not to get
their money. It would be interesting
to know his opinion of men who think
paying the preacher in things they eat
= religion.
"rhus Saith the Lord"
Whatever may be ones theory con-
corning social and amusement features
In his church. one thing is certain
the Scriptures seem to know nothing
of "the feed and show business as
support for the kingdom Of God. Only
one wng-is --r-s-a4nizad--s un
4aalifled giving When the widow
gave to the prophet the barrel became
bottomless and the cruise inexhausti-
BILE. The angels have standing orders
to open wide the windows of heaven
when all the tithes have been brought
In. VIII God lie? There was one act
Of worship in the old Jewish church
that was Il power for holding It to
gether-that was the offering Modern
money raising methods were unknown.
The people gave. The law was very
definite. They shall not appear before
me empty" The Offering was part
Of the worship Wouldn't hurt us to
70 back 1000 years in some things
Today prayers outnumber dollars.
Thrift Is another name for avarice
Christ was once weighed against thir-
~ pieces of silver, and the silver won.
Many modern Judas sells for less
Not possession OF money. but possess
sion by money Is to be feared. Only
the rich poor and the poor rich can
enter the kingdom Of heaven. The rich
must be poor In spirit, the poor must
" rich in spirituality
Gods Arithmetic.
We owe God much. Some debts are
beyond price Last year In central
Texas rich droyer whose son had
committed murder engaged the best
criminal lawyer that money could pro-
f.tstp RI dafand HE hou He uao o.
quilted. The lawyer presented his bill
Twas staggering The attorney said
~ hope yoa do not think 1t too large"
sQh, no; not at ALL" he responded.
You have saved my boy should
gladly have given you twice as much"
Last winter a faithful pastor won the
boy to Christ and has saved him from
acontinuance of drunkenness and sin
When the pastor asked the drover for
fo, HE oh,,uob A..