The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-06-19
STEELyILLE PASTORS BUSY
Mooted Question as to Whether 1t is
Of Avail TO Pray for Rain Settled
in Minds of Some in the AZ
lirmatiye


1t appears that there is a difference
Of opinion even among religious peo-
pie as to whether it will avail any
thing for them to pray for ran. Some
there are who say that it is the All
wise Creator who has established the
physical laws and that in their opera
ton the rain falls upon the earth
and that He does not directly have
anything to do with the matter
Others there are of different opin-
ion, claiming on the other hand that
the All-Wise Creator is having hand
in the matter. There is argument
on both sides Of the question. The
article given below clipped from the
Steelville Ledger is interesting from
the fact that rain has been so badly
needed in this section of the state and
there is and has been much discus
sion along this very line.
1.-THE continued hot dry weather
which is working much danger to
growing crops, and making the out
look for the future very dark and dis
heartniug, has caused some of US TO
decide to call union meeting at the
Presbyterian church on Thursday ev-
ening Of this week to pray for rain.
The hour for the meeting has been set
at 7 o'clock, and Rev. w. NJ. Oldham,
pastor Of the Baptist church, will
conduct it. The meeting will con
tune At least an hour, and will be fol-
lowed by sCmOp as part jf the
regular services Of the nrotractad
meeting. All who are interested in
the matter Of rain should be present
mt this meeting. We trust that the
business men in particular will close
up their places of business and be on
hand. Doubtless there are many who
have little faith in such meetings, but
their unblief cannot make void the
teaching of Scripture. No ore who
has been a careful student of the Old
Testament can have failed to see that
in the dealings Of God with Israel He
withheld rain on account of their SINS
and wlckedness, and that when they
repented OF their sins and turned from
them He was pleased to give them
rain in season. If one doubts this let
him read the 2Sth chapter of Deuter-
onomy, the nth and 18th chapters Of
! Kings; James 5:l7-lS; LeviticuH
26:19-20; jeremiah 3:3, 50:5S; and
Haggai i:7-l1. Other Scriptures
might be cited to prove that God does
control the weather, and sends or
withholds the rain according to the
way that the people live. As Il e
people of Jeremahs and Elijah's days
were mad over idols, so-to-day null
titudcs are mad over pleasure, mean
ing that they are crazy after pleasure
and gold. There are members of the
different churches here in Steelvillc,
as well as all over the country. who
spend their Sabbaths in driving about
over the country and in picnicS to the
neglect of the worship OF God in His
holy temple, thereby setting an evil
example to their children and to their
neighbors, and help in this way to
start multitudes on the road to ruin
There are also those who spend the
hours that ought to be devoted to
helping win the lost TO Christ, in joy
riding, and some of you once solemnly
pledged your loyaltw to Jesus Christ
as the Captain of our salvation. What
do you suppose God thinks Of you?
II is such things as these that is
causing the Almighty to be highly
displeased. and without doubt, His
displeasure is being manifested in
justly Withholding the rain at a time
when it is so greatly needed. 1t is
high time that the guilty ones should
recognize these things, repent of their
great wickedness in disobeying God,
and call nightly upon Him to take
away His wrath. If there is not
widespread movement in the direc-
ton of getting right with God we may
look for still worse things. "Bc not
deceived; God is not Knocked. For
whatsoever man soweth, that shall
ne also reap"
Come, therefore, to the meeting on
Thursday evening, June 18th. at 7
O'Clock. Remember the time and place
1t will be a meeting for everybody"
PASTORS.