The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-08-07
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o UNCLE Dawes LETTER. o
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How to Kill n Church.


This is brought about by the failure
OF the members TO comprehend that
each OF them advertise the wAdles
Carelessncss on the part Of christian
pooplc is tho church's worst foe TO-
day. It is my purpose to illumine the
path that many tread. There arc
three ways to qucnch fire.
4 first. smother 1t. can but illu-
trate this by christian scene OF my
boyhood. The old church was having
It's Christmas cheer Tor troe). It was
packed. The coming OF Santa with
his cotton covered coat and great pack
had brought the climax to the Joyous
hour. Suddenly Santa's cap touched
tiny taper and terrible tragedy
started. He stood living fire. Men
lost their senses. Women screamed
and fought. Costly windows were
crushed. doors we're swept from their
hinges and score OF legs and arms
were broken.
Only one mnn In that vast throng
had presence Of mind enough to act !.
He caught up Overcoats and robes,
and finally succeeded in wrapping
hem about poor Santa until the cruel
flames had been smothered. But not
until they had sent their deadly
fumes into the lungs of our splendid
Sunday school superintendent, who
was our Santa that night.
How smother church? Put It on
purely commercial footing. Wrap
the cloak of worldliness about It :.
Hedge in the pastor with instructions
to wink at the more common sinful
practices. Tell him that you want
no poor people in the pews. Agree
with the worldling who tells you that
the lodges arc far superior to the
church. Wipe out all dividing lines
between worldliness and churchIineae
Let church folks do everything that
! uu-cirurUil folks DO. Fill church Of
nronc!:er count them. think t,,,att {
you can easily cxtinguish the warmth
and glow that and church has. had :.
Second, let the fire burn ont. Wcs-
tern prairiemen employ this mrthod.
When great flames threaten to sweep
the county. or state. they rush forth
with teams and plows and surround
the cOnflagraticn. Tho fires slowly
cat themselves to DEATH.
To let the church fires burn out,
don't add fuel to. them. Stay away
from the Sunday school, the prayer
hour, the preaching programmes. Let
any little trifle keep you away. Stay
homo an entertain worldly company.
(That leaves fine impression Of your
church valuation upon your unsaved
friends.) Let tho clouds or the heat
OF the cold be. your excuse. May and
October are about, the only perfect
months for church. going. You stay
away the other ten. + II your church
fires are .ew, see IL you haven't plow-
ed deep furrows OF indifference, neg
lect and foolish faith about 1t. i
Thirdly. throw cold water upon the
fire. This last is the most common
method Of quenching the fire, Water
Is fires master, ye together they do
make q powerful combination.
How can throw cold water upon
the church?
II you go regularly, never ask any
one to go with you. Act az though
you we're. ashamed. know q Sum
day. school superintendent who has
passed Ty. home every Sunday for the
past ten years and has never invited
me to his Sunday school or church.
Always come to church late. Never
come enthusiastically. Always take a
| back scat. Eont. look pleasant; re-
member you are in church.. Remem-
| Der, you will have to sit here one
hour, and t., air must be perfect.
Last week you sat, In dead stuffy
show house for three hours ard paid
for the privilege and never noticed the
rotten air. or course the preacher is
not perfect. so go after him. His
life is pure, his heart warm and he
comes burdened with the heartaches
of the sick, the poor. the aged. Yes,
go after the preacher. Tell him how
dead the church Is: (Why not tell him
how long you have been dead?) New
er thank him for the hours he has
spent pouring over hia pages. He
must como now every service. When
the service is over. remember the
church Is no place. to be friendly
Don't ghake hands with }.any one.
Rush out as you would at the theatrs.
One would think the building was on
Iire by tho way our churches empty
| these days. On the way home don't
let any ono suspect that You have
been at church. Try not to pay any
attantion OS;he church after you
loave II. Don't refer to it. all week.
Never admit that II has any claim
upon your time, thought talent. pray
or sSor money. Keep everyscent you
can away from the church. i Poverty
is "a suro path to- humility: Then
don forgive eny ona.. Fnr9iyine
heals hurts. So don't be charitable:
/ II you read+ churohs literature II may
enthuso You, and you will want to do
more for. It's groat enterprises. Why
It is not. necessary ,f for. you to keep
informed concerning -the movements
OF It's, millions of member thousandA
0f nnSfcra and hund rod a ne rutj1tny,s,