Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1916-08-03
Mary's Dedication Service.

John, | want you to go to church
with me this morning." Mary Ira
cy said to her brother at breakfast
one Sunday morning. You have
been at home three weeks and you
have not gone to church yet"
John Tracy had been employed
away from home three years and
had grown careless in the habit of
church attendance. He had taken
a position in his home town and
Mary determined he must 60 to
church with the family in the flu
ture.
perhaps I will" he answered
carelessly, for ne disliked to refuse
his young sister anything.
AL right, I will be ready to
start at ten O'clock" She took the
perhaps as actual agreement to
her suggestion.
John Tracy could not keep his
thoughts on the sermon that par.
%ticular Sunday morning until the
minister, DR.. Snow, reached the
third and last point, which was that
of reverence in Gods house.
II found a young man smoking a
cigaret in this room the other morn
ing" he stated. That to my mind
was ~irreverence in the house dedi-
Gated to the service and worship Of
God, a dissertation of it," DR.. Snow
went on to enlarge the thought but
he did not carry Johns attention
with him. He was thinking of the
idea of smoking in Gods house be-
ing irreverent.
II have thought a lot about what
DR.. Snow said on Sunday of smok-
ing a cigaret in the church being a
desecration of the house devoted to
the worship of Cod" he remarked
as the family fingered at the table.
How about cigaret smoking and
all smoking being a dissertation OF
mans body, which is the temple of
God?" asked his father.
THAT is desecration too, is it
not?" the question was answered
with another.
John looked serious and thought
full. Il think if it desecrates a
church to smoke in it, smoking des.
ecrates the body, too. / never had
the thought before, but when DR..
Snow spoke of it, I knew that I
wouldn't smoke in a church, and l
think l should treat my body, the
temple of God, with the same res
pect that / would his church. l
have thought it all out and | am
going to give mp cigaret smoking; |
mean l am going to give up all
smoking"
my son, I hope you will keep
that resolution" His father shook
his hand heartily.
That evening, Mary asked to
serve the dessert at tea, and when
she brought in the plates there was
a small envelope on each one and
the enclosed card said, PLEASE be
present at my dedication service IN
the living-room as soon as tea is
finished. Mary Tracy"
what in the world does this
mean, Nary" John asked with a
puzzled look.
The little girl shook her head.
"You must come and see," was all
she would say.
AT ten minutes after sever MIR.
and Mrs. Tracy and John were in
the living.room waiting for Mary to
appear. When she came she had a
bag in one hand and in the other a
cut-glass jar with a silver top. She
placed 10th articles on the table,
made a low bow to her audience
and began:
"Whereas my only brother. John
Tracy, did this day at exactly a
quarter to one o'clock declare be.
fore the family that he had resolved
to quit smoking cigarets and to give
up all smoking, because 1t was a
dissertation of the body, / have
burned his cigarets, cigars and
smoking tobacco and I have invi-
ted you to the dedication of the jar
that held those things. This jar"
she took it in her hands, has been
washed with hot water and soda,
hot water and soap and secured
twice. 1t was meant to hold cigars,
clgarets, and tobacco but l hereby
dedicate it as a candy jar" She
empted the contents of her sack into
the jar. Never again shall to-