Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1922-01-26
BANCROFT AND BANQUET
BIBLE CLASSES FEAST

BIBLE CLASSES FEAST
An event not to be soon forgotten,
and one that will have it's influence
for good, was that of the second
banquet of the Mems Bible class at
the Malta Methodist Episcopal
church. Monday evening. Although
the weather was near the zero mark,
200 men were in attendance, and
when once inside the warm, coZy
church, the outside temperature was
entirely forgotten.
First was the supper-one of
those famous chicken layouts for
which the Malta ladies are so noted.
We have from time to time attempt
led to describe their elegance, but
have always failed, SO will not at
tempt it again here, only to say
that it was fully up to their usual
high standard, if possible better
served piping hot, and with dispatch.
1t took 33 chickens. After all had
assembled at the tables, Rev. R. o.
McRae made the invocation. The
entire crowd of 200 were all seated
at the same time.
During the serving of the supper
an orchestra composed of Miss Ber-
nice Mcconnell, and Messrs. Harold
Savage, Carl Ross, Howard Barnes,
ALBERT Miller and Johny Stahl, fur
Inished excellent music. which added
much to the enjoyment of the oc-
casion.
4 Following the supper the exer-
Late f1n IN
church auditorium. The few who
left before these exercises, will new
ier know what they missed. The
pastor of the church, Rev Gillian,
Ipresided Rev. w NJ Mackay read
a Scripture lesson, and Rev. d. r.
Warne offered prayer Mrs. John
B. Clements and Miss Edna Barlow,
with Mrs B. D. Richardson, church
organist, accompanying, sang d
beautiful duet, and just before the
speaker was introduced the audi
ence. led by j. e. McKeown, sang
America
The speaker was f. Dow Ban
lcroft-not preacher, but farmer
and railway worker of the Y M. c.
A., who was a leader in the centen-
ary movement, and for 13 months
x
France He is a man of command
Iings appearance; has splendid voice,
and while his talk was on Steward
lship-usually a dry subject. he SO
seasoned it with wit and apt stories,
to drive home his telling points.
that those present hardly realized
they were taking in so much of
it. He is man by natural instinct
fitted to speak to men. In the be-
ginning of his lecture he stated that
he talked as an ordinary man, al
though he said he might qualify as
an expert, since his definition OF an
expert is an ordinary man away
from home.
We can not here review his lee
ture-even if we could it would be
lacking the powerful personality Of
the speaker. We will briefly men
tion few Of his points: He said
lin part: Churches must put on big
ger programs, because when they
cease to grow they begin to die-es-
pecially spiritually. Business men
to make a success must put on big
ger programs. In the church the op-
posite is true-they Try to get along
with as little as possible. We go to
our business feeling bad-in all
kinds of weather, but some of us
go to church only when we feel just
80, and the weather is good. In bus
mess we get SO absorbed that we
seldom look at the clock; at church
we are forever watching our clocks,
or swapping, or winding our watches
He said one might just as well tell
a preacher to quit as to pull watch
on him.
J Many business men pride them
Iselves that they make their word
as good as their note He had serv-
ed with church people on church
boards who didn't make their pledge
good.
If we must let down, let down in
business, but keep the standard Of
the church high. All that we have
that is worth while, we owe to the
church.
Too many are putting churchani-
Ity for Christianity
Often religion is like veneered
furniture. 1t looks we'll and seems
to act well, but won't stand the ser
vice. The religion that counts
stands four square to every wind
that blows.
We need more men and women in
our churches who will cleave to
Cod whatever may befall
We must go to the Bible every
day for soul nourishment, and not
use the Bible as a catch all, or scrap
book. Some keep the Bible in the
home like medicine, only take it oc-
casionally-it should be like bread.
What we need is more people
Ipraying-not simply saying prayers.
People can go to sleep saying pray
ers. People can say prayers and
cuss the next day, but real prayers
take the cuss out of life.
Let me see how man spends his
money and I can tell how his re-
lligion is. Money is character boiled
down.
You owe God the tithe. Pay your
tithe first, it is Gods.
| If the Lord is our Shepherd, we
are his sheep The wool belongs to
the shepherd. Too many people
keep the wool and give God the
"Baah."
You can't pull one bristle out OF
hog that you can't hear him
squeal a mile.
1t all belongs to Him, we acknow-
ledge Him as our authority, and we
are His stewards.
| People who are always following
loudest about the church always
wanting money, are usually those