TO THE BRETHREN IN KENTUCKY.
By S. OSBORN
We have in this State some live workers; but there are many who seldom attend our quarterly meetings. If they have no excuse to stay at home, if they do not wish to go somewhere else, and if they can make it pay in a worldly point of view, they will go to meeting. Dear brethren and sisters, let me appeal to you on this point. At these meetings the ordinances of the Lord's house are celebrated, the business of the church is considered, and the wants of the cause are canvassed. No church can prosper without attending to these necessary duties, and the Bible plainly enjoins them upon us. Yes, says my brother, but there are others; let them attend to these duties. I do not think it right to leave my home affairs to suffer, while I go to meeting. Stop, my brother; think a moment. You say it is right to have these church matters attended to; but who is to attend to them if all who have home duties are exempt? This idea would break up these meetings entirely; for it is a rare thing to find a member who has no home duties, and all think their own duties more pressing than those of others. There are duties to do in financial matters. Read 2 Cor. 8: 13, 14: “For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened; but by an equality,” etc. The point is that there should be equality. Can there be equality unless each bears his part of the burden? There surely cannot be. But some insist that they do help financially, whenever they have anything to spare. Read Lev. 27: 26-30; Neh. 10: 35-38; Mal. 3: 8-11; Matt. 23: 23. These texts plainly show our duty in this matter. The ordinances of the Lord's house are celebrated. The duty of attending to these ordinances is clearly set forth in the Bible. See Matt. 26: 26-28; John 13: 14, 15. Can your brother or sister, who you think, has not quite so many home duties as you have, eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord for you, and thus supply your spiritual wants? No. Then let your reasons for not attending these meetings be weighed well. If they will not stand in the Judgment, you had better go to meeting. At our last quarterly meeting, the subject of reports from absent members was considered. Brethren and sisters, if you are in full sympathy with this work, it will be but little trouble for you to report to the church at these meetings. This is an important matter; and if you do not report hereafter, we shall be obliged to deal with you according to the suggestion of the General Conference Committee. S. OSBORN.