Read this, ye Feasting Christians by Dudley Marvin Canright

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 10, 1875

Read this, ye Feasting Christians.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

NEVER were truer words and more needed than these from the Congregationalist:

DANGER OF MOCK BENEVOLENCE.

It is a question of much solicitude whether the real spirit of benevolence is on the increase, or decrease. Some of the men and women now in active life in our churches were educated, when children, to make sacrifices in order to be able to give or do something for Christ.

If funds are wanted now to repair or fresco a church, build a chapel, buy an organ, or even to build a fence around a graveyard, nobody must be called on to give. Oh, no! have a fair! tableaux! mock trial; antiquarian supper! or something to eat! anything to amuse the people and to give them an equivalent for their money. These things in themselves under some circumstances may be right and proper. But do not desecrate our houses of worship, thinking we are working for the Master, and are very benevolent.

True benevolence is in danger of being crushed out by these questionable substitutes.

Thank God that some one besides the Adventists see this great evil and is not afraid to expose it. D. M. CANRIGHT.